Richie bounced on his chair like a small kid, "Joe's got karaoke now. I'm looking forward to it, should be a lot of girls. Now that we don't have to hide Buffy it ought to be fun." He said.
"Richie!" Mac scowled and Buffy sat up.
"What? Am I the crazy old aunt in the attic?" Buffy asked indignantly.
"No Buffy. We tried to keep you under the radar for a number of reasons, least of which is your and Methos privacy." Duncan replied patiently and Buffy settled down.
"I just wanted to be sure." Buffy muttered. Methos chuckled, "Crazy? Oh yeah." He murmured, getting an elbow to the stomach.
Methos stood, "Ok, we're outta here. I need to change if we are driving to Seacouver. Meet us a Buffy's at 7?" Without waiting around for an answer Methos dragged Buffy out of Duncan's loft, stopping on the stairs for a searing kiss. "We need to be home. Now." He said and dragged her home and had his way with her.
Buffy looked amazing as always. She wore high heels and a violet slip dress that covered everything, yet hid nothing. Her necklace from Methos was around her neck and her hair was piled on her head, a few loose curls caressing her cheeks.
Joe was tending bar when first Mac, then Richie came in. Richie turned around to laugh at someone, then an amazing blonde, holding hands with, 'gasp! 'holy hell' Adam.
Adam met his eyes and gave him a huge smile, then glanced at the vivacious blond with him. Joe raised his eyebrows in silent question and Adam towed his date to the bar.
"Hey you old bastard, it's good to see you." Methos greeted Joe with a bear hug, totally surprising the watcher.
"Adam, I'm pretty sure that is not his name." The blond scolded and was rewarded with a gentle kiss.
"Sorry love. Buffy, this is my friend Joe Dawson. Joe, this is my, well girlfriend seems cliché, this is my lover Buffy." Methos said proudly and Buffy smacked him on the head, then graciously gave her hand to Joe.
"I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Dawson." She said sweetly and Duncan and Richie muscled in on each side of her, pushing Methos to the end of the bar.
Joe laughed at the men and passed each of them an ale. He looked at Buffy she shook her head, "Just a coke please. I need to keep my wits sharp with these clowns."
There was a chorus of 'heys' from Duncan and Richie. Methos was looking thoughtfully at the karaoke stage. "Have you really stooped so low as to put karaoke in here?" Methos asked as Joe dried glasses, "Tonight's karaoke night. Decided for yourself." He moved to stand in front of Buffy, "So what do you do?"
"I teach self defense for women at Duncan's dojo." She replied as Richie snorted.
Joe and Buffy chatted quietly while Methos scooted back to her side as Duncan decided to kick Richie's ass at game of darts. Joe watched, as Methos played with Buffy's fingers, watching his friends' game with a half smile on his face. Methos seemed more relaxed that he had ever seen him.
"So Joe." She asked, settling down to talk seriously. "As a watcher I'll bet you know where all of the bodies are buried, so to speak." She smiled sweetly while Methos choked on the drink of ale he had taken.
Joe looked at Methos sternly, "You told her?"
"I did not! She saved Duncan's life, the stupid sod, from Randall, the sneaking bastard snake in the grass." Methos said sharply, before tilting Buffy's chin to look in her eyes, "It really is not safe to discuss this my love." He said firmly and she pouted. "But I'll bet he has stories."
"Not yours." Joe said in interest.
"Oh, you can't have mine. I already have a watcher." Methos gave up and kissed her thoroughly to shut her up. When he was done her eyes fluttered open, then sharpened, "Don't think I don't know what that was for Adam."
He smiled charmingly and played with her necklace. "Of course my love." He looked at Joe, "Long talk later, cross my black heart."
The bar was starting to get pretty crowded when Richie started the karaoke off with something from the Beatles, causing the men to wince.
