TITLE: The Invitation
AUTHOR: Cheeky Chick
RATING: PG-13
SUMMARY: Buffy and Spike wake up the morning after their Caritas adventure feeling a little worse for wear, they visit Angel and Co and Cordy and Buffy go shopping. The boys and girls take some time to discuss their perspective love lives or lack of.
AUTHORS NOTES: There is one more chapter after this and then its time for the wedding and the inevitable aftermath! So I'd say another 2 maybe 3 chapters.
Thoughts are denoted by **
Okay I know I've been out of it for a while, I went MIA for a while but just took the sudden urge to restart this story with a little help from a friend so forgive me if the continuity is a little off.
Okay I know this story is a little AU but what they hey its all in the name of fun and its quite light hearted. Spikes got a chip, there is NO Connor, Spike isn't obsessed with Buffy, Joyce is alive, Dawn isn't the key, Glory hasn't appeared etc etc
DISCLAIMER: None of this is mine it all belongs to Joss
FEEDBACK: Please, it would be much appreciated also if you wouldn't mind telling me whether I should make it A/C and B/S because I'm not sure whether to write the A/C in a sequel or whether to work into this story
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Buffy Summers was never big on alcohol consumption, in fact for a girl her age she had kept her experiences with alcohol down to a bare minimum, well until now. Some people like to let their hair down when on holiday and Buffy Summers was no exception. So okay it probably didn't help that she'd came on this trip with a vampire who had sever issues with life and who if they hadn't been dead would be a regular at the local AA meetings. Buffy had already woken up several times this week with classic hangover symptoms and this morning was no different apart from the fact she seemed to have acquired herself a drunk, dead bed buddy.
"Aww… I can't feel my body!" Buffy moaned and tried to sit up but was defeated by gravity and the two gallons of alcohol she felt rolling around inside her.
Buffy turned over and noticed she had company **Urgh… crap that's the second time this week I've woke up next the blonde wonder**
Spike was lying on his stomach his face turned to Buffy arm casually thrown over her midriff. She noticed how he slept with his mouth slightly open and realised how funny it was that he was making no noise and no air was coming out, suppose that comes with the territory but she'd never really noticed with Angel
**Yeah not like he stuck around for long after we…did the whole sex thing**"Ok I know that I'm totally irresistible but will you please stop ogling me like I'm a piece of meat!"
Buffy's train of thought was completely disrupted and she looked at the vampire who hadn't moved and whose eyes were still closed
"What!!!" Buffy blushed "I was so not ogling you! Spike ogling isn't big on my list of things to do and anyway how can you tell you're eyes are closed you great jerk"
Spike stifled a grin "Oh name calling Summers how very mature of you, what you gonna do next steal my lunch money and pull my hair"
Buffy's face remained red but this time in fury at Spike whose eyes were still closed
"Argh… you infuriate me beyond all belief!" Buffy shoved his arm off her and climbed out the bed "Now get up!"
Spike groaned and opened his eyes at last "God what a night we had last night, the sing, the dancing, the drinking… the sex!"
Buffy turned on her heels "What!? What sex? We so did not have sex last night! I mean even if I was drunk I wouldn't even contemplate doing it with you! I mean I'd remember, I'd need to be unconscious… Oh you wouldn't dare, when I was sleeping… your sick…."
Spike had that self-satisfying grin that he seemed to keep for when he knew he'd pissed the slayer off plastered on his face
"Lighten up Summers it was a joke!"
"Oh sorry must have forgot to laugh" Buffy gritted her teeth "Bad start to what I'm sure is gonna be a worse day"
By this point Spike had sat upright his back against the headboard and had stuck a cigarette in his mouth
"You know what they say Buffy you know you're having a bad day when you wake up to find your waterbeds burst, then realise… you don't have waterbed"
Spike lit his cigarette and took a puff as Buffy turned and looked at him in utter disbelief
"What are you talking about! Have you gone crazy or something – anyway who, who actually says that?"
