FOOLS FOR LIFE
CHAPTER 4: REMEMBRANCE
** **
He knew it was only a matter of time.
He just hit the bars and the clubs. The Bronze especially. Late teens and early twenties. The crowd with all the drama and heartache, irresistible for a vengeance demon. She was in town, she was hanging around. She'd pop up sooner or later, trying to get some poor gits to curse their lovers with eternal crotch-itch or something.
Or, in her case, not lovers so much as mistreated children, or so Anya had said. Halfrek had a thing for children-parents revenge. And Buffy's birthday party had proven that pretty effectively with the niblet's little wish-come-true.
Spike shifted in his seat in the dark little corner he was occupying. The birthday party. Dawn had made her wish of wanting no one to leave her, and everyone was stuck at the Summers' residence. He had wondered later if they would have died from hunger, or if they magically would just live forever, eternally hanging out in Buffy's house, playing card games, bickering, fighting and...most likely in some cases, shagging. Eventually. One would hope.
He snickered to himself, without much humor. One track mind, that's him. Especially where the Slayer was concerned. But it wasn't her that had brought him to the Bronze tonight.
Halfrek had. Hallie to her friends. Vengeance demon. Oopsie, justice demon...'FYI'.
None of those names and terms were what came to his mind when he saw her face. It has been a hundred years, give or take. Several lifetimes. He hadn't even recognized her when she had appeared at Buffy's party when Anya called her out. Some ex-coworker in the vengeance business. They all look alike with those faces, like they're flayed. Yuck, not his taste. But there had been something familiar about her voice, and manner. And then she had looked at him and there was recognition in her eyes. And then she said his name. His old name. "William??"
And that did it. That voice saying that name. There was no mistaking it. Some things don't leave you, ever. This was one. 'William'.....His name. And he knew hers. 'Halfrek' meant nothing to him. He knew who she was....
Cecily. There, say it out loud. Or think it out loud, at least, he corrected himself. It's been a century, but the memories were clear as day. He didn't think of the past much. Hadn't been since he became a vamp, he'd learned to live for the moment, one day at a time. Look ahead, if anywhere, not back.
Which had been easy in the little 'family' he had entered into. Angelus and Darla certainly were not the types to dwell on things. And Dru...ah Dru, was off in her own universe.
But another element had been that he didn't want to look back. He hated remembering "William". The idea that he'd ever been that weak sniveling twit. And not because he'd been spouting poetry all the time, or that he had sucked at writing it and knew it. No it was because of the groveling, the desperate desire to be accepted and admired and loved by people he would later barely consider worth being his dinner!
Whatever had happened since, Dru had set him free. Being a vampire had released things in him. And given him options. Instead of dreaming about traveling and adventures, he went out and actually lived it all out. Instead of pining for what he wanted, he simply took it!
Funny thing was, in a way, it was also thanks to Cecily that it had happened. In spite of himself, he could remember it so clearly. They'd read his poetry aloud at that party and laughed at him.
It annoyed him to notice that after all this time, it still pissed him off. He knew he'd been crap at it but still. So what if "effulgent" wasn't a word?? Never heard of artistic license? Poncy bastards!
They had laughed at him in front of her. Laughed at his pathetic attempts at wooing-from a distance, laughed at his transparency. They knew his poems were about her. She knew too. But she wanted to know for sure. So she had asked. "They're...they're not about me, are they??" His heart had skipped a beat. Such fear of this confrontation, but much worse, such happiness at it too. Not even noticing that whatever answers he wanted, they were right there in her face and voice, even when she had asked her question.
"They're about how I feel," he had tried to dodge things with. Hoping she would 'get' it anyway and declare her undying love without him having to say it first. "Yes, but are they about ME?" No dodging left. He knew it, and he had felt a sudden surge of courage as he bit the bullet: "Every syllable."
"Oh God!!" she'd said and turned away in disgust. And STILL he wouldn't see it. He DID see it on some level but he still didn't want to. "I know, it's sudden...please, if they're no good, they're only words. But the feeling behind them....I love you Cecily." She turned her head around looking no less than horrified. "Please stop!"
But the lovesick fool wouldn't get it until the very last ounce of his hope was ground to dust. And she wouldn't disappoint in that regard. He'd scraped his last bit of dignity and courage and said: "I'm a bad poet, but I'm a good man." Which was the most truthful line he had ever spoken to her. He didn't even know he was going to say it until it came out of his mouth. "All I ask is that you try to see me...."
