Title: Dedicated to the One I Love
Author: AnastasiaMarsters
Summary: Buffy Summers is sent to live with her Uncle Giles, agent to various recording artists. Dingoes Ate My Baby wants a contract, and Buffy wants to help. But when she meets lead singer, Spike, will her feelings change? AU, B/S (and others).
Rating: Recently changed to PG-13 due to language and a few things I have planned for the future, but I still believe in Spuffy goodness for the whole family!
Feedback: Is Great! (Thanks so much to all who have reviewed!)
Distribution: Ditto, but please give credit to AnastasiaMarsters.
Disclaimers: This is my first fanfic. The situations are mine, the characters are not. Buffy, Spike, etc. are intellectual property of people luckier than me. If I quote any BTVS, it's because it's perfect and fabulous, and I recognize that I didn't write it. The title is from "Dedicated to the One I Love," by the Shirelles, and I seem to enjoy naming chapters after Garth Brooks songs.
Chapter 3: I've Got a Good Thing Going
"And THEN, the ass had the nerve to kiss me! And oh, wait, you will absolutely not believe where I am right now," Buffy continued excitedly into the phone.
"Umm, I would guess that you're still in your Uncle's house." Willow Rosenberg responded. "And if you're not, that would be very strange, and you have a lot more explaining to do. This guy, Angel, there was kissage?"
"Nasty kissage," Buffy clarified. "Followed by me walking away. And I'm not just in Giles's house, I'm in the recording studio in his house!"
"Recording studio? Wow, Buff, that is pretty incredible. Does your Uncle have a band or something?"
At that, Buffy burst out laughing. "Sorry, Will, I forget that you haven't met him. He's definitely not the band type. He's an agent, or something. He finds bands and helps them get into the business. I really hope I get to hang around while he works, that might help take up some of my free time here. It stinks that you're so far away, Will." Buffy paused for a moment, playing with her hair. "You should see him... Angel, I mean. That face, those arms. Those are definitely good arms to have."
Willow rolled her eyes. "I thought he was an ass? Anyway, I guess I should go before my mom realizes that it's July and that we're probably not discussing calculus. Are you ever gonna come back and visit us? Xander whines constantly about how much he misses you, despite the fact that he's always attached at the lips to Cordelia."
"That's gotta be hard to do. Both the whining while attached, and the actual disgusting attachment," Buffy commented with a grimace. "Whoa, wait! I have a totally better idea! You guys need to visit me here, there are a billion rooms, and there's plenty of time before school starts in the fall. I'll ask Giles and find out what he says. Call you tomorrow, Willow!"
Buffy and Willow finished their conversation, and Buffy hung up the phone in the production booth. After checking the room for any possible eavesdroppers, she walked into the actual "studio" area, which she hoped was soundproof.
The tempting microphones hanging from the ceiling, as well as freestanding around the room, had been drawing Buffy's attention during her entire conversation with Willow. Earlier, she rejected her inner rock star fantasy, largely because Dawn's first response in the studio was to belt out show tunes while hopping madly around the room. 'All those dance classes, and she's still a dork,' Buffy recalled with a roll of her eyes.
But now, with no one around, the temptation was too great. 'Just one song,' Buffy thought, breaking into a grin.
***
After she and Giles had left the studio, Dawn had been free to wander around the house. While attempting to figure out the general floor plan, Dawn discovered several rooms she intended to check out later, but one that stopped her in her tracks.
"Wow," Dawn murmured, her eyes and mouth wide. As if by an instinctive reaction, Dawn took off her shoes and stepped into a different kind of studio: comprised of wood floors, full length mirrors, and a ballet barre along each wall. "This is just too perfect."
Dawn rifled through the CD collection under the sound system in the dance studio, trying to decide what to play. As she narrowed down her choice, she jumped as the studio door was loudly pushed open.
"Hey bite size, what's with the snooping?"
Dawn turned sharply around, and saw Angel leaning against the door frame. "Uh, I could ask you the same thing. And by the way, I live here now, so it's not snooping. Do you live here, or do you have some hidden life of your own?"
Angel sneered and started to stride towards Dawn, but thought better of it. Suddenly, his mood changed, and a huge, goofy grin appeared on his face. 'Goofy, stupid, and totally fake,' Dawn thought.