Spike grinned again and shrugged his shoulders "They do"
Buffy flung her arms up in frustration and sat on a nearby chair stifling a yawn "Oh god we have got so much to do today"
"Like what?"
Buffy idly played with her 'engagement' ring "Well the wedding is tomorrow, I need a dress, you need a tux and I'll need shoes, jewellery, a handbag, make-up and all that crap"
"Well why don't you and the cheerleader go shopping and get all that stuff and I'll just hang around maybe go and see what peaches is up to"
Buffy looked as if she was contemplating the idea "Yeah well I was gonna ask Cordy to go anyway so I suppose that'd be fine as long as you don't cause any trouble at the hotel"
"As if!" Spike grinned
"Why the hell are you in such a good mood anyway I mean I'm so hungover my head is pounding, my stomach is churning and you're just being a complete smartass!" Buffy looked over at the bed and shook her head at Spike
"You know something you're right I think I'm still drunk!" Spike grinned, "No more Marguerites for me, those things packed a bloody great punch!"
"Yeah no shit!" Buffy groaned at the thought "But you know what gets me the singing! You were singing!"
Spike would have blushed if he could "Yeah… well don't tell anyone in Sunnyhell I've got to uphold my rep you know!"
Buffy nearly fell off her chair laughing "You're rep….? You're rep….?"
"Slayer why do you find that so funny… I mean come on I'm the big bad!"
At this point Buffy seriously nearly stopped breathing "Oh Spike you really do crack me up!"
Spike folded his arms over his chest and growled and threw a large pillow at Buffy, it hit her right in the face and she fell off the chair
"Why you dead, pale ass son-of-vamp" she growled as she stood up and ran at the bed thrashing the pillow from side to side "Danny watch out Sandy's coming to get you"
"Slayer no, slayer put down the pillow! Come on now Summers be reasonable"
It was too late Buffy whacked Spikes head with the pillow and continued to hit him anywhere she could, Spike retaliated by grabbing the pillow he was resting on and hitting her back
"Spike… stop… truce… no"
"I don't think so Slayer this means war!"
They continued to fight until they were both jumping up and down on the bed hitting each other, Spike was winning until Buffy just flew for him and they both crashed unceremoniously onto the bed before bouncing off onto the floor
"Ouch!" Buffy moaned as she landed on her back Spike on top of her
"Yeah ouch!"
Spike had landed directly on top of Buffy and thumped his forehead on the floor, he pushed himself up situating one hand at either side of her head. They looked at each other for a moment, Buffy became lost in his deep blue, icy orbs they seemed to hold so much and Spike noted the light smell of vanilla emanating from her mussed up hair. Buffy noticed a small graze above Spike's eyebrow from when he hit the floor she reached up gingerly and ran her finger across it, Spike shivered at her feather light touch
"You've got a cut there Blondie"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah"
Buffy looked up and not knowing who moved first there faces came closer together until their noses were almost touching and then they stopped as if to seek permission from one another before they crossed that barrier which would change everything but Spike could wait no longer and he bent down to kiss her, suddenly the phone rang and brought them both back to reality, their lips which had felt the slightest of grazes leapt apart yet their bodies didn't move
"Umm Buffy the phone is ringing" Spike looked at her
"Yeah I know but I… well I can't get up until you move your pale ass off me" Buffy added the last part in a light tone
"Oh okay sorry" Spike stumbled up "I'm just gonna have a ciggie"
"Spike…? Spike…?" Buffy looked at his retreating form until he turned around "I totally won that round"
Spike looked slightly taken aback **She is talking about the pillow fight? Isn't she?**
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the phone "Hello?"
It was Cordy
"Hey Buff?"
"Hey Cordy you sound…"
"Like a zombie who drained a whiskey brewery?"
