A/N : I had one of the worst days in the histiry of forever today! But fic waits for now woman, so here's the new chapter. Thanx to the wonderful reviewers; RougeCrayon, SpIkEs AnGeL, luvin-echo16, Veggie_Babu-chan, B/S Rox, SweetBitter, buffspike, SouthernRain, courtney, meg, ms trick, Rachel, Chucky, cluelessS - I know I kinda upset everyone with the B/A-ness, but trust me and keep reading. There's a nice surprise at the end of the chapter... This chapter is dedicated to my mate Aleesha, who seems to have had a bad day too - hope you enjoy this! Oh, and everyone please review!!!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 15 - It's My Party (And I'll Cry If I Want To)

A week passed. It should have got easier for Buffy, but it didn't, not really. She missed Spike terribly and hated the fact she was being forced into marrying Angel.

Her 'fiance' seemed to always be around now, wanting to see her, wanting to take her out to places, show off the fact he'd bagged the prettiest girl in Sunnydale or whatever. All Buffy wanted to do was go back to the Bronze and see Spike and live a night that would go on forever so she'd never have to face her mother or marry Angel or do anything she didn't want to ever again.

Willow did her best to comfort her best friend when she could and Xander fussed over his sister too. When alone, the housekeepers daughter and the man of the house had a relationship no-one knew anything about. They continued to meet in secret, to talk, to kiss, to tell each other just how much they loved each other. They'd agreed the day after Buffy and Angel's engagement, that they would wait to tell her about their love for each other. There was no way they could tell her how happy they were when she was so miserable.

Today was the day of a party, specifically an engagement party to celebrate the union between Elizabeth Summers and Liam 'Angel' O'Connor. It was of course Lady Joyce's plan, these things always were. The O'Connor's agreed to have the party held at the Summers residence and allowed the future brides mother to make all the arrangements. Lady Joyce really threw herself into it, which in some ways was a benefit. Whilst she was party-planning she didn't seem to be drinking, but she seemed to want Elizabeth's opinion on everything and Buffy was less than happy about it.

"Now, it seems almost everyone will be coming" Lady Joyce told her daughter, scanning over two large pieces of paper "which is as it should be...oh, except Lord and Lady Anderson are in Aspen, they can't make it, and the old Sir Jenkins is having another of his unfortunate illnesses, but other than that I do believe we have all those worth inviting coming to your party, my dear" she beamed as she checked her guest list over one last time, and spoke at a mile a minute.

'My party' Buffy scoffed inside her head 'It's her party, not mine' she shook her head slightly as she turned to walk away, but Lady Joyce hadn't finished yet.

"Oh and some new people are coming" she informed her daughter who attempted to look as if she cared but failed miserably "to be honest I have yet to meet them. It seems that a wealthy business man from England has recently arrived in Sunnydale, a Sir Giles of London. He has yet to be seen in social circles but I'm pleased to say he has accepted our invitation along with his son...the poor man lost his wife when the boy was just a child...it's a burden, I know" she sighed, but Buffy wasn't really listening as she tried to get away again.

"Sounds fine Mom" she said, a fake smile on her lips "I should go and change" was her excuse as she exited the room and moved quickly up the stairs. Tonight was going to be hell, but she'd deal, she'd have to. 'It'll be just like acting' she told herself in her head as she took her new evening dress from her closet, 'I'll play the role of the refined young woman, completely in love with her fiancé' she forced back tears as she realised just how much of a lie it all was. Her heart left her body the day she left Spike, standing alone behind that cinema. Every time she closed her eyes she could still see his face, the pain in his eyes that she had caused.

Buffy would play her part tonight, and every night, the performance of a life time, but inside she would forever be in love with Spike, and nothing could change that.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Hey sweetie" Xander smiled as he found Willow alone in the laundry room.

"Hi" she grinned back at him as he walked over to her and kissed her briefly. She carried on working as he leant on the wall beside her, just watching her.

"Looks like Buff's party is gonna be a swell affair" he commented. Willow sighed.

"I guess...but she's not happy Xand" she said, turning to face him, looking as if she might cry from just thinking about her best friends situation.