"So, ah, kiddo. You like music? How about your sister, what kind of music does she like?"
"Subtle," Dawn responded. "She likes all kinds of music, I guess. And anyway, I was just leaving, so if you don't mind."
Dawn headed for the door, and was surprised to see Isabelle step inside and give Angel a glare.
"Angel, dear, it's getting late," Isabelle said with a tense voice. "Why don't you head home, I'll be there soon." Isabelle waited until Angel had left the room before turning to Dawn.
"He wasn't bothering you, was he, honey?"
"Oh, no, not really. Just asking about Buffy, and I thought I should go to bed, it's been a long day."
Isabelle frowned, and then relaxed and patted Dawn on the shoulder. "Now dear, don't you worry a bit about Angel. You don't have to protect him, I know him better than anyone. He's had some. problems in the past, but I hope those are all over. Rupert, ah, I mean, Mr. Giles hired Angel as a favor to me, and I firmly intend for him not to regret it."
With that, Isabelle ushered Dawn out of the room and pointed her towards the downstairs recording studio. "Now go help your sister find the bedroom you picked for her, and I'll see you both in the morning."
***
Groggy from a night of sleep in an unfamiliar bed, Buffy stumbled blindly out of bed and into the hallway. Tracing the wall with her hand, Buffy found the next door, which she hoped led to a bathroom.
Buffy pushed the door open and found a shower to her left and a toilet and sink to her right. 'Score,' she thought with all the effort she could work up on a Saturday morning.
She stepped into the shower, and wondered who had unpacked all of her soaps and shampoos. 'Probably Isabelle, she seems like quite the mother hen.' With a smile, a new thought entered her head, 'I wonder how much of that mothering she gave to Giles before Dawn and I moved in.'
Just after Buffy had lathered her hair, the water from the shower spout turned ice cold. "Shit!" Buffy shouted. 'You'd think that in a palace like this the hot water wouldn't run out. Unless Dawn got to it all before me, in which case I think I'll have to kill her.'
Still grumbling, Buffy turned off the faucet, wrapped a towel around herself, and went in search of another bathroom.
Her bedroom and bathroom were near the main staircase into the foyer, so Buffy walked downstairs to start her search. If she couldn't find a shower there, maybe Giles or Bella could point her towards one.
Buffy paused in the foyer, and since she couldn't see anyone nearby, she decided that yelling would be an efficient solution.
"Isabelle! Giles! I need a little help, folks! Giles! Where are you?"
"Down here, Buffy!" Giles called from the recording studio.
Sighing and realizing that she was dripping water all over her Uncle's house, Buffy turned towards Giles's voice and walked to the studio staircase.
"Giles, I need some help, the hot water ran - ahh!" Buffy slipped on the third stair to the bottom, and landed with an "oof!" on the floor. The sound of laughter made her look up, and, as if falling down the stairs with only a towel on wasn't bad enough, Buffy looked up into the eyes of 4 gorgeous guys who were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Blushing furiously and trying not to cry, Buffy started to stand up, but stopped as one of the guys approached her.
He had short, reddish-brown hair, and a gentle smile. He hushed the other guys, and turned to Buffy, saying, "Hey, it's alright. Are you okay?" With Buffy's nod, he helped her up, adding, "I'm Oz. And you are?"
"Buffy," she replied, still embarrassed. "And I really think I need to go hide under a rock." She turned to flee, but stopped as a new voice spoke.
"Hey, love, take this." A tall, bleach-blonde who had been sitting on a sofa in the back of the room stood up, and threw a black leather duster to Buffy. "Fits you better than that washcloth, especially on the way up." He gestured to the stairs, and grinned with a mischievous spark in his eyes.
Buffy blushed as she ran up the stairs, attempting to cover herself with the duster. She was still bright red with embarrassment, but couldn't help grinning at the look on the blonde guy's face. 'And that voice! That is definitely a good voice to have!' Buffy giggled all the way back to her bedroom.
***
A/N: And we finally meet Spike! There's more contact to come soon, I promise. This chapter was mostly to finish laying framework. Thanks for all reviews! (And three guesses where the chapter title is from.)
