TITLE: It Could Have Been Worse
AUTHOR: Cheeky Chick
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: None of this belongs to me! Honest!
SUMMARY: Buffy, Spike, Michael and Penny head out! We learn how Spike supposedly proposed to Buffy and they bump into some friends – wonder who that is?
AUTHORS NOTES: Sorry this is taking so long – I'm so busy! Anyway I'm not to sure about this chapter I done it to help de-stress me during a heavy duty caffine fuelled midnight study session so I may need to edit it at a later date, anyway I would like to dedicate this to all my reviewers! You guys are all great especially Daystar Flame, DragonMouse, Flame Shadow, Terry Fall, Cosmic, Destiney, Nutty Ginger, MsLessa, Angela M, Heavenly Slayer, Lindsay, Dawn and Jasmine Storm (sorry if I missed anyone out). And just as a matter of interest I stole Spike's proposal from my friend who was propositioned in a similar way and that couple have already reached their 1st year anniversary trust me I had to wear the puffy pink dress!
"I did good didn't I Angel" Cordelia beamed at her boss as they drove home from another battle
"Yeah Cordy you done great" Angel smiled proudly at his seer who was grinning like the cat that got the cream, so much so that she hadn't even noticed that she was covered from head to toe in purple demon goo.
Earlier on that day the A-Team had been sitting around the hotel when Cordelia was hit with one of her visions detailing a demon attack in downtown L.A, they immediately left to deal with it and located the demons in an abandoned building in the area. Cordelia who had been training with Angel on a regular basis recently was allowed to tag along with the guys and Fred stayed at the Hyperion to hold the fort. When they eventually found the demons Cordelia managed to surprise all her male colleagues by swiftly and skilfully killing one of the demons by decapitation using her trusty new sword, however before the battle Angel failed to mention this was the messiest method of killing this particular demon and Gunn and him both opted for a good, clean neck break.
"Oh Angel aren't I so good, aren't I just the best thing since sliced bread!" the mocking voice belonged to a bitter Wesley who was sitting in back with Gunn
On hearing Wesley mocking her Cordelia's head whipped around and she growled at the ex-watcher "Oh sorry Wesley I forgot about all the hard work you just put in there, I mean it must have been so difficult and traumatic for you, falling over your own feet and knocking yourself out, it's not an easy task – we just couldn't have done it without you Wes! Oh sorry yes we can and yes we did!" Cordelia smiled and turned back to face the front
Angel was dying to laugh and Gunn was already in hysterics
"Well I never!" the Englishman proclaimed "I'll have you know Cordelia Chase that while you were still dancing around with your silly pom poms I was…"
At this point everyone rolled their eyes and Cordelia rose her chin high in the air "Yes, I, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, all round good guy, ex-watcher and don't forget Rogue Demon Hunter could take on an army single handed with nothing but me and my… dusty old books!" it was topped off with Cordelia's unique fake English accent
"Ha, man she's good!" Gunn was clutching his stomach with laughter and Angel was even smiling
"Well… excuse me" Wesley turned and growled at his friend in the back seat
"What man?" Gunn shrugged his shoulders and received an even sterner look from Wesley; Gunn raised his hands in the air "Ok, ok my bad!"
"Yes it most certainly is 'your bad'" Wesley crossed his arms and looked at Cordelia "Anyway I don't know what you're laughing at? At least I'm not covered with the insides of a mucus demon never mind the fact you smell like one too!"
"Eh??" Cordelia looked confused and then looked down at her purple slime covered clothes "Ewww!!!"
Angel smiled, she had been that excited about killing the demon she hadn't even noticed
"No way I even chipped a nail – crap!" Cordelia started to inspect her fingernails and tried to run her fingers through her hair but was unsuccessful due to the fact it too was all slimy "This is sooo groce!"
It was times like this Angel saw a glimpse of the old Queen C, the one everybody loved to hate, she was selfish, manipulative and really didn't give a damn about anyone apart from herself. It was times like these that he got a chance to see how much Cordelia had changed, she was now selfless and caring, she was his best friend and his seer but the old remnants of her Sunnydale days came through sometimes; but then she wouldn't be Cordelia without them.
