Title: Long Way From Home - Chapter 3 - Friday.

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Summary: Buffy and Willow get ready to go out down to Zodiac, when they arrive it isn't how they were expecting it and Buffy has another run in with her mystery man.

Timeline: Buffy and Willow are students at the University of Oxford, Spike is a part time masters student and fronts a band with Oz. Set in England, Buffy is early 20s Spike is late 20s - everyones human.

Series: Part 3 of ?

Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Everyones Human AU.

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: everyone else owns Buffy and all associated with her.

Feedback: always welcome so email me - webmaster@talesoftheslayer.com

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Pushing the door open Buffy threw her books down onto her desk and sighed.

"Buffy what happened?" Willow shot up from her chair with a look of concern.

Looking down at her jeans Buffy sighed again, all up her left leg and across her buttocks was yellow mud. "Just great."

She peeled them off and took up the skirt that had been draped over the back of her chair. Slipping it on she sat down on the edge of her bed.

"You've been gone for ages, I was worried and now you come back all messed up and limpy." Willow sat opposite her and waited for an answer.

"Ran into some guy, actually he ran into me but it was dark and I wasn't looking where I was going. Knocked me flat on my ass." Buffy pulled her muddied trainers off and slung them to one side.

"Are you alright?" Willow watched her friend rubbing her ankle.

"Yeah. Said he was sorry, rubbed my ankle then ran off."

Willow smiled at the dazed look on Buffys face. "Must have been memorable."

"Traumatic. Enough about me, how's Oz?" Changing the subject Buffy listened intently to Willow rambling on about Oz and found herself wondering if her mystery man had made it out of the park before the gates closed.


"Yay weekend." Buffy smiled as she walked out of class and into the hall with Willow.

"We are going tonight?" Willow looked anxious as she asked for the millionth time.

"Yes. It doesn't start for three hours so I'm figuring food, get ready and go." She had actually started looking forward to going out, any excuse for not having to study on a Friday night was like heaven. She giggled and slipped her arm through Willows as they headed to the cafeteria.

Back in their room an hour later and Buffy was dismissing everything she had in her wardrobe.

"What are you wearing Will?" Buffy had on her favourite black leather trousers but couldn't decide on what top to wear.

"Um, this?" Willow held her arms out and Buffy looked her over, she was wearing a long patchy purple skirt and a little black lace up top with long flared sleeves.

"No fair, I have nothing that suits this place. We have to go shopping before we go to see Oz's band again. What about this?" Buffy pulled a pale blue baby doll top out of the wardrobe and held it up to herself.

Willow smiled at the sight of it. "Buffy, it's been ages since you wore your 'kitten' top."

Buffy looked at the writing on the front, it was made up of little diamante studs. "Feeling kitteny tonight I guess." She slipped it on and looked in the mirror.

As she was applying her make up Willow put some music on and Buffy recognised it as Oz's old band. "You sly thing you."

"What?" Willow tried to act the innocent.

"You had that all along. I remember these guys, used to do some great tunes you could dance to." Buffy finished applying her lip-gloss and puckered up her lips. "We better be going soon."


Standing outside the venue Buffy and Willow looked up both directions of the long straight road, it didn't seem to be the friendliest of neighbourhoods and they had to walk at least half a mile to get back to the bus stop after the gig. They headed upstairs and stopped at the doors, they were black with a round blue glass window in each one. As someone walked out the volume of the music hit them like a tidal wave and then faded as the door closed again, Buffy felt like she had stuck her fingers in her ears.

"Ready?" Willow look at Buffy.

"Not like the Bronze is it?" Buffy smiled and peered in the window at the close-knit crowd that was bouncing in time with the music. "Just don't lose me in there."

Grabbing each other's hand they pulled the doors open and looked around, it was dark, loud and disorientating. Willow pointed to a gap and they headed in that direction coming out in a room that was partitioned off from the main floor.

"Ooh bar!" Willow smiled and dragged Buffy towards it. "Drink?"

"Water." Buffy shouted over the noise and it suddenly died down, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

Willow returned with two bottles of water and pulled Buffy to one side. "I'm going to find the little girls room, stay put so I can find you."

"Okay." Buffy smiled and sipped her water.

Looking around she noted that the people occupying the room were a real mixture of all ages and all styles of dress, including some real satanic types that Buffy decided it was best to avoid. Shuffling closer to the bar she found a spot that wasn't as busy and kept her eyes open for a sign of Willow.

Buffy felt like she had been standing there for an eternity and was starting to feel a little edgy, guys kept pushing past her to get to the bar. Her temper was starting to fray and she was feeling like a pinball as she was shunted from side to side.

Just as some girl pushed past in front of her Buffy felt her left arm hit something warm and solid, then it became suddenly cold and damp. She grit her teeth and turned to see her left shoulder stained with beer. Sighing she looked up at the owner of the offending drink and felt exasperated.

"You!" They said in unison, echoing each other's disbelief.