"She didn't seem so bad today" Xander tried to comfort her, though he knew it was a half lie. Buffy had seemed a little better today, but only because her acting skills were improving.

"She hides emotions well" Willow shrugged, pushing a pile of laundry aside and sitting down on the edge of the table "she has too" she said, quietly watching her shoes "I know what that's like"

"Hey now" Xander lifted her chin with his fingers "You know I love you, right?" he checked, worried about where this conversation was going.

"Of course I know" she smiled a little, taking hold of his hand "I just wish..."

"I know, honey" he interrupted, kissing her hand that held his "and me too" he agreed, knowing what she meant. She wanted the whole world to know how in love they were "Not yet but soon, soon we'll tell everyone" he promised her, though he wasn't sure he ever wanted to tell his mother, she went crazy enough over Buffy and sneaking out, she'd totally flip over his relationship with 'the hired help'.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Buffy used to love parties. When she was a kid, she was always only too happy to be bought a new dress and have her hair curled and styled like a big girl. She was allowed to stay up late, and eat trifle and cake, and there was music and dancing for hours. Now, as she stood outside the doors to the ballroom of her house, the sound of music and many chattering guests leaking through from the other side, her heart hammered in her chest not from excitement but from nerves and panic. She had to go in there and face all these people with a fake smile painted on her face, a false laugh at the ready for all the bad jokes that would be told, and a make-believe-love in her eyes so no-one would suspect she no longer cared for Angel.

"Lizzy, sweetheart, you look beautiful" said his familiar voice as soon as she made it through the doors. Immediately his hand locked on her arm and she knew it would most likely be there all night.

Buffy felt like a dreadful fraud as she smiled and nodded her way around the room, friends, neighbours, and even complete strangers wishing her congratulations on her engagement, and telling her what a wonderful couple her and Liam made.

Just as Buffy thought she could stand it no longer her mother came over.

"Liam, your mother would like to speak with you dear" she smiled to the young man, the smell of alcohol already evident on her breath and the giddy grin on her face confirming to Buffy that mother was wasted again.

Angel kissed his fiancee on the cheek and excused himself as he went to find Lady O'Connor. Buffy closed her eyes as his lips hit her face, feeling guilty and horribly sick as she pictured Spike kissing her instead.

"He is such a charming boy" Lady Joyce sighed, making her daughter's eyes shoot open. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding when she realised it was Angel she spoke of, for a moment she'd wondered if her mother was a mind-reader!

"Mom" the blonde girl said shakily "I think I have a headache coming on" she tried to look ill and it didn't take much effort, as she put a hand to her head for emphasis, but there was no way she was going to be let out of this party, she should have known better than to try.

"Really Elizabeth" Lady Joyce snapped "you can't be considering walking out on your own engagement party"

"I just..." Buffy sighed, only to be completely ignored by her mother as the older woman dragged a late arrival over to her side.

"Oh Sir Giles, such a pleasure to have you here" she beamed, as the man in question took her hand and kissed it.

"Lady Summers" he greeted in his gentle English accent "thank you so much for inviting us"

"The pleasure is all mine" the woman assured him, still smiling widely "Sir Giles" she introduced "I'd like you to meet my daughter, Elizabeth"

Buffy managed a half smile as the seemingly pleasant man looked at her.

"Ah yes, congratulations on your engagement Miss Summers" he said, kindly, before looking around and then back at the two ladies before him "My son, William, is around here somewhere. I seem to have misplaced him" he half laughed with embarrassment, what sort of idiot 'misplaced' his son? But then William was a headstrong boy and prone to not exactly doing what was expected or a knighted man's son.

"Not to worry" Lady Joyce smiled, waving a hand to dismiss the gentleman's worries "I'm sure he'll turn up. May I offer you a drink, Sir Giles?" she said, showing him the way to the bar.

"Please, it's just Giles" the man smiled back, "and yes, thankyou, I'd love a drink"

As he turned to walk away with Buffy's mother, his elusive son appeared and called behind him.

"Hey Dad, I..."

The man didn't hear him as he disappeared amongst the throngs of people, but Buffy did and as she turned to see the person from which the voice had come she got the shock of her life.

"Spike?!"

To Be Continued...