"Angel, come on you drive like my grandfather! Put your foot on the gas I need a shower!" Cordelia nudged his shoulder
"Ok, ok – anyway, I'm older than your grandfather" Angel grinned "Look lets go back to the Hyperion, pick up Fred and then go to Caritas?"
"Sounds like a plan!" Gunn nodded in approval
"Sure that's cool – just as long as I get to shower!" Cordelia rubbed some slime on Angel's cheek and he screwed up his face but she just smiled at him
"Well I have a lot of work to be getting on with and…" Wesley was still in a strop
"Aw come on Wes…!" they all said in unison
"Oh alright – but I'm not singing!" Wesley smiled
Cordelia arched her eyebrow "Yeah that's what you said last time!"
Gunn nodded "Yeah man – what was that you sung anyway?"
"Gosh I don't remember either Gunn I think it went a little like…" Cordelia looked at Gunn
Wesley blushed as they both burst into song
"It took all the strength I had not to fall apart…" they then mumbled their way into the chorus "So go, walk out the door, just turn around now cos your not welcome anymore..." they both made dancing motions with their hands and arms, Angel just laughed at the comic duo as Wesley went a very dark shade of crimson
"Gloria Gaynor! That's it!" Gunn nodded
"Very funny!" Wesley just crossed his arms as they continued driving
After all the hilarity they became quiet, they were nearly home and had just stopped at a junction
"Oh. My. God!" Cordelia rubbed her eyes and put her hand to her head, Angel immediately panicked
"Is it a vision Cordy?" he asked as he grasped her arms
Wesley leaned over the seat passing her painkillers "What do you see?"
Cordelia rubbed her eyes again just to make sure she wasn't seeing things "Umm I think you guys better look at this!"
Angel released her arms "Your not having a vision?"
"Umm no, but I think you guys will want to see this"
"See what girl? What you talkin about?" Gunn was confused, as was everyone else
"Are you guys blind? Look!" Cordelia pointed out the window at the large white limousine that had just begun to move again and was driving right past them
Gunn was even more confused "Buffy and Spike – congratulations on your engagement!"
Angels chin hit the floor as he gawked at the car
Wesley rubbed his eyes in disbelief much like Cordelia had
"Hey wait Angel isn't your old squeeze called Buffy?" Gunn leaned over so he had a better view of the limo, and he noticed Angel was squeezing the steering wheel very very tightly
"Yes" he answered placidly
"And do you know a Spike?"
"Yes"
"Who?"
"He's my grand-childe!" Angel answered calmly
Cordelia noticed Angel was beginning to freak out so she tried to relieve the situation "Well it could be some other Buffy and Spike?!"
"Cordelia far be it for me to dismiss another of your fine insights but how many Buffy's are there in California? And how many Spikes are there in California? And how likely is it that these Spike's and Buffy's would get engaged? You do the math" Wesley was still shocked but hoped Cordelia was right
She shook her head "Well Math never was my forte!"
"Look there could be a perfectly good explanation for all this anyway," Wesley reasoned
"Mmmm" Angel still hadn't spoken a word
"Yeah" Cordelia and Gunn agreed
"Willow could have done a spell wrong," Wesley offered
"Or, or maybe this Spike's guys Visa's run out – you know marriage of convenience!" Gunn shrugged his shoulders at the three faces that now stared at him "What? Have none of you seen Green Card?"
They all shook their heads
"He's a vampire not an illegal immigrant!"
Suddenly car horns started blaring the lights were changed and they hadn't noticed and the limo was driving away
"After that Limo!" they all screamed in unison as they drove after the long white vehicle
"Michael" Buffy looked over at her friend and then admired the classy interior of the limo "You really didn't have to do this"
Michael just smiled in response and poured champagne handing a glass to Penny, then Buffy and then Spike
"Of course I did, I'm just glad you're happy" he squeezed his fiancés hand "We're just glad you're happy – aren't we honey"
Penny looked over at the couple; she was clearly bored by the evening's events because they didn't revolve around her "Yeah we're sure happy for ya Buff"
Spike was feeling incredibly uncomfortable 'I'm a Master vampire, in a frickin limo driving around L.A with Captain Cardboard II, a bloody well beauty queen turned Barbie doll, a Slayer fiancé whose hand is on my knee and I'm drinking champagne – that's a poofs drink!'