And there it came. The look in her eyes unmistakable, even for his rose- colored delusions. "I DO see you. That's the problem." She paused a moment as if to be sure he got it. "You're nothing to me William." She rose to her feet, looking down on him. How fitting for what she was about to say. "You're beneath me."
'Beneath me'...how such simple words can render a man to absolute nothingness. His world had shattered. All his hopes and dreams had been projected onto her and he was a bloody mess. Women. Maybe with the next guy she'd been kinder and chopped his head straight off on the spot.
But then, had she never said it, he would never have left the party, in tears. Ripping up his useless, worthless poems. Never would have run into Drusila, who looked in his heart and saw a passionate powerful warrior. And drew him out. Like she drew out the word....'effulgent'. She'd gotten it. She was scary and strange and as it turned out, a vampire, and...well, insane, but she'd gotten it. Had gotten him.
Life is so strange.
He had actually wanted to go and visit Cecily as the 'new' him. He didn't even know what he planned to do...to just kill her or turn her or take her and dump her on her father's doorstep, dishonored for ever...or what. And he would never know.
She and her father had left for a trip to France 2 days after he'd last seen her. By that time Angelus and Darla had decided to move on. And he had moved on with them, moved on in many ways. On to his new and exciting life. He had never seen her again, and Dru had quickly taken her place in his now un-beating heart.
And now, all these years later, he just runs into her. Or she into him. Didn't matter. He took a gulp from his drink and watched her try and coax some whiney girl into making a wish. He wondered what she wanted from him. Their run-in had been accidental. She'd recognized him, which made him recognize her. Then they both sort of swept it under the carpet. Yet he couldn't help but remember she had sort of adjusted her hair, the way women do, just after she had realized who he was. Such a strange thing to see after all this time.
It was like there'd been a silent pact not to dig up the past. He'd seen her around Anya, like right before..that night, in the Magic Shop. And they'd just sort of acknowledged each other. It was stranger though to see her human face. In such modern dress and clothes. He could only imagine what it was like for her to see him as he was today. Not much left of William here, luv.
She'd waved goodbye to him as she left the Magic Shop, in that 'trendy- girl' way. Like they were of the same 'social circle'. Huh, guess some things do change then. He couldn't help but glance at her as she walked out. But they could let things lie. They could pretend they didn't know each other.
But now she had sought him out. Or at least circled him. Questioning Clem about him, helping to drag him home.
He had to know why. Was she gunning for him? Some enemy wanted revenge? Was she just playing with him? Just curious? Her earlier stint at Buffy's had proved her to be a potential danger to the Buffy clan too, which was reason enough to check things out. Plus, he was at least slightly curious how she'd become a vengeance demon. He was pretty certain she hadn't been one when they'd known each other when he was still human. Or could it be...had she broken his heart on a vengeance scheme? Doubtful, usually not how it works and her family had been real and well known.
He ordered another drink and leaned back in his seat. He looked at her face and remembered worshipping it. He didn't feel it, but he remembered it. Sorry pet, that ship has sailed, sunk and rotted away at the bottom of the ocean. Different 'William the Bloody' we're talking about here. Not some mopey, pining, lovesick dope.
It was actually a welcome distraction, after months of having nothing but Buffy and all the related aches and desires on his mind....
He paused in his thoughts as the realization hit him.
"Damn." He looked at Halfrek again. "Well this lovesick dope's not moping or pining over YOU anymore at least then." he grumbled and finished his drink in one gulp.
** **
In the graveyard, Buffy patrolled as usual. Checking for fresh graves. Dusting the odd vamp. Scaring off demonic looking types that were hanging around with booze bottles. Well the ones that look like pathetic whinos are not that slayable. It'd feel like picking on bag ladies or something.
She had learned a while ago that not necessarily everything with horns or a tail...or horns AND a tail, needed killing on sight. Some demons were not that different from people in how they lived. Their appearances were, and usually their diet. But unless they ate people it wasn't always necessary to butcher them all on the spot. Still she would often let them know she was around, and vigilant. Just in case.
And there were plenty of demons that didn't eat people. Some for instance..
"Hi Buffy."