Author: AnastasiaMarsters
Summary: Buffy Summers is sent to live with her Uncle Giles, agent to various recording artists. Dingoes Ate My Baby wants a contract, and Buffy wants to help. But when she meets lead singer, Spike, will her feelings change? AU, B/S (and others).
Rating: Recently changed to PG-13 due to language and a few things I have planned for the future, but I still believe in Spuffy goodness for the whole family!
Feedback: Is Great! (Thanks so much to all who have reviewed!)
Distribution: Ditto, but please give credit to AnastasiaMarsters.
Disclaimers: This is my first fanfic. The situations are mine, the characters are not. Buffy, Spike, etc. are intellectual property of people luckier than me. If I quote any BTVS, it's because it's perfect and fabulous, and I recognize that I didn't write it. The title is from "Dedicated to the One I Love," by the Shirelles, and I seem to enjoy naming chapters after Garth Brooks songs.
Chapter 3: I've Got a Good Thing Going
"And THEN, the ass had the nerve to kiss me! And oh, wait, you will absolutely not believe where I am right now," Buffy continued excitedly into the phone.
"Umm, I would guess that you're still in your Uncle's house." Willow Rosenberg responded. "And if you're not, that would be very strange, and you have a lot more explaining to do. This guy, Angel, there was kissage?"
"Nasty kissage," Buffy clarified. "Followed by me walking away. And I'm not just in Giles's house, I'm in the recording studio in his house!"
"Recording studio? Wow, Buff, that is pretty incredible. Does your Uncle have a band or something?"
At that, Buffy burst out laughing. "Sorry, Will, I forget that you haven't met him. He's definitely not the band type. He's an agent, or something. He finds bands and helps them get into the business. I really hope I get to hang around while he works, that might help take up some of my free time here. It stinks that you're so far away, Will." Buffy paused for a moment, playing with her hair. "You should see him... Angel, I mean. That face, those arms. Those are definitely good arms to have."
Willow rolled her eyes. "I thought he was an ass? Anyway, I guess I should go before my mom realizes that it's July and that we're probably not discussing calculus. Are you ever gonna come back and visit us? Xander whines constantly about how much he misses you, despite the fact that he's always attached at the lips to Cordelia."
"That's gotta be hard to do. Both the whining while attached, and the actual disgusting attachment," Buffy commented with a grimace. "Whoa, wait! I have a totally better idea! You guys need to visit me here, there are a billion rooms, and there's plenty of time before school starts in the fall. I'll ask Giles and find out what he says. Call you tomorrow, Willow!"
Buffy and Willow finished their conversation, and Buffy hung up the phone in the production booth. After checking the room for any possible eavesdroppers, she walked into the actual "studio" area, which she hoped was soundproof.
The tempting microphones hanging from the ceiling, as well as freestanding around the room, had been drawing Buffy's attention during her entire conversation with Willow. Earlier, she rejected her inner rock star fantasy, largely because Dawn's first response in the studio was to belt out show tunes while hopping madly around the room. 'All those dance classes, and she's still a dork,' Buffy recalled with a roll of her eyes.
But now, with no one around, the temptation was too great. 'Just one song,' Buffy thought, breaking into a grin.
***
After she and Giles had left the studio, Dawn had been free to wander around the house. While attempting to figure out the general floor plan, Dawn discovered several rooms she intended to check out later, but one that stopped her in her tracks.
"Wow," Dawn murmured, her eyes and mouth wide. As if by an instinctive reaction, Dawn took off her shoes and stepped into a different kind of studio: comprised of wood floors, full length mirrors, and a ballet barre along each wall. "This is just too perfect."
Dawn rifled through the CD collection under the sound system in the dance studio, trying to decide what to play. As she narrowed down her choice, she jumped as the studio door was loudly pushed open.
"Hey bite size, what's with the snooping?"
Dawn turned sharply around, and saw Angel leaning against the door frame. "Uh, I could ask you the same thing. And by the way, I live here now, so it's not snooping. Do you live here, or do you have some hidden life of your own?"
Angel sneered and started to stride towards Dawn, but thought better of it. Suddenly, his mood changed, and a huge, goofy grin appeared on his face. 'Goofy, stupid, and totally fake,' Dawn thought.