"Well I was gonna go with a bear with a hangover but either works"
"Very funny, you've got the whole Slayery powers thing going on, you know extra fast healing etcetera bet you're fine"
"Ha, I wish I feel like crap, in fact I think I've reached a whole new level of crap that's gonna be renamed 'the Buffy'!"
Cordy laughed on the other side
"Yeah picture the scene a large frat party at sigma gamma pi and in the morning frat brother Chad comes down and says to frat brother Brad 'Hey where's Tad?' and Brad turns to Chad and says 'Man it's horrible he's in his room he drank like four punch bowls and 2 kegs last night – it was awesome but now he's got 'the Buffy' and it ain't pretty'. Yup I can see it now!"
Buffy and Cordy where in hysterics
"Cordy I don't think I've heard anything that funny since Spike told me this morning he's the Big Bad and has a rep to keep up, I mean Brad, Chad and Tad! How the hell in your state of alcohol abuse did you manage to get all those names to rhyme off the top of your head I can barely remember my own name?"
Cordy was giggling like crazy "Oh my god… I actually dated three guys from UCLA named… yup you guessed it Brad, Tad and Chad all frat boys, but that's not what I'm laughing at… Spike the big bad…"
Buffy grinned and looked over at Spike
"Ahem, I'm dead, not deaf, super vamp hearing!"
"Oops, sorry Spike" Buffy grinned
"Yeah send the big bad my deepest apologies I wouldn't want him to come over and pummel my ass now would I?"
Spike just crossed his arms over his chest and pouted, Buffy thought it was kinda cute a thought she quickly banished after what nearly happened earlier
"Buffy, hello? Earth to Buffy Summers are you there?"
Spike caught Buffy staring and grinned a cheeky little smirk that made her blush
"Oh sorry Cordelia, spaced out there"
"No bother, anyway I better get on with it Angels gonna start moaning about the phone bill" Cordy lowered her tones "He's getting kinda cheap in his old age"
Buffy smiled and then heard Angel hollering in the background 'I'm dead not deaf!'
About 45 minutes later Buffy came off the phone her ears ringing, Spike had went down and ordered some food and got them to let him in to use the microwave, telling the waiter he needed to heat up his babies food the boy had offered to do it for him but Spike was insistent
"Now son who do you think would be the nest choice to see if my wife's breast milk is hot enough me or you, plus I'm kinda funny about stuff like this you know us Brits, quite the meticulous bunch"
The young boy eventually agreed as long as he didn't tell his manager
"Yeah man okay but don't tell my boss he's evil dude, I'm telling you he'd eat me alive if he caught me doin anything wrong"
"Really what's his name I might know him?"
The teenagers spotty face paled "Umm yeah whatever… I eh gotta go"
Spike laughed heated up his blood grabbed Buffy's lunch and left.
By the time Spike got back to their room Buffy was fully ready
"Mmm thank god you're back I'm starved"
"Yeah pillow fights and girl talk will do that to you"
Buffy blushed slightly when he mentioned the whole pillow fight but quickly changed the subject "Umm yeah I guess so, anyway I'm meeting Cordy in an hour I'll drop you and that heap of junk you call a car off at the Hyperion, Cordy and I are gonna take the convertible it's much more suitable for shopping in L.A"
"Fine whatever but that car is a classic, Angels just a big flash bastard buying a convertible!"
"Oh I think someone's jealous"
"Am not"
"Are too"
"Am not"
"Are too"
"AM NOT!"
"Oh that's it I am so taking your lunch money!" Buffy laughed
"Yeah well if you do I'll tell your mommy cos we all know how much Joyce loves me"
The two of them laughed not just at the jokes but also at how surreal their relationship had become, they laughed and joked like old school buddies. Not that long ago they weren't even on speaking terms in fact they were trying to kill one another, oh how things change.