"No Michael Buffy's right – you REALLY shouldn't have" Spike stretched his arm around Buffy 'Why did I do that?'
"Not that we're not incredibly grateful" Buffy leaned into Spike and rested her head on his shoulder 'Why did I do that?'
'Acting – just go along!' they both thought but apparently they were getting a little too comfortable with their roles
"Aww… you guys are real cute" Penny felt sick to the back teeth seeing her this happy – this was supposed to be her time not Buffy's "Me and Michael used to be like that – but it's a phase it'll pass, then you can see if your really in it for the long haul"
Michael could sense the tension building between Buffy and Penelope so he decided a change of subject was in order "So eh… what do you guys think of L.A so far?"
"Well honestly mate we haven't really seen much of it yet" Spike put his champagne down
"Yeah been kinda busy" Buffy lied as she twisted a lock of her hair
Michael nodded his head and Penelope fingered her engagement ring in boredom
"Come to think of it" Penelope got a glint in her eye as she looked over at Buffy "Where is your engagement ring Buffy"
Buffy and Spike both looked at one another
"Well… erm… we thought that well… we thought we'd take advantage of our visit and pick one here" Spike said a-matter-of –factly
"Right – so you proposed without a ring?" Penelope arched an eyebrow "Michael gave me this huge diamond when he proposed on my birthday at daddy's ski-lodge in Aspen – the ring belonged to his grandmother you see, it could be worth up to $250,000"
Buffy and Spike just rolled their eyes – everything just had to be about her
"How very…" 'Cheesy, sickening, boring…the list goes on!' "…Romantic, yes very romantic" Spike decided to behave himself
"Yes well it's very pretty" Buffy eyed the engagement ring 'Shit – never thought about a ring!'
This was not turning out to be the most pleasant of evenings – the bad feeling between Buffy and Penelope was obvious and Michael couldn't wait to get out the limo, get the meal by with and then go to the club and go home – this so was not a good idea. Michael had thought that they had all grown up but the bad feelings never seemed to pass, his thoughts were interupted by Penny
"And how did Spike propose to you then Buffy?" Penelope was beginning to have fun now
"Now there's a story!" Spike laughed and turned grinning to Buffy
'Shit what's he gonna do?'
Spike leaned back in his seat and Penelope for once, was all ears
"Well it all started one Friday night a few months back" Spike took a drink of the champagne "Me, Buffy, Anya and Xander, they're… our friends, anyway we all decided to go to the Bronze and it was pay day for Xander so we all got rather drunk"
"Ha, you proposed when you were drunk?" Penny looked disgusted and Buffy cringed
"Pen stop interrupting Spike" Michael was getting pissed off, Penelope obliged her fiancé and remained silent
"No what I was gonna say was it was on that night I realised she was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with!" Spike looked at her, noting the anxiety in her eyes, she didn't have a clue what he was gonna say and neither did he "Anyway, it was open mic night so Xander and I got up and sung to the ladies dedicating our song to them, and then they sung to us, it was all very drunken but still, quite sweet… and then at the end of the song we told them over the mic that we loved them and that we would marry them"
Buffy was curious as to where the hell this was going
"So you got drunk at some silly little club, went on stage, humiliated yourself by singing and telling everyone you loved your girlfriend then what?" Penelope didn't even look up from filing her nails
"Well then we went home and…"
Buffy had to intervene before he said something "Well needless to say he didn't actually propose that night he just announced his intention to propose"
"So when did you propose then?" Michael was a tad confused
"Well this is the best part! Isn't it luv?" Spike looked at Buffy who nodded nervously "Within the next few weeks I was visiting L.A a lot – you know to see my Grandfather and stuff and one day about three weeks later I came home and went to Sunnydale UC straight away, Buffy had English Lit that morning and I went to her classroom window in the middle of her lesson and pulled a moon at her and her class and old professor 'Crackpot' Adams" Spike burst out laughing
"Umm… 'Pulled a moon'?" Penny looked over at her companions confused
Spike laughed "You know, pulled a moon, bared my butt, flashed my ass at her and her class"
"And this is funny why?" Penelope looked down her surgically altered nose at them
"It was funny my dear because I had a tattoo on my butt saying Buffy will you please be my wife! I got it done when I went to L.A that day! And I went straight to her classroom and proposed to her through the window with a bare bum!"