She turned around and there was a very good example. "Hi Clem." she said, smiling. There was something about Clem. She had been kind of shocked when Spike took him along to her birthday party, but it was clear pretty soon he was such a sweet polite doofus. About as threatening as a puppy. A..hairless, kind of really ugly puppy, but all the same... Of course his tendency to eat kittens was less than appealing but it was actually cute how he tried to hide it from her. She'd run into him sometimes while patrolling and he made her feel like she was a school teacher who needed to remind Timmy he shouldn't chew gum. That was certainly how he looked at her sometimes, like she was going to scold him for a naughty habit.
"How's it going? With the....slaying and all."
"Oh, same old, same old. You out for a stroll?" She thought of asking him if he was scrounging for kittens but teasing Clem felt worse somehow than picking on a bag lady.
"Actually, I just went out for some Doritos. They're showing a full Buck Rogers season tonight on the Sci Fi channel. I'm gonna watch it at Spike's. He has a great reception in that crypt. I'll never know how he managed to get that cable hook up, but it's better than that old antenna." Clem's face suddenly changed as he realized the topic of Spike was perhaps not the best one to touch upon right now.
Buffy saw it and forced a smile. Clem stuttered: "Uh, I mean, not at Spike's. Did I say Spike's? I meant Tike's. Yeah, Tike's a ..demon..he.."
Buffy raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. "A tiny cartoon bulldog- demon?? His dad beats up this blue cat a lot?"
"Oww I'm terrible at this. It's just...I know what happened a few nights ago, and I know you and Spike have been having...issues, and it's not my place, so forget I said anything, and I'm not even here."
"It's..okay Clem. No harm done. Spike and I..we had a...well, a thing, yes. But it's over. It was a bit of a shake up in my little circle of loved ones to see him and Anya, but, really, no biggie..."
Clem gave her a look. Buffy stopped talking.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just...not my place and all, it's just....well, don't kill me or something but you seem to be trying a little hard to be all..cool about it and stuff. I mean you and Spike had a thing, you say so yourself, and well, you just don't strike me as a girl who can have a 'thing' with a guy and then be so totally fine with seeing him...well...with ...you know."
Clem looked uncertain, and scratched behind his ear. Buffy, looked at him, searching for a proper answer. She didn't know Clem that well and she had no wish to discuss such private and rather embarrassing things with him. But it was kind of hard now, with the guy knowing so much, looking at her all honest and earnest and with the easy casual-acquaintance way they had rolled into their conversation.
She sighed and sat down on a tombstone with a tired deflating movement.
"You're right, it was...weird to see that. And it did..affect me. It's just a mess Clem. Spike and me, it was a mistake. I thought I had wrapped it up by ending it, but things still find ways to get messier and messier..."
Clem nodded, his face all sympathy and skin folds. Buffy looked at him and hesitated before she continued. "So...Spike's doing okay? You two are watching TV and stuff?"
"Oh no, just me. He said I could watch it at his pad, he had things to do, and I think I know what."
"What?" Buffy asked, curious, and hoping there was no reason to dread the answer in any kind of way.
"Uh, well I guess it's okay since you all know each other. Remember Halfrek? The vengeance demon from your birthday party? Well she's been taking an interest in Spike. My guess is he's trying to find her."
Buffy's eyes grew a little bigger. This had not been on the list of possibilities.
Clem saw it and tried to cover. "Uh they're just, you know old friends or something."
Old friends? Buffy frowned. Yes, hadn't there been a moment at the party? Halfrek had recognized Spike, called him William. Then in turn, he seemed to have recognized her as well. Some awkward looks were exchanged and they both downplayed it when Buffy asked if they knew each other. It hadn't been that important with the whole situation going on, but now....
"I guess they're catching up, chatting about old times." Clem smiled uneasily. He wished he hadn't brought it up, since the Slayer was clearly not as indifferent to the whole Spike situation as she tried to appear. "Well anyhoo... should be getting along, hehe. Don't want to miss the episode Gary Coleman guest starred."
Buffy nodded, rather absent-minded. "Yeah sure, bye Clem."
As Clem hurried off with his Doritos, Buffy continued her patrol, but her mind was elsewhere now. Spike and Halfrek. That's odd....and disturbing, and....actually rather fitting. Both demons heavily at work in the human world. And they knew each other. How? What were they to each other?
It was probably not a bad idea, she told herself. It would solve her 'Spike situation' wouldn't it? Yeah.....
But in the back of her head, worming it's way slowly but surely to the front, was that voice, that nagging little voice:
"But he's only supposed to want ME.."
END OF PART 4 TBC, R&R!