"Okay so what have you not to do?" Buffy sat in the Desoto
"Aww come on Slayer!" Spike pleaded "Are you not humiliating me enough! I mean I'm squeezed under the front passenger seat of my own car, I'm letting you dress me up like a Ken doll, I'm telling complete strangers I'm in love with you and you're taking away the only fun I'm gonna get to have on this trip"
Buffy pursed her lips and looked down at Spike "Yes I am going to take away your only fun. Ken has brown hair and is better looking than you and finally you're under that seat for a reason that is unless you want to repaint the windows because they haven't been done in a while and I'm fairly certain they're letting some sun in - look"
Buffy grabbed his hand and pulled it onto the surface of the black leather seat next to her and right enough the moment she did sizzling could be heard and there was a distinct whiff of burning flesh
"Ouch!" Spike screamed "Slayer that was bloody uncalled for"
Spike grasped his hand, it wasn't that painful after all it was under the light for only a second but she didn't know that
"Oh stop bitching I was simply proving a point anyway where was I oh yes…."
Spike shook his head; he looked over at Buffy she was looking real good from his position on the floor of the car. She was wearing a knee length black skirt that showed off her toned, tanned legs and a pink top with capped sleeves, her blonder hair was down and she had on enough make up to cover up the fact she dark rings under eyes due to lack off sleep and excessive drinking but not so much that her make up looked unnatural.
"God damn it Spike are you even listening to me?"
"Huh? Yeah of course! No antagonising Angel, no bringing up the whole one true moment of happiness gig to annoy him, no calling him peaches, grandpa or eunuch. Don't annoy Giles Junior about his lack of watcher skills, don't bring up Faith…. Okay look I don't have all day, can we just go in already?"
Buffy grinned "Yeah I suppose we better, now we all had an enjoyable time last night so lets not ruin things"
Buffy parked the Desoto round the back off the building inside the hotels old delivery entrance, the sun was nearly right overhead as it was early afternoon and the whole sun equals dusty Spike was a problem. Getting into the car was fine thanks to the whole big, dark and damp car park at their end and the semi-black painted windows but getting out was more difficult, eventually they got Spike only slightly barbequed from the incident with Buffy earlier into the hotel.
They soon enough found their way up to the reception area and were greeted by the fang gang less the crazy girl
"Hey you finally got here" Cordelia greeted them smiling not looking in the least unhealthy or hungover
"Yeah" Buffy grinned looking at Spike "We had a bit of car trouble"
**Bitch ain't bloody getting away with that** Spike growled internallyCordy and Buffy continued to chat animatedly about dresses and shoes while Spike turned his attention to the other members of the group
"So Giles Junior how's things?" Spike grinned **This should do the trick – I'm not her lap dog, do this Spike do that Spike jump through a bloody flaming hoop Spike**
Buffy's head whirled round and she sent a death glare in Spikes direction
"Fine thank you?" Wesley answered dryly barely acknowledging him as he too had a few too many Caritas cocktails last night
"Oh that's good it's just I was worried you know, with you not being all watchy and stuff I thought you're life may have lost some of it's meaning because you watcher types are brought up on that, its like a life plan and yours kinda went out the window" Spike lowered his tone "You know with you getting stuck with the rotten apple, that little minx what's-her-face"
Wesley gritted his teeth "Faith"
The whole room was silent
"Yeah Faith I mean really it must be soul destroying but never mind it had to happen some time the only ever rebel slayer unfortunate you got landed with her!" Spike sat himself on one of the desks ignoring the glares he was receiving from Gunn, Angel, Cordy and Buffy
"I don't like him" Gunn turned to Angel "Not even a little"
"Oh how that hurts pistol" Spike stuck a cigarette in his mouth
"It's Gunn"
"Yeah I know"
Angel stepped towards him "Spike leave it"
Spike just grinned "Calm down peaches you ain't really my Granpappy you need to lighten up… go get laid… oh wait that's a sore spot cos of that whole" Spike lowered his voice again as if trying to be sensitive "One true moment of happiness you go and have a whole Angelus revival"
Angels face looked ready to explode "What's your problem"
Buffy suddenly intervened "Ignore him" she actually looked slightly amused "He is just trying to wind me up"
They all looked confused
"I told him to behave himself and told him not to say anything to you guys about well… about everything he just brought up"
They all stared at Spike who still looked pleased with himself
"I still don't like him" Gunn looked at him with contempt "Looks like Billy Idol and I was never a big fan mind you going on what I heard of your singing last night… even I could learn to like Billy"
Everyone laughed
"Wait a minute mate he copied me, I…."
