I just couldn't wait to get this chapter out. So here it is. I'll be updating more frequently now.

Chapter Six: The Luckiest

When Buffy got home, she was greeted with two nervously excited girls. Cordy exclaimed, "We heard that Spike invited you to the gig tonight. Well, Xander invited me and Oz invited Willow. And we have nothing to wear." She stopped momentarily to breathe. "We've been waiting for you to get home so that we can go spend my first pay check on our dresses we're going to wear tonight. So lets get our asses out at the mall."

Cordy had already been in a photoshoot that afternoon, and she had been paid at the end of it. So they currently had $2,345 to spend, although Cordy probably wanted to save some of it. [A/N: I'm not really sure how much you get for a modeling job, so -- don't judge!]

After many hours of cruising through the mall, Willow had picked out a cute, off the shoulder black dress www . geocities.com / mystiffupperlip / dress3 . jpg, without the extra spaces (ff.net won't let me write out hyperlinks). Cordy picked out a soft, light pink tube top dress2 . jpg. Buffy had chosen a beautiful red dress, (which I can't do justice by writing about, so please look at it on my website dress . jpg The girls rushed home so that they could get ready for the big gig that night.

"Aren't you girls ready by now?" Spike called. "We have to leave in a few minutes to set up." Just then, Buffy walked out in her new maroon dress. Her golden hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of her neck. She had on modest nude eye-makeup and matching bright maroon lipstick. She looked fabulous.

Spike's breath stopped as he looked her over. "Too bad you don't have a bowl of cereal to drop, huh? But I guess your jaw will just have to do," Buffy teased Spike seductively. He coughed and turned around, hoping she wouldn't see the evidence of his attraction to her.

Spike looked great as well. He was wearing black slacks, a tight black shirt, his triple row pyramid studded belt, his black combat boots, and lots of silver bracelets.

Just then, Xander jumped down the stairs. He looked Buffy over, kissed her on the cheek and said, "You look great, Buff. I love the dress on you."

Buffy smiled at his compliment. "Thanks, Xander! You look great as well." He was wearing black slacks and a white button down shirt.

Oz and Xander did double takes of their dates as well when Cordy and Willow walked out of their room. Oz looked handsome in dark blue jeans and a black muscle-shirt with a British flag on it. The boys were trying to control themselves when the doorbell rang, Anya and Devon ready to pick them up to head over to the club.

Spike was sitting next to Buffy in the limo on their way to Backstage Cafe. Buffy could tell that he was really nervous. She placed her hand softly on his upper thigh. He looked over at her, and she smiled encouragingly. She leaned in to his ear and said, "Don't be nervous. You're going to be great."

He looked at her before replying, "I'm not afraid of our performance, I'm afraid of the reaction."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.

"You'll see."

"Dingoes Ate My Baby" had already performed three songs, and the audience was loving them. Buffy had danced for a few of the songs, but she was growing tired and sat down at their table. She sipped at her beer as she watched Spike perform. (When they had walked in with the band, no one had questioned their age.)

The current song had just ended when Spike paused for a second. "This is a cover of a Ben Folds song that I'm dedicating to a special girl, Buffy Summers."

Devon played the opening chords on the piano before Spike started singing.

I don't get many things right the first time.
In fact, I am told that a lot.
Now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls
Brought me here
And where was I before the day
That I first saw your lovely face?
Now I see it everyday
And I know that I am, I am, I am the luckiest

Spike paused and looked into Buffy eyes as he sang to her. He poured his heart into the words as he sang them.

What if I'd been born fifty years before you
In a house on a street where you lived?
Maybe I'd be outside as you passed on your bike...

Suddenly, Spike noticed someone talking to Buffy. But then he wasn't talking anymore.

(Across the room, right before the song)

Angel stood in the club enjoying the good music. He hadn't heard music like this in a long time. The band seemed pretty cool. They had just stopped their last song when the lead singer started talking. He heard him say, "This is a cover of a Ben Folds song that I'm dedicating to a special girl, Buffy Summers."

Angel smirked to himself. So, this is where Buffy went. He had seen on the news about two girls running away, a girl named after a tree and someone else. They had been last seen with Buffy, and were thought to have left with her. The mom knew something about Buffy, but wouldn't talk.

"I guess I'll just have to pay a little visit." He followed the lead singer's eyes and saw Buffy sitting there, with a goofy grin on her face.

He walked over and saw she was drinking beer. He remembered her saying to him that she didn't drink. Oh well, he thought. He ran to the bartender and ordered a Heineken. Hope she'll remember this, he thought.

He walked up behind her, dropping the Heineken on the table. "I bet you would much rather drink a Heineken instead of a Michelob. I mean, it brings back such memories!"

Buffy gasped and turned in her seat. She saw who it was and immediately jumped up to run away. Angel grasped her arm, he was too strong.

Spike stopped singing when he saw Angel grab Buffy. He jumped off stage and ran to her as he saw Angel slap Buffy across the face. Spike pushed Angel off of her and didn't hesitate to punch him in the jaw. Angel fell to the ground. He looked over at Buffy. Her cheeks were stained with tears and bruised from the impact of Angel's hand.

Spike protectively grabbed Buffy, gently of course. "Are you ok, baby?" Buffy nodded.

"Let's get out of here."

Spike was in the girls' room, holding Buffy in his arms on her bed. She quietly cried into his eyes. He knew that there had to be a story behind this man from the club, but he wasn't going to pry. He just held her, kissing her hair and telling her everything was going to be just fine.

The door thrust open, ten concerned people standing in the doorway. Willow and Cordelia rushed to Buffy. Spike slowly lifted her out of his arms, helping her to sit on the edge of the bed as the girls embraced.

Anya, Harmony, and Fred walked over slowly and stood next to them in case they were needed. Spike stood up and walked over to Xander, Oz, Devon, Owen, and Wes to explain and ask how the rest of the concert had gone.

"We wanted to leave when we saw you guys go, but we had to stay for the rest of the concert. Devon took over leads and Oz took over back-up," Wes explained. "It was kinda awkward at first, but we picked it back up, and the audience still loved them. So it was all good."

"The girls didn't have any money with them for a taxi, so they waited on us," Oz said.

Suddenly, Buffy spoke up. "I have to tell everybody something." She looked desperately at Spike. He saw and ran up to her. He held her hand as they left the girls' bedroom and went into the den.

Everyone sat down randomly over the couches and the floor. Spike sat down in the recliner, pulling Buffy on his lap.

"Everyone deserves to know the truth. I haven't told anyone about this, so I'm telling you now."

And she told them, word for word what happened. The girls cried, Spike was too angry to speak, Xander was in awe of Buffy's strength for the past months. No one knew what to do. Except Buffy. She fell asleep in Spike's arms, obviously exhausted by the night's events.