CHAPTER 4: REMEMBRANCE
** **
He knew it was only a matter of time.
He just hit the bars and the clubs. The Bronze especially. Late teens and early twenties. The crowd with all the drama and heartache, irresistible for a vengeance demon. She was in town, she was hanging around. She'd pop up sooner or later, trying to get some poor gits to curse their lovers with eternal crotch-itch or something.
Or, in her case, not lovers so much as mistreated children, or so Anya had said. Halfrek had a thing for children-parents revenge. And Buffy's birthday party had proven that pretty effectively with the niblet's little wish-come-true.
Spike shifted in his seat in the dark little corner he was occupying. The birthday party. Dawn had made her wish of wanting no one to leave her, and everyone was stuck at the Summers' residence. He had wondered later if they would have died from hunger, or if they magically would just live forever, eternally hanging out in Buffy's house, playing card games, bickering, fighting and...most likely in some cases, shagging. Eventually. One would hope.
He snickered to himself, without much humor. One track mind, that's him. Especially where the Slayer was concerned. But it wasn't her that had brought him to the Bronze tonight.
Halfrek had. Hallie to her friends. Vengeance demon. Oopsie, justice demon...'FYI'.
None of those names and terms were what came to his mind when he saw her face. It has been a hundred years, give or take. Several lifetimes. He hadn't even recognized her when she had appeared at Buffy's party when Anya called her out. Some ex-coworker in the vengeance business. They all look alike with those faces, like they're flayed. Yuck, not his taste. But there had been something familiar about her voice, and manner. And then she had looked at him and there was recognition in her eyes. And then she said his name. His old name. "William??"
And that did it. That voice saying that name. There was no mistaking it. Some things don't leave you, ever. This was one. 'William'.....His name. And he knew hers. 'Halfrek' meant nothing to him. He knew who she was....
Cecily. There, say it out loud. Or think it out loud, at least, he corrected himself. It's been a century, but the memories were clear as day. He didn't think of the past much. Hadn't been since he became a vamp, he'd learned to live for the moment, one day at a time. Look ahead, if anywhere, not back.
Which had been easy in the little 'family' he had entered into. Angelus and Darla certainly were not the types to dwell on things. And Dru...ah Dru, was off in her own universe.
But another element had been that he didn't want to look back. He hated remembering "William". The idea that he'd ever been that weak sniveling twit. And not because he'd been spouting poetry all the time, or that he had sucked at writing it and knew it. No it was because of the groveling, the desperate desire to be accepted and admired and loved by people he would later barely consider worth being his dinner!
Whatever had happened since, Dru had set him free. Being a vampire had released things in him. And given him options. Instead of dreaming about traveling and adventures, he went out and actually lived it all out. Instead of pining for what he wanted, he simply took it!
Funny thing was, in a way, it was also thanks to Cecily that it had happened. In spite of himself, he could remember it so clearly. They'd read his poetry aloud at that party and laughed at him.
It annoyed him to notice that after all this time, it still pissed him off. He knew he'd been crap at it but still. So what if "effulgent" wasn't a word?? Never heard of artistic license? Poncy bastards!
They had laughed at him in front of her. Laughed at his pathetic attempts at wooing-from a distance, laughed at his transparency. They knew his poems were about her. She knew too. But she wanted to know for sure. So she had asked. "They're...they're not about me, are they??" His heart had skipped a beat. Such fear of this confrontation, but much worse, such happiness at it too. Not even noticing that whatever answers he wanted, they were right there in her face and voice, even when she had asked her question.
"They're about how I feel," he had tried to dodge things with. Hoping she would 'get' it anyway and declare her undying love without him having to say it first. "Yes, but are they about ME?" No dodging left. He knew it, and he had felt a sudden surge of courage as he bit the bullet: "Every syllable."
"Oh God!!" she'd said and turned away in disgust. And STILL he wouldn't see it. He DID see it on some level but he still didn't want to. "I know, it's sudden...please, if they're no good, they're only words. But the feeling behind them....I love you Cecily." She turned her head around looking no less than horrified. "Please stop!"
But the lovesick fool wouldn't get it until the very last ounce of his hope was ground to dust. And she wouldn't disappoint in that regard. He'd scraped his last bit of dignity and courage and said: "I'm a bad poet, but I'm a good man." Which was the most truthful line he had ever spoken to her. He didn't even know he was going to say it until it came out of his mouth. "All I ask is that you try to see me...."
