A/N: Hey all, thanx for reading, hope ure enjoying the story. Well here's another chapter. Thanks to my beta Darla Winifred

Disclaimer: see chapter 1

Chapter 14: The Truth is Out There

Buffy had been excited all afternoon. She would finally get to go on a date with the person she actually wanted to be with. Giles had taken Anthony to Jenny's for the night after they told him what had happened and that they were going out. His exact words had been "Well, I think Anthony and I need a night away. That and if you two are going on a date I have no desire to be in this house, mostly because have even less desire to walk in on what I saw last month ever again. See you tomorrow" He had left the house as quickly as possible.

Buffy was positively giddy as she chose out her outfit. She wore a tight fitting black dress that tied around her neck. It sat just above her knee. There was a rose embroidered at the bottom of one side in a deep shade of red. There was a small slit at the opposite side. On her feet, she wore a pair of black pointy-toed shoes; her hair was curled and partly pinned back. Her make up was kept natural; she knew Spike liked it that way.

Spike was pacing back and forth in his room. They were due to leave in 20 minutes and he was nervous as hell. He had dressed up a little for the occasion wearing a pair of Black dress trousers and a Midnight Blue shirt. The colour complimented his eyes perfectly. He didn't know what he was so nervous about, after all, he had already slept with her, why be nervous about the date? The answer was simple, a date meant he finally had what he wanted, meant it would be easier for him to be hurt. But he had faith in her; he trusted that she wouldn't hurt him.

Buffy and Spike exited their rooms at the exact same moment as soon as the clock changed to seven o'clock, they were out the doors. They both stopped dead in he hall when they saw each other. Spike thought she looked amazing. Young and carefree, a way he had only ever seen her look once before, the night of the prom. Buffy meanwhile, was amazed she wasn't drooling as she took in how delicious her date looked. Both of them smiled at each other simultaneously

"You look beautiful, pet," Spike told her as he leaned in and kissed her cheek

"Thanks" she blushed slightly "you look good too"

"Why thank you, I do try" he jokes, eliciting a giggle from her. "Well, we should get going"

They walked into the Bronze hand in hand. Much to the surprise of all their friends. A gasp went around the table as they approached. "Hey guys" Buffy said cheerfully

"Um guys. What's going on?" asked a confuse Xander Buffy and Spike shared a look and they silently agreed to lead their friends on.

"What this?" Spike asked "nothing"

"Well it kind of looks like something" Willow piped in

"It really is nothing. Just a friend thing" Buffy told her with a straight face Their friends looked thoroughly confused and the two blondes couldn't hold it any longer, they burst into laugher at the looks on their friends' faces.

"Don't worry guys you're not going crazy" Buffy assured them

"Yeah, we're on a date" Spike finished

"Uh, Buffy" Willow spoke up "you do remember you have a boyfriend right. His name's Riley"

"Not any more" Buffy informed her "dumped him today. Yay for me" she grinned.

"Wow, Buff, I wasn't expecting that" Xander said

"Well it's been a long time coming," she told them "I never liked him. I had to go out with him because my dad said so. Today I had enough, and I dumped him."

"What was it that you told him?" Willow questioned

Buffy looked up at Spike who only shrugged letting her know what she told them was her decision. She decided to go with the truth

"I told him I slept with Spike," she told them

"Slept with as in in the same bed with pyjama's on?" Willow asked

"No" Buffy started "slept with as in we had sex" This earned another set of gasps from the tables' occupants.

"Whoa, when did that happen" asked Xander in shock

"Prom night" Buffy answered sheepishly Willow was hurt Buffy usually told her everything. Buffy could see the hurt in her eyes

"Will. I'm sorry I didn't tell you but I was just so confused. I had to sort my head out." She apologised "It's ok, just a bit upset for a moment. I understand though" She told her best friend with a smile.

After a round of questions, Buffy and Spike sat down at the table with their friends. They all chatted happily for a while. The Bronze was overflowing with kids. The majority of the graduating class were there celebrating with heir friends, having a good time and being free. Spike's group of friends had decided they may as well be part of the majority. A band was playing but no one in the group of friends made any move to get up and dance, they were enjoying sitting in their group and chatting, reminiscing about everything that had happened in high school.

"Hey" exclaimed Xander "I have an idea lets play truth or dare" everyone groaned at the suggestion "Oh come on, it'll be fun" he insisted Eventually everyone nodded their agreement and settled in their seats to play the game

"Ok I'll start" said Xander "Willow, truth or dare"

"Truth" the redhead replied uncertainly

"Ok, have you and Oz done it yet?" Willow turned bright red and acted like she hadn't heard the question. "Come on Will, you have to answer" he told her

"evil" she told him as the blush crept up her neck and she sputtered "n-no"

Buffy had never seen Willow look so embarrassed, and Willow looked embarrassed a lot.

"Ok let's move on" Buffy said trying to help her friend out "I'll go. Xander truth or dare?"

"Truth" he said confidently She decided it was time for some payback

"Ok, when did you lose you virginity?" Buffy could tell by the look on his face that her theory had been correct. All she had to do was wait for his answer

"Ihaven'tlostityet" he mumbled

"What was that?" She asked, and evil grin on her face

"I said, I haven't lost my virginity yet" he said blushing Willow couldn't help the smug look that crossed her face. Served him right for embarrassing her like that "I think that's enough of that game" Xander said

"Oh come on Xan" Spike said "we haven't all had a turn" Spike honestly didn't care if the played or not, he just wanted to torture Xander some more.