"How can you take a proposal like that seriously?" Penelope looked disgusted
"Well that's my sense of humour love, and Buffy knows that but I've not finished yet"
Buffy was shocked, horrified and in hysterics all at the same time
Spike too was laughing "Anyway I pulled up my pants, climbed through the window and got down in one knee in front of the students and told her 'Buffy in all my life I have never met anyone as unique as you, as perfect as you, as beautiful as you – you are truly special and I can't picture my life without you in it, I would rather be dead, like really, really dead than live without you, so would you Buffy Summers please do me the honour of becoming my wife?' and Buffy with an extremely red face accepted"
At this point Buffy and Michael started howling with laughter and Spike soon joined, Penelope was however not in the least amused
Michael was doubled over "Do you still have it – the tattoo?"
Buffy looked horrified but was laughing too much to care "Yeah, he's still got it!"
"And always will!" Spike leaned forward slowly, he forgot Penny and Michael were even there and it only seemed to be him and the Slayer; he kissed her lightly on the lips and looked her in the eye "Always!"
Buffy's legs were for some reason like jelly and she looked Spike straight in the eye, his beautiful blue eyes and whispered "Always" then for some strange reason, one beyond even her comprehension she leaned up, putting one hand to the side of his face and kissed him, slowly she surrounded his lips with hers and kissed him, it was only for a second but it felt like longer
'Huh?' Spike was confused but it felt kinda good
'Why am I kissing Spike? Acting that's it' Buffy was confused 'Shit we should get an Academy Award for this'
Buffy pulled away and met the questioning eyes of Spike
Michael was so surprised, Buffy and Spike were so happy, so in love. It was strange and he, on some level, was jealous, but not of Buffy but of their relationship
"That was some way to propose Spike, very… original!" Michael smiled and shook the vamps hand
"That's real sweet" Penelope said in her 'oh-I'm-so-not-interested-voice' "But we're here"
"Huh" Buffy looked at her, her mind still reeling from the little kiss her and Spike had just shared "Right the meal"
The car came to a stop and Penelope climbed out followed quickly by Michael, leaving Buffy and Spike alone
"That was some story" Buffy grinned "How the hell did you think of that?"
Spike just looked at her "I dunno, it just came out somehow – but they totally bought it… that and the kiss…"
Buffy looked downward "Yeah that was pretty convincing stuff… but hey we're really good actors!" Buffy didn't want to read into it too much, there were too many factors involved; the champagne, the unique situation they were in and the whole proposal story, she really didn't want to make things any more complicated than they already were and anyway it was all part of the plan.
Spike grinned "Yeah we should keep goin like this cos Little-Miss-Cosmetic-Surgery is getting real pissed!"
They were interupted "Are you lovebirds coming or what?" Michael stuck his head back in the door
Buffy looked up at him "Yeah we're just coming" she winked at Spike
Spike moved towards the door and offered his hand to Buffy to help her out the car, she stepped out and they turned towards the restaurant – without releasing each other's hands.
They walked towards Michael and Penny and they stood at the entrance
"I'm just gonna nip inside and check that everything's okay with our reservations" Michael stepped inside and was followed out moments later by a little man wearing a white jacket
"Vincent, I would like you to meet my friend Buffy and her fiancé Spike" Michael looked from the little man and then to the couple
"Bonjourno! I am very please to meet you both, I have heard a lot about you from Mister Michael!" Vincent grabbed them both in a hasty embrace and kissed Buffy's hand "Well I heard it all today but never mind better late than never" the little Italian man then turned to Penny "Ah Miss Penelope, you look radiant as always!"