And there it came. The look in her eyes unmistakable, even for his rose- colored delusions. "I DO see you. That's the problem." She paused a moment as if to be sure he got it. "You're nothing to me William." She rose to her feet, looking down on him. How fitting for what she was about to say. "You're beneath me."
'Beneath me'...how such simple words can render a man to absolute nothingness. His world had shattered. All his hopes and dreams had been projected onto her and he was a bloody mess. Women. Maybe with the next guy she'd been kinder and chopped his head straight off on the spot.
But then, had she never said it, he would never have left the party, in tears. Ripping up his useless, worthless poems. Never would have run into Drusila, who looked in his heart and saw a passionate powerful warrior. And drew him out. Like she drew out the word....'effulgent'. She'd gotten it. She was scary and strange and as it turned out, a vampire, and...well, insane, but she'd gotten it. Had gotten him.
Life is so strange.
He had actually wanted to go and visit Cecily as the 'new' him. He didn't even know what he planned to do...to just kill her or turn her or take her and dump her on her father's doorstep, dishonored for ever...or what. And he would never know.
She and her father had left for a trip to France 2 days after he'd last seen her. By that time Angelus and Darla had decided to move on. And he had moved on with them, moved on in many ways. On to his new and exciting life. He had never seen her again, and Dru had quickly taken her place in his now un-beating heart.
And now, all these years later, he just runs into her. Or she into him. Didn't matter. He took a gulp from his drink and watched her try and coax some whiney girl into making a wish. He wondered what she wanted from him. Their run-in had been accidental. She'd recognized him, which made him recognize her. Then they both sort of swept it under the carpet. Yet he couldn't help but remember she had sort of adjusted her hair, the way women do, just after she had realized who he was. Such a strange thing to see after all this time.
It was like there'd been a silent pact not to dig up the past. He'd seen her around Anya, like right before..that night, in the Magic Shop. And they'd just sort of acknowledged each other. It was stranger though to see her human face. In such modern dress and clothes. He could only imagine what it was like for her to see him as he was today. Not much left of William here, luv.
She'd waved goodbye to him as she left the Magic Shop, in that 'trendy- girl' way. Like they were of the same 'social circle'. Huh, guess some things do change then. He couldn't help but glance at her as she walked out. But they could let things lie. They could pretend they didn't know each other.
But now she had sought him out. Or at least circled him. Questioning Clem about him, helping to drag him home.
He had to know why. Was she gunning for him? Some enemy wanted revenge? Was she just playing with him? Just curious? Her earlier stint at Buffy's had proved her to be a potential danger to the Buffy clan too, which was reason enough to check things out. Plus, he was at least slightly curious how she'd become a vengeance demon. He was pretty certain she hadn't been one when they'd known each other when he was still human. Or could it be...had she broken his heart on a vengeance scheme? Doubtful, usually not how it works and her family had been real and well known.
He ordered another drink and leaned back in his seat. He looked at her face and remembered worshipping it. He didn't feel it, but he remembered it. Sorry pet, that ship has sailed, sunk and rotted away at the bottom of the ocean. Different 'William the Bloody' we're talking about here. Not some mopey, pining, lovesick dope.
It was actually a welcome distraction, after months of having nothing but Buffy and all the related aches and desires on his mind....
He paused in his thoughts as the realization hit him.
"Damn." He looked at Halfrek again. "Well this lovesick dope's not moping or pining over YOU anymore at least then." he grumbled and finished his drink in one gulp.
** **
In the graveyard, Buffy patrolled as usual. Checking for fresh graves. Dusting the odd vamp. Scaring off demonic looking types that were hanging around with booze bottles. Well the ones that look like pathetic whinos are not that slayable. It'd feel like picking on bag ladies or something.
She had learned a while ago that not necessarily everything with horns or a tail...or horns AND a tail, needed killing on sight. Some demons were not that different from people in how they lived. Their appearances were, and usually their diet. But unless they ate people it wasn't always necessary to butcher them all on the spot. Still she would often let them know she was around, and vigilant. Just in case.
And there were plenty of demons that didn't eat people. Some for instance..
"Hi Buffy."