"Yeah, I know but hey, why come to the Bronze and play truth or dare, we should be having fun" the brunette insisted

"Ok you win. I'm gonna go to the bar, anyone want anything?" After everyone had placed their orders, he walked towards the bar while the others went to the dance-floor. An upbeat tune was playing. Buffy moved to the beat of the music and Spike couldn't help but watch her from his place at the bar. She danced for a few minutes before turning to her friends and signalling that she was going back to the table. As she walked towards it, she banged into someone, and looked up and saw a familiar face.

"B, is that you?" Faith asked

"Uh hey" Buffy greeted her old friend, looking anxiously around. She had to get rid of Faith before anyone came back.

"Where the hell have you been B. I haven't seen you in over a year, since you started seeing Angel" Faith said

"Um, it's a long story Faith, I can't get into it right now, but I can tell you that Angel and I are long over"

"Oh well, who are you here with" Faith inquired

"I live here" she told her cryptically, not elaborating on anything

"Since when?"

"about five months" she informed her

"Well what about the months before that?"

"It's a long story. Look what are you doing in Sunnydale Faith?"

Spike had approached the table and noticed Buffy with his back to her talking to a young brunette. He assumed it was an old friend or something so he continued on his way back. He was very surprised at what he heard upon his arrival

"What are you doing in Sunnydale Faith?"

Faith. Why did that name sound so familiar? Then it dawned on him. Anthony. Something was definitely going on and he wanted to know what.

Buffy was waiting for Faith's answer when she heard the voice

"I think we need to talk"

Buffy froze on the spot, she took a breath and without turning around, she spoke directly to Faith

"Is there a gorgeous blonde guy standing behind me?"

"Yeah, he's a hottie B" Buffy cringed and turned and regarded Spike

"We need to talk" he repeated

"Yeah I think we do" she agreed

Seeing that there seemed to be some upset between their friends those, who remained on the dance floor went back to the table in time to hear Buffy say she and Spike had to talk.

"Hey, B, what the hell is goin' on?" Faith asked, confused.

"Faith you'll probably wanna hear this too, Spike I think we should go home and talk about this" she said He nodded her agreement and she turned to the rest of her friends

"Can you guys come by tomorrow, I need to talk to you about something, but I think this is something we need to do alone tonight" she said apologetically

Her friends agreed and she picked up her bag, walking out of the club, Faith and Spike right behind her. Spike drove the three of them home in silence. They entered the house and Spike led the way straight to the living room. He sat on the couch and Faith stood by the door

"So what's going on here luv?" he persisted

"Yeah, B the suspense is killing me" Faith added

"Ok, Faith you may wanna sit down for this" Faith nodded and sat down, before Buffy started Spike spoke

"Ok, I'm confused Faith's dead, that's why my father has guardianship of her son" Spike said

"I don't have a-"suddenly she had an idea what was going on and she knew it was Buffy's place to let him in on it

"So, what you had two friend's named Faith?" he asked

"No, there's just the one" she told him

"But how does that make sense" he asked

"Ok, here goes. Spike, in LA I was a bit of a rebel. I went against everything that my father wanted. I was friends with Faith, she was the bad girl in school, and my dad hated her so I liked her even more.

"Anyway, I met a guy named Angel and I slept with him, I was sixteen at the time and I thought I was in love. I had been seeing him a month when he broke up with me. He told me I was a whore and meant nothing to him, there was a reason for his outburst though and you need to know what that is." She paused for a moment to calm herself, tears stinging at her eyes

"Spike, Anthony is, he's my son" she finished quietly

Spike was obviously shocked, Faith however was not

"Damn B, you have been busy"

"Faith, I think maybe you should go. Come by tomorrow and I'll explain better" Buffy told her

"Ok" the brunette answered as she made her way out of the door. When they heard the door close Spike looked up tears in his eyes

"Why didn't you tell me, do you trust me that little?" he asked in a pained voice

"Spike that's not it at all. When I told my father I was pregnant, he was so angry. He was so angry. He wanted me to have an abortion. I refused so he said that he would arrange something. I refused to be separated from him so he got in touch with Giles. He was a colleague of my dad's up until the year your mother fell pregnant, with you.

"He sent me here but on condition that nobody could know that he was mine. Giles is the only person who knew. I wanted to tell you so many times, I almost did. That's what I was going to tell you earlier today, at the café, before Willow interrupted.

"Spike, I have no idea what will happen when my dad finds out I've told you. He has the power to have Anthony taken from me and he would do it. I was trying to get by until I turn eighteen but I can't do it any more. On my birthay, when you gave me that picture, I couldn't help but think how right it looked. I wish it were real" she finished with tears staining her cheeks. Spike had tears rolling down his face also. He didn't look quite so upset anymore

"Buffy, luv, you could have told me. I love Anthony like he's my own son. I know it may sound crazy, but it's true. Buffy I love you, I want to be with you and I understand why you didn't tell me. But trust me, your father will not take him away from you. I promise"

He stood from his place on the couch and wrapped his arms around her

"Spike can we work this out?" she asked tearfully

"Yeah, I think we can. I love you Buffy" he whispered

"I love you too" she replied He was ecstatic at the words, now that his shock was starting to subside he liked the idea of them being a family, he leaned in and brought his lips to hers, waiting a moment before deepening it, she pulled away gasping

"Spike, make love to me" she requested

He said nothing, just took her by he hand and led her upstairs.