Penny pretended to be embarrassed and put her hand to her chest "Vincent you make me blush"
"I am very much looking forward to the wedding" Vincent smiled at Michael
"Yes well we're having a night off from our wedding we're out to celebrate Buffy and Spikes engagement tonight"
Penelope rolled her eyes at Michael comment
"And Miss Buffy, Mister Spike I too am happy for you both, you shall have a wonderful evening tonight!" Vincent was grinning at them both "In fact!" and with that he ran inside
"What is he doing?" Buffy looked at Michael
Michael was laughing, "He's gone to get the camera"
Penelope even cracked a slight smile, she was very fond of the little guy "He does it every time!"
"Alfonso! Alfonso! Hurry up!" Vincent ran out the restaurant quickly followed by a slender teenager "Alfonso! A picture, a picture!"
He grouped them all together, Buffy and Spike at one side and Penny and Michael at the other, as he stood in the middle, the young boy took the picture and then said something in Italian before heading indoors
"Ahh… thank you much!" Vincent nodded his head "Now we go!"
Buffy and Spike laughed, he was an odd little man but very likeable, they all headed indoors but they stopped just before the door and Michael and Penny began kissing. Buffy and Spike just looked at each other, Vincent simply looked on proudly
He turned to Buffy and Spike "They had their first date here! I like to think I played a small part in their happiness"
"Oh right" Spike was confused "So they get all hot and heavy every time they come here?"
Buffy slapped his chest and Vincent laughed
"No, no, no I make all young couples have kiss before they come in, well the one's I know anyway" Vincent laughed "And you two are next"
Michael and Penny had stopped kissing "Honestly Vincent must we every time?" Penny kissed his cheek
"Yes Miss Penny, it is so I know the love is still there I can tell you see, my papa was going to call me Romeo"
They all laughed and then fell silent as all eyes fell on Buffy and Spike
"Oh. My. God. They're getting out the limo," Cordelia gasped as she stared out the window squinting her eyes "It is Buffy!"
"Yeah and that's Spike" Wesley looked at the vampire holding Buffy's hand "Ok and he's holding Buffy's hand"
"That means that Buffy and Spike ARE engaged!" Cordelia lifted her hand to her mouth in shock
Gunn looked at the couple standing outside the restaurant "What's with that dude's hair?"
Cordelia just looked at Gunn "That is so not the issue right now!"
"Ok but Angel that girl, she is HOT!" Gunn looked at his boss who totally blanked him "Angel, Angel, man you still with us, are you alright?"
Angel kept staring straight ahead "Yes, I see Buffy and Spike, I see Buffy and Spike holding hands after getting out of a limo plastered with a congratulations message about their engagement, but apart from that everything is just peachy!"
"Umm… now Angel I'd just like to reiterate the fact that there could be a perfectly good explanation for this" Wesley continued staring in disbelief
"Spike looks different!" Cordelia stared at the vampire
"Yes I must agree" Wesley stared too
"I mean when did he get so se…" Angel turned and growled at her "… stylish, when did he get so stylish I mean look what he's wearing!"
Angel ignored her comment and turned his attention back to his ex and his grand-childe
Gunn scoffed "That is so not the issue right now!"
Cordelia stared at him and then looked at a very pissed off looking Angel and followed his gaze
At this point Buffy and Spike walked towards the tall red head and the guy she was with who had also got out the limo and they stood under the canopy at the front of the building, the A-Team stared in silence across the road. The young man they were with went inside and was followed out shortly after by a little fat man, they chatted and then he left and returned with a waiter who took their photograph
Gunn was so confused looking "What the hell's goin on?"
They all shook their heads watching the scene in front of them. As they watched the red head and her boyfriend began to kiss passionately as Buffy, Spike and the other man looked on
"Get a room!" Cordelia screwed up her nose
"Shhh…." Wesley was still staring
"They can't hear me Wes!" Cordelia growled at her friend and then turned her attention back to the street "Wait a minute…."
Outside the restaurant all eyes were on Buffy and Spike, the chef guy was saying something to them and the vampire and the Slayer looked at one another awkwardly
"Uh-oh!" Cordelia mumbled
"Uh-oh what?" Gunn looked at the Seer
She knew what was coming. Spike turned and looked down at Buffy whispering something in her ear before straightening back up, she looked back up at him, he then lifted his finger and placed it under her chin elevating he face slightly as he leaned his head down and began kissing her, Buffy's hands wriggled around Spikes neck and he placed his hands on her waist as they continued.