She turned around and there was a very good example. "Hi Clem." she said, smiling. There was something about Clem. She had been kind of shocked when Spike took him along to her birthday party, but it was clear pretty soon he was such a sweet polite doofus. About as threatening as a puppy. A..hairless, kind of really ugly puppy, but all the same... Of course his tendency to eat kittens was less than appealing but it was actually cute how he tried to hide it from her. She'd run into him sometimes while patrolling and he made her feel like she was a school teacher who needed to remind Timmy he shouldn't chew gum. That was certainly how he looked at her sometimes, like she was going to scold him for a naughty habit.
"How's it going? With the....slaying and all."
"Oh, same old, same old. You out for a stroll?" She thought of asking him if he was scrounging for kittens but teasing Clem felt worse somehow than picking on a bag lady.
"Actually, I just went out for some Doritos. They're showing a full Buck Rogers season tonight on the Sci Fi channel. I'm gonna watch it at Spike's. He has a great reception in that crypt. I'll never know how he managed to get that cable hook up, but it's better than that old antenna." Clem's face suddenly changed as he realized the topic of Spike was perhaps not the best one to touch upon right now.
Buffy saw it and forced a smile. Clem stuttered: "Uh, I mean, not at Spike's. Did I say Spike's? I meant Tike's. Yeah, Tike's a ..demon..he.."
Buffy raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. "A tiny cartoon bulldog- demon?? His dad beats up this blue cat a lot?"
"Oww I'm terrible at this. It's just...I know what happened a few nights ago, and I know you and Spike have been having...issues, and it's not my place, so forget I said anything, and I'm not even here."
"It's..okay Clem. No harm done. Spike and I..we had a...well, a thing, yes. But it's over. It was a bit of a shake up in my little circle of loved ones to see him and Anya, but, really, no biggie..."
Clem gave her a look. Buffy stopped talking.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing, it's just...not my place and all, it's just....well, don't kill me or something but you seem to be trying a little hard to be all..cool about it and stuff. I mean you and Spike had a thing, you say so yourself, and well, you just don't strike me as a girl who can have a 'thing' with a guy and then be so totally fine with seeing him...well...with ...you know."
Clem looked uncertain, and scratched behind his ear. Buffy, looked at him, searching for a proper answer. She didn't know Clem that well and she had no wish to discuss such private and rather embarrassing things with him. But it was kind of hard now, with the guy knowing so much, looking at her all honest and earnest and with the easy casual-acquaintance way they had rolled into their conversation.
She sighed and sat down on a tombstone with a tired deflating movement.
"You're right, it was...weird to see that. And it did..affect me. It's just a mess Clem. Spike and me, it was a mistake. I thought I had wrapped it up by ending it, but things still find ways to get messier and messier..."
Clem nodded, his face all sympathy and skin folds. Buffy looked at him and hesitated before she continued. "So...Spike's doing okay? You two are watching TV and stuff?"
"Oh no, just me. He said I could watch it at his pad, he had things to do, and I think I know what."
"What?" Buffy asked, curious, and hoping there was no reason to dread the answer in any kind of way.
"Uh, well I guess it's okay since you all know each other. Remember Halfrek? The vengeance demon from your birthday party? Well she's been taking an interest in Spike. My guess is he's trying to find her."
Buffy's eyes grew a little bigger. This had not been on the list of possibilities.
Clem saw it and tried to cover. "Uh they're just, you know old friends or something."
Old friends? Buffy frowned. Yes, hadn't there been a moment at the party? Halfrek had recognized Spike, called him William. Then in turn, he seemed to have recognized her as well. Some awkward looks were exchanged and they both downplayed it when Buffy asked if they knew each other. It hadn't been that important with the whole situation going on, but now....
"I guess they're catching up, chatting about old times." Clem smiled uneasily. He wished he hadn't brought it up, since the Slayer was clearly not as indifferent to the whole Spike situation as she tried to appear. "Well anyhoo... should be getting along, hehe. Don't want to miss the episode Gary Coleman guest starred."
Buffy nodded, rather absent-minded. "Yeah sure, bye Clem."
As Clem hurried off with his Doritos, Buffy continued her patrol, but her mind was elsewhere now. Spike and Halfrek. That's odd....and disturbing, and....actually rather fitting. Both demons heavily at work in the human world. And they knew each other. How? What were they to each other?
It was probably not a bad idea, she told herself. It would solve her 'Spike situation' wouldn't it? Yeah.....
But in the back of her head, worming it's way slowly but surely to the front, was that voice, that nagging little voice:
"But he's only supposed to want ME.."
END OF PART 4 TBC, R&R!