Spike was interrupted by Buffy "Oh shut up if I've heard that story once I've heard it a thousand times!"
Spike sneered, "Okay you think what you want but I know the truth!"
The mood had lightened somewhat as Fred made an appearance
"Hey Fred" Cordy greeted her "You okay"
Fred smiled "Yeah I sure am but I think I might be allergic to alcohol"
Buffy smiled at her "Hey Fred, Cordy and I are going shopping if you'd like to come"
Fred blushed "Thanks very much but I'd rather not I'm not a big fan of the outside and I promised Charles I'd help him with some research"
"Charles?" Spikes guffaw was heard all the way across the room from where his head was nosying around in a drawer "Who's Charles another great big poof I've not met, researching with Charles now that does sound like fun this guy sounds like a right barrel-o-laughs!"
Everyone was sniggering apart from Buffy, Spike and of course Gunn
"You wanna meet Charles?" Gunn asked as he walked over towards Spike
"Sure why not I could do with a laugh"
Gunn smiled, lifted his right arm and connected his fist with Spikes jaw "Please to meet you Spike!"
Spike instinctively grabbed his jaw "'K guess I deserved that"
Everyone was laughing even Spike and Gunn managed a grin
"Look mate seems we got off on the wrong foot today I'm not much company when I'm sober" Spike held out his hand, Gunn took his hand and shook it
"Right now you too have kissed and made up Buffy and I have some retail therapy to be partaking in" Cordy walked straight over to Angel and held her hand out "You sure you won't come Fred?"
"Yeah thanks but no thanks I've lots to be getting on with, but you could bring me back a Burrito if you wanted"
"Course we will honey" Cordy smiled still standing next to Angel hand outstretched "Ahem"
Angel looked at her "Cordelia I have the distinct impression you want something"
Cordy faked a shocked face putting her hand to her chest "Angel I'm insulted whatever gave you that idea"
Spike held in a snort and turned to Gunn "That's why she's working here with you guys and not with Marlon Brando or Elizabeth Taylor, hardly Oscar material was it?"
Cordy growled, "I heard that!"
Gunn laughed at the joke then turned to Spike "Marlon who? Elizabeth who? Dude when was last time you went to the movies? Read a magazine? Watched T.V?"
Spike shrugged "Not big on present day entertainment, except Passions, I love Passions"
Fred's face lit up "Oh me too"
Spike grinned, "Hey crazy girl knows her stuff!"
"Typical" Fred shrugged her shoulders as she went into the kitchen talking herself "Under appreciated that's what I am. Crazy people who are productive are geniuses, crazy people who are rich are eccentric, but crazy people who are neither well they're just plain crazy!"
Spike and Gunn looked confused at her statement and shook their heads. Meanwhile Cordelia was still pestering Angel
"So?"
Angel looked at her "So what?"
"Aww come on Angel please?"
Buffy was getting bored she looked at her watched it was 2:30, she'd been up for hours, she was hungover, tired, pissed off and needed to go shopping
Angel looked nonchalant "Cordelia I'm not a mind reader, that's you're department"
"I don't read minds I see into the future – duh!"
Angel laughed, "Right okay sorry Ms Seer"
Cordelia suddenly went all stiff, Angel looked at her and she mumbled incoherently something that sounded like vision. Everything happened in a blur for the onlookers Spike and Buffy. Angel leapt forward holding Cordelia as she grabbed her head, Wes ran over with Hedex tablets and Gunn had water almost instantly
Angel whispered softly "Cordy, what do you see?"