Cordelia's chin was hitting the floor
Wesley was cringing
Gunn was still confused
Angel looked down at his lap and every time he lifted it to check and see if they were finished they were still standing there kissing
"So you must kiss Miss Buffy now!" Vincent smiled oblivious
"Yeah come on its tradition!" Michael joined in
Buffy and Spike just grinned uneasily and he leaned down and pecked her cheek whispering her ear "What we gonna bloody do?" he was nervous, this so wasn't part of the deal
"I dunno, we'll, well we're just gonna have to do it!" she was feeling very uneasy about this
"Come on I want to eat sometime this year!" Penelope crossed her arms and stared at them impatiently
Spike cleared his throat and let go of Buffy's hand and moved closer towards her, he could hear her heartbeat racing and her breathing was getting heavier and more frequent
Buffy stepped towards Spike as he released her hand from his shaky grip and he moved closer to her, her chest was pounding and her breathing was becoming deeper
Spike just lifted his hand and placed a finger under her chin searching her eyes to make sure everything was okay
Buffy stared into Spike's deep blue eyes and noting the anxiety gave him a look letting him know it was okay
Then they were kissing a REAL kiss, his mouth captured hers, his cold mouth against her hot one, the whole world stopped, they moved even closer together and Buffy moved her arms and placed them so they were hooked around Spike's neck as he put his arms around her waist pulling her close as his tongue gently moved into her mouth, just as they were beginning to enjoy it Vincent cleared his throat
"Aherm…" Vincent smiled at the blushing couple
Buffy reached up and lifted her finger to her swollen lips, her face flushed "Sorry, erm, we…."
Vincent laughed "No need to explain Miss Buffy!"
Spike smiled and Michael laughed, Penny was just getting impatient
"Well it is no problem, the love is very much there… like I said, I see these things and it is even better when every kiss seems like the first, you will be very happy I know it, the love is there, just like Miss Penny and Mr Michael" Vincent shook Spikes hand and winked at him "You know you not let that one go" and Vincent headed inwards mumbling something about his pasta being too soft
"Well looks like we can go eat now" Penelope took Michaels arm and the doorman held the door open for them
"Oh my god, now they do need to get a room!" Gunn pointed at Buffy and Spike
"Right that's it!" Angel jumped out the convertible and began walking across the street
Cordelia was 2 seconds behind him "Angel wait – now don't do anything stupid!"
Gunn and Wesley followed their lead and they all ran towards the oblivious couple
Cordelia kept chasing him "Angel… Angel… I'm telling you, you silly big brooding vampire that if you don't stop in your tracks right now I'll, well I'll kick your ass!"
Angel stopped and stared at his seer "What?"
"You heard!" Cordelia put her hand on her hip "Now lets handle this with a little maturity and dignity!"
Angel arched an eyebrow at her "Okay I just mean don't kick his ass quite yet"
Angel nodded and they all walked towards the door.
Buffy and Spike were heading indoors when suddenly Spike's head instinctively turned around "Shit!"
Buffy looked up at Spike confused "What's wrong?"
"Angel!"
"What do you mean Angel!?" Buffy's face dropped and they both turned round and found themselves looking at Angel, a really dirty slimy Cordelia, a scruffy, bleeding Wesley and some young black guy they didn't recognise
Buffy's legs felt weak and she leaned on Spike for support
Michael noticed a rather strange looking group of people walking straight towards them and Buffy and Spike seemed to recognise them
"Problem?" Michael looked at them
Buffy and Spike ignored him
Penelope was intrigued "What's going on now?"
The four strangers arrived and stood staring at the couple, Angel simply stared at Buffy who had paled considerably and Spike who was looking a cross between smug and nervous
"Well fancy meeting you two here!" Angel crossed his arms
Buffy and Spike just stared at Angel in shock – he did not look happy – well he never looked happy but this was an all new level of looking not happy
Cordelia and Wes looked at the Slayer "Hey Buff"
Buffy stared at the slime covered cheerleader and the ex-watcher "Hey Cordy, hey Wes!"