Others got up to butcher various songs and Buffy sat with Adam's arm around her, alternately laughing herself sick, or clapping at the performances. Methos had several beers when he got up, and much to his friend's surprise walked up to the stage, picked out his music and smiled at Buffy. The music's melody came out of the speakers and people settled down to hear when Methos began to sing;
Through the darkness, I can see your light
And you will always shine and I can feel your heart in mine
Your face I've memorized, I idolize just youI look up to everything you are
In my eyes you do no wrong
I've loved you for so long and after all, you're still you, you're still you
Methos paused and smiled as whistles and clapping sounded, then the music continued
You walk past me, I can feel your pain, Time changes everything, One truth always stays the same
You're still you you're still you
I look up to everything you are; in my eyes you do no wrong
and I believe in you although you never asked me to
I will remember you and what life put you through and in this cruel and lonely world
I found one love, you're still you, after all, you're still you
(Thanks to Josh Groban- You're Still You)
Buffy sat as still as a statue, her eyes filled with tears as she listened to Methos declare his love with a song that could have been written for them. Both Duncan and Joe handed her handkerchiefs, which she accepted absently, listening to Methos' rich voice. He finished, his eyes on hers when the room erupted into wild cheers and clapping. He smiled and bowed, and muscled his way to the bar and Buffy, kissing her deeply. Duncan smiled, "Well, I've heard you in the shower, but you've improved a bit."
Buffy cupped a hand on Methos cheek, "I love you." She whispered almost soundlessly, but he could hear it in his heart. They moved forward for another kiss when Buffy stiffened, "Do you feel that?"
Cassandra was spitting mad. She had been tracking Adam for months now. She had gotten back to London, hoping to renew their relationship only to find he was in America hiding out with Duncan. Then to find he had sold his precious mansion, for the love of a woman? Unthinkable.
The men looked at the door, feeling the buzz that heralded an immortal. When Cassandra swept in Joe groaned, and Duncan said, "Oh damn."
Cassandra looked at Adam and the woman who was practically in his arms. The slut couldn't be over 17.
Buffy coolly met the eyes of the voluptuous brunette, feeling Methos move to the bar stool beside her. Richie and Duncan tense on either side of them.
Joe limped around the bar, hoping to forestall a scene, or worse a screaming, throwing fit. "Cassandra, how are you?" Joe asked.
"Exceeding thirsty Joe." She smiled at the watcher charmingly, then looked longingly at Methos, who raised his ale to her. She saw Richie and Duncan sitting on either side, bodies tense, and the little bottle blond, entirely too comfortable. 'We'll just see about that' Cassandra thought cattily.
Cassandra walked up to Buffy and the men held their breaths, "Hi, I'm Cassandra, Adam's lover." She said, but was unpleasantly surprised when Buffy smiled.
"Ex."
"Excuse me?" Frost dripped from Cassandra's lips.
"No excuse for you. And you would be his 'ex' lover. I should know, I'm the current one and I keep him too busy to stray." Buffy smiled politely and Duncan and Richie began to laugh. Joe choked, and grabbed Duncan's beer for a drink.
Methos smiled wryly, 'Game, set, match to Buffy.' He thought to himself.
He leaned forward in the charged silence and said, "Long time no see Cassandra. Buffy, this is Cassandra. Cassandra, this is Buffy."
"Buffy? What kind of name is that?" she asked scornfully.
Buffy cocked her head, "It's a nickname. Are those your real boobs? Because, you know I think your right one is bigger than your left. You should sue." Buffy nodded seriously and there was hysterics at the bar.
Methos placed a hand over Buffy's busy mouth. "You win Love."
After a moment of outrage, and a glance to the laughing buffoons at the bar, Cassandra smiled reluctantly, "Indeed you do. I apologize Buffy." She held out a hand and asked, "Can I try this again?" Buffy smiled graciously and silently thanked Cordelia for all of those put down lessons in high school.
"Hi, my name is Buffy Summers."
"Cassandra."
"Nice to meet you Cassandra. I'll bet that you have greatest stories about these guys." Buffy's eyebrows rose in hope.
Cassandra's eyes lit up, "You bet I do." Cassandra dragged Buffy over to a clear table and they proceeded to gossip merrily.
Methos methodically banged his head on the bar. "Kill –thump- me- thump- now- thump. Duncan laughed at this until Joe remarked, "Hey, if I'm not mistaken Cassandra know stories about all of you guys." There was a chorus of groans at this and Joe chuckled and poured another round of ales.
They left the bar for Bellingham very late. Buffy was sound asleep in Methos arms in the back seat and Duncan was driving. Richie still having chuckles as he remembered what happened at the bar.
"God, what a night." Methos sighed.
Duncan chuckled, "I keep coming back to the fact that I saw her first, old man."