Cordelia was leaning her hand on Angels side at his hip and she began to mumble "Woman, young, early twenties, she's very attractive" they all shared a confused look "She's in a hotel a lobby of some description, there are lots of people there"
"It's okay Cordy take your time, what else do you see?" Wesley added
"Umm there's a guy he's kinda cute too he's right next to her, he just went into his jacket he's pulling something out, oh my god… he's giving her his gold premium company use credit card and he just told her to knock herself out because she deserves it with all the hard work she does and the mind numbing migraines and visions she puts up with"
The group relaxed Buffy grinned finally catching on
Angel grinned then scowled "Cordelia that's not funny"
She flashed him one of her kilowatt smiles "Yeah well why ya laughing then mister"
Everyone was laughing as Angel gave her his credit card
"Cordelia here, I suppose you do deserve it but don't go overboard… please"
Cordelia snatched the card as if he was going to change his mind "Sure thing boss"
Cordelia grabbed Buffy's wrist and pulled her towards the door turning round as she pulled the handle "Can't act huh? Sure fooled you lot!"
They all laughed as she exited
"Wait" angel hollered
Cordy had just shut the door but stuck her head back round having heard him shout "What is it now, this cards burning a large hole in my pocket"
Angel shook his head "Yeah not as big as the one it's gonna burn in my bank balance"
"Umm did you actually want me for something other than to chastise me for the inevitability of me overspending on your credit card?"
Angel came too "Oh yeah…"
"Well?"
"I'm just kinda cute? I would have went for dashing or handsome" Angel grinned
Cordy scrunched up her forehead in confusion eventually clicking "Oh right" she smiled "Buddy that just cost you big time and gained me a new pair of Manolo Blahniks" and with that she was gone
Gunn along with Spike and Wes looked very confused "Umm I'm just gonna pretend for the benefit of those who unlike me are not fashion gurus but what the hell are Manylo Blanikys when they're at home?"
Angel looked highly distressed "They're shoes"
Gunn looked surprised "Just shoes?"
Angel sat down "A pair of Manolo Blahniks, they're not just fashion, they are gestures, objects that happen to be fashion"
They all looked at him blankly
"Or so Cordy tells me all the time, that's what the guy who makes them says… I dunno she leaves a lot of magazines lying around, I get bored," Angel muttered
They all grinned at him in a mocking kind of way shaking their heads mumbling about being real men
Gunn picked up the phone "Yes I'd like to cancel the subscriptions to Vogue, Cosmo, Marie Claire and any other glossy fashion magazine that's comin this way! Why? Because we're men, real men, I'm a man and I shouldn't know about pore minimising solutions, Jimmy Choo's and 10 ways to get rid cellulite without resorting to plastic surgery and without leaving the home"
They all looked at Gunn now "Aww come on don't tell me y'all haven't got bored and done a Cosmo questionnaire?"
Cordy and Buffy had decided to go grab a latte at Starbucks before they began their epic search for a dress.
Cordy brought the coffees over and sat down "Okay so spill!?"
Buffy was shaken from her reverie, "Huh? Spill what?"
"Oh come on Buff!" Cordelia waved her hand nonchalantly "What's with you and Blondie??"
Buffy blushed "Oh him, nothings going on I thought we established that the other night"
"Yeah well we did but that was for Angel's benefit, now what's really going on because the tension between you two is well…. tense, you know?"
Buffy laughed, "Aww Cordy give me a break. Honest nothing has happened between us and nothing is gonna happen between us. I mean the 'Eww' factor involved in thinking about me and Spike is so far off the disgustingly morbid scale that…."
Cordy interrupted, "Why?"
"Why?"