Buffy moved away from Spike "Look Angel I can explain… just not right now!"
Angel scoffed "Oh right sorry! So when did you two get ENGAGED!" he looked at Spike in disgust
Penelope suddenly interupted
"Buffy, Spike aren't you going to introduce us to your… friends"
Buffy stared at the red head bitterly
"Penelope, Michael this is Angel"
"Please to meet you Angel" Penelope extended her hand to the handsome stranger and he shook it and Michael did the same
"Likewise" Angel mumbled
"This is Cordy" Buffy nodded towards the goo covered girl
Cordy extended her hand and then realised when they all started staring at her that she was still covered in Demon slime and quickly retracted it
Penelope stared at the slime-covered girl
"Mmm… charmed" Penelope just looked her up and down
"Yes well I was… I was just… I was just leaving" Cordelia went to leave when Angel grabbed her arm
"Stay" and she obeyed
"Is that some kind of fashion statement!" Penelope looked down at Cordelia
"No, I was at the carnival and got dunked okay! What's your excuse?" Cordy stared at her outfit
Buffy finished her introductions and they all stood awkwardly in silence
"So would either of you care to explain what the hell is going on and why you are here, why you are holding hands, why you got out a limo saying you were engaged and why you are standing in the middle of L.A kissing!" Angel was fuming
"Look Peaches this has got nothing to do with you so bugger off! We can explain but not now!" Spike didn't want to cause Buffy any harm and Angel could ruin everything
Angel clenched his fist as did Spike, Buffy leaped in front of Spike and Cordelia jumped in front of Angel
"Look you two violence won't solve anything!" Cordelia pushed Angel backwards
"Yeah" Buffy agreed
Buffy then turned looking at Cordelia and whispered, "Why are you covered in Mucus Demon?"
"Oh I killed it" Cordelia smiled proudly
"You kill demons now?" Buffy looked kinda surprised
"Yeah – we'll catch up later – and trust me by the looks of things Buff we got a LOT to catch up on" Cordelia then turned her attention back to the situation at hand, Angel had stormed away and now walked back towards them shaking his head
Michael and Penelope stood staring in amazement, Penny grinned 'Maybe this night wasn't going to be so boring after all!'
"So wait a minute, I leave Sunnydale because I love you and want you to have a normal life and you get together with HIM!" Angel spat his words out venomously
"Excuse me I was quite happy with my life that was your choice not mine, I wasn't even asked what the hell I wanted so don't start Angel" Buffy nearly flew for Angel this time and Spike held her back, he left her, he made the choice not her and that annoyed her "You have no right to preach to me!"
"It was for the best Buffy and you know it, I mean I was literally in hell for god's sake!"
Penny was stunned "Hell? Is she really that bad to go out with?"
Michael shook his head he was just so stunned about the events unfolding round about him
Angel couldn't believe this "And now your getting married to Spike, I mean that's low! Are you that desperate I mean I 'd have been happier if you'd married Riley"
That was it Spike was in a rage, he knew he wasn't marrying the Slayer but Angel didn't so he had no right to say these things "Look Peaches a lot had changed since the last time you were in Sunnydale, I'm on their side now and I have been for a long time – it's weird it just kinda happened and look we shouldn't talk about this now!" Spike was trying to keep calm but he wanted to kick Angel's ass
"This has got nothing to do with you!" Angel punched him square on the jaw
Spike went flying backwards landing on his back, Buffy ran towards him and kneeled beside him as he nursed his jaw
"Look Angel just leave – I can't believe you are doing this" the tears began to fall down Buffy's face
"Oh my God Michael – where the hell do you meet these people!" Penelope shook her head and covered her face with her hand as a crowd gathered around them
Cordelia really didn't like this girl "Yeah good idea I'd cover my face too, especially with that cheap nose job who's your surgeon? Dr Frankenstein?!"