"So, ah, kiddo. You like music? How about your sister, what kind of music does she like?"
"Subtle," Dawn responded. "She likes all kinds of music, I guess. And anyway, I was just leaving, so if you don't mind."
Dawn headed for the door, and was surprised to see Isabelle step inside and give Angel a glare.
"Angel, dear, it's getting late," Isabelle said with a tense voice. "Why don't you head home, I'll be there soon." Isabelle waited until Angel had left the room before turning to Dawn.
"He wasn't bothering you, was he, honey?"
"Oh, no, not really. Just asking about Buffy, and I thought I should go to bed, it's been a long day."
Isabelle frowned, and then relaxed and patted Dawn on the shoulder. "Now dear, don't you worry a bit about Angel. You don't have to protect him, I know him better than anyone. He's had some. problems in the past, but I hope those are all over. Rupert, ah, I mean, Mr. Giles hired Angel as a favor to me, and I firmly intend for him not to regret it."
With that, Isabelle ushered Dawn out of the room and pointed her towards the downstairs recording studio. "Now go help your sister find the bedroom you picked for her, and I'll see you both in the morning."
***
Groggy from a night of sleep in an unfamiliar bed, Buffy stumbled blindly out of bed and into the hallway. Tracing the wall with her hand, Buffy found the next door, which she hoped led to a bathroom.
Buffy pushed the door open and found a shower to her left and a toilet and sink to her right. 'Score,' she thought with all the effort she could work up on a Saturday morning.
She stepped into the shower, and wondered who had unpacked all of her soaps and shampoos. 'Probably Isabelle, she seems like quite the mother hen.' With a smile, a new thought entered her head, 'I wonder how much of that mothering she gave to Giles before Dawn and I moved in.'
Just after Buffy had lathered her hair, the water from the shower spout turned ice cold. "Shit!" Buffy shouted. 'You'd think that in a palace like this the hot water wouldn't run out. Unless Dawn got to it all before me, in which case I think I'll have to kill her.'
Still grumbling, Buffy turned off the faucet, wrapped a towel around herself, and went in search of another bathroom.
Her bedroom and bathroom were near the main staircase into the foyer, so Buffy walked downstairs to start her search. If she couldn't find a shower there, maybe Giles or Bella could point her towards one.
Buffy paused in the foyer, and since she couldn't see anyone nearby, she decided that yelling would be an efficient solution.
"Isabelle! Giles! I need a little help, folks! Giles! Where are you?"
"Down here, Buffy!" Giles called from the recording studio.
Sighing and realizing that she was dripping water all over her Uncle's house, Buffy turned towards Giles's voice and walked to the studio staircase.
"Giles, I need some help, the hot water ran - ahh!" Buffy slipped on the third stair to the bottom, and landed with an "oof!" on the floor. The sound of laughter made her look up, and, as if falling down the stairs with only a towel on wasn't bad enough, Buffy looked up into the eyes of 4 gorgeous guys who were thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Blushing furiously and trying not to cry, Buffy started to stand up, but stopped as one of the guys approached her.
He had short, reddish-brown hair, and a gentle smile. He hushed the other guys, and turned to Buffy, saying, "Hey, it's alright. Are you okay?" With Buffy's nod, he helped her up, adding, "I'm Oz. And you are?"
"Buffy," she replied, still embarrassed. "And I really think I need to go hide under a rock." She turned to flee, but stopped as a new voice spoke.
"Hey, love, take this." A tall, bleach-blonde who had been sitting on a sofa in the back of the room stood up, and threw a black leather duster to Buffy. "Fits you better than that washcloth, especially on the way up." He gestured to the stairs, and grinned with a mischievous spark in his eyes.
Buffy blushed as she ran up the stairs, attempting to cover herself with the duster. She was still bright red with embarrassment, but couldn't help grinning at the look on the blonde guy's face. 'And that voice! That is definitely a good voice to have!' Buffy giggled all the way back to her bedroom.
***
A/N: And we finally meet Spike! There's more contact to come soon, I promise. This chapter was mostly to finish laying framework. Thanks for all reviews! (And three guesses where the chapter title is from.)