"Yes Buffy why?" Cordy took a sip of her latte then looked contemplative "I mean he's cute, he's funny in that dry British sense, he knows the dealy with you being all powerful, your mom likes him and he's obviously crazy about you…"
Buffy blinked a few times then rubbed her eyes and ears, "Okay I think I'm dreaming! Cordy you've got to be kidding I mean come on for every positive point you just made there's about ten negative ones waiting in the wings! I mean okay so you say he's cute and funny, I say he's dead, lives in crypt and is trapped in a time warp dedicated to the latter stage of the 1970's!"
Cordy shrugged her shoulders, "Okay so he's not big on fashion, but he is big on you"
"Cordelia Chase, I swear to god if you don't stop saying that!" Buffy lifted the coffee cup and took a sip "I don't like Spike, he doesn't like me I mean you'd be pushing it to even call us friends, we have a really weird relationship, well working relationship and anyway I'm not attracted to him!" Buffy spoke with a certain finality so Cordelia decided not to push it
"Okay, okay Buffy whatever you say, but I don't believe you"
"Well you're gonna have too"
**God I am such a liar, why not just tell her you and Spike flirty thing with the food, the ring, the pillows, the sleeping arrangements and the whole nearness of the making out this morning at least you'd have someone to talk too! – No there's no point because its been a mistake all of it – no point in bringing it up**
"Okay well lets go shopping then, we need shoes and handbags, make-up oh and a dress or two" Cordy grinned "Then we can start on you"
Buffy laughed "You aren't seriously gonna spend all the money on his credit card, are you?"
Cordy looked thoughtful, "Well okay not all of it but most of it, hey I deserve it, you haven't seen the monthly paycheque that old Ebenezer gives me!"
The two girls laughed jumped in the convertible and sped off to the mall.
"Okay so you and the cheerleader aren't even partaking in a little cold on hot action?" Spike took a puff of his cigarette
Angel looked up from the obituary section of the paper that he was reading, "For the last time NO! Cordelia and I, we're friends, colleagues, we respect and appreciate each other we…."
"Would be humping like rabbits if it wasn't for the gypsy curse and the whole going 'grrr' thing that comes post-coital" Spike decided to finish for him
Gunn laughed but a shooting glare from Angel shut him up
"Look Spike I don't know what the deal is with you and Buffy but Cordy and I, friends! Do the words platonic relationship mean nothing to you??!"
Spike was quiet, looked like he was considering something, "Platonic…? Hmm…. Platonic meaning companionable, friendly, often a spiritual bond. Yeah I know what it means, look I have a platonic friendship with Dawn, with Red…"
"Yeah but one is a kid and the other's a lesbian" Angel interjected
"Exactly you can't have a platonic friendship/relationship with a honey or with someone that you know you could have something with" Spike looked happy with himself
"Right so what about you and Buffy?" Angel looked over at his dead companion
"Ahh well you see that's different – I mean had I been alive, been normal and been in rightful possession of a soul I'm sure I'd have found her moderately attractive but as it is I'm dead, an evil vampire, the closest thing I have to a soul is an a man made chip produced by the American government which I'm expecting it to break any day now." Spike leaped off the desk "I mean I don't think she's a total hag but I have a deep rooted dislike for her that stems from the fact she's the Slayer and I'm a vamp that prevents me from being sexually drawn to her but I can learn to cope with working with her and…."
Gunn shook his head "That's the biggest load of bullshit I ever heard, you don't help someone you hate, you don't go away for the week with someone you hate, you don't buy gifts and drink marguerites with someone you hate"
Angel nodded in agreement, Spike take another puff of his cigarette
"Well I said I'd learn to cope…"
Angel just shook his head and began circling the obituary section again, "Yeah well Spike it seems your coping pretty well"
"Yeah whatever I'm gonna go find the crazy girl, we're watching Passions together!" with that he stalked off his leather coat swishing "Least someone round here has their priorities right!"
Next chapter
Buffy and Cordelia return from their shopping trips with the wedding but will Spike approve. The boys seem to have bonded. Buffy's feelings about Michael and her intentions for coming are questioned how much have things changed since she changed Sunnydale. And I might squeeze in the ceremony.