"Well I never!" Penelope stared at Cordelia who walked away flicking her hair and covering the red-head in slime in the process
Michael laughed unintentionally; he did not have a clue what was going on
"Michael Healy I cannot believe you find this funny" Penelope stomped her feet in a tantrum
Everyone seemed to be arguing
"Angel, please leave!" Buffy got up and punched Angel
Cordelia turned around; she caught Buffy punching Angel and cringed
"Buffy stop it!" Cordelia screamed as she held onto Angel "Look Buffy this is neither the time nor the place!" Cordelia stared at her
Buffy just looked at Angel "What's this got to do with her? If it's got nothing to do with Spike then what's it got to do with her"
"Excuse me but she's my best friend!" Angel looked at Cordelia "This has got everything to do with her!"
"Yeah and Spike, Spike's my fiance!" Buffy screamed 'Well he's not really but they don't know that!'
Wesley was getting annoyed and he stood up and walked into the middle of the ramble "STOP!!!!!"
Everyone turned and looked at the timid Englishman who had just shook L.A to its foundations
"Cordelia, Angel, Gunn, get back to the car, we're going back to the Hotel! This is not the time nor the place to be doing this, Buffy and Spike, you should come round tomorrow – we have to discuss this!" Wesley handed them his card
"Cordelia stop fighting with Buffy's friend, and Angel stop arguing with Spike – we're leaving!" Wesley grabbed Angel's sleeve and Cordelia's arm and dragged them towards the car
Penelope, Michael, Buffy and Spike all stood in the middle of the street watching as the fang gang walked towards the black convertible on the other side of the street
"Would someone care to explain what the hell just went on???" Penelope wiped a piece of slime from her forehead
Buffy was still in shock and was upset from the confrontation; Spike took Buffy's arm
"Look Buffy and Angel used to date, we're kinda related…. "
Penelope looked at him "Kinda related?"
"… we're… we're cousins and don't get on anymore, anyway we hadn't told him we were dating never mind that we were engaged and it's just been a shock for him finding out like that"
Michael went towards Buffy "You okay Lizzy Beth?"
Buffy nodded "Yeah, I just need to go home"
"Sure" Michael nodded towards the driver "Take them back to the hotel please" Michael then turned back to Buffy "I'm sorry – I'll call you tomorrow"
"No Michael – I'm sorry!" Buffy hugged Michael and walked back to the limo
"Thanks mate" Spike shook Michael's hand and then went towards the limo following Buffy
"Thanks for a wonderful evening" Penelope shouted as the car drove away
Buffy and Spike sat in the car in silence
"Spike, everything's ruined! The weddings ruined! Angel and Cordelia hate me and… and I dunno what I'm gonna do!"
"Well we could still salvage things with the wedding, they seemed to by that story and we're gonna go talk to Angel tomorrow and explain the situation and meanwhile we've got a limo and a mini bar!"
Spike flashed a smile at Buffy
"Come on love it could be worse!"
Buffy smiled a little and nodded
"Yeah – but not much!"
Wesley was driving with Gunn in the passenger seat, Angel and Cordelia were in the back – Cordelia was trying to clean up the cut on Angel's cheek and Angel was slumped in the chair
"I still don't believe this!" Angel was confused "It's just… unbelievable!"
"Yeah I know but we it could have been worse!" Cordelia just shrugged her shoulders
"Mmm but I still thinks there's something fishy going on – Spike was being way to nice" Wesley continued driving "And why wouldn't they have phoned to tell us, why wouldn't Giles have phoned me, I mean I don't really see him standing for it; his Slayer marrying a souless ex-master demon"
"Yeah definetely something weird, but is he souless?" Gunn was still confused
"Of course he's souless I mean he hasn't been cursed or anything" Wesley reasoned
Cordelia wasn't sure "Yeah but Wes you need a soul to love right? And looking back on him and Buffy, the way they were before they seen us and then how protective he was, if he doesn't love her, he really cares and they're like meant to be mortal enemies"
"Well we'll soon find out" Angel muttered
Cordelia wiped her some slime from her bangs "Anyway I thougth it went pretty well considering"
They all just stared at her
"What" she looked at them "What?"
There you go what'd ya think? Hope you like it and in the next chapter Michael has something interesting to tell Buffy. Buffy and Spike try to explain thing to the fang gang, even afterwards they are still wary due to the amazing performance put on plus and depending on how it goes Spike and Buffy may go shopping for their wedding outfits!