Away From It All

Chapter 12: What Are You Doing Here?

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Summary: See pervious chapters.

Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon. Spike's family members and other character you've never heard of before are mine.

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"Buffy! What, what are you doing here?" asked Angel as he got to his feet.

"Giles and my mom are visiting his family in Bath and Dawn wanted to come by for a visit," said the blonde.

"Wow, this certainly is a surprise," said Cordelia, coming to stand between Angel and Buffy.

"Yeah, that's what we intended," said Dawn.

"This is just too weird," said Xander. "I mean, what are the odds?"

"I don't know," said Buffy.

"Well," said Faith. "I think we should celebrate."

"How?" asked Dawn.

"There's this club down here that's a lot like the Bronze," said Cordelia.

"That sounds like fun," said Buffy.

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"How long are you guys staying?" asked Willow as the group sat at a table at the Edge.

"I don't know," replied Buffy as she took a drink of her Coke. "School's out for two weeks for Thanksgiving."

"Two weeks?" asked Xander. "We never got to weeks when there was a Hell Mouth under the library."

"I don't know why they did it that way," replied Buffy.

"Hmm, Peaches is playin' hooky," said Spike.

"Really?" asked Dawn.

"Not really, I mean, Levels are optional and out of the Levels, fourteenth year is optional, so I don't really have to go," said Angel.

"Tell that to your mum," said Spike. "She and my mum are masters at nagging you into going to school."

"You're still in school?" asked Dawn.

"Yeah, Spike's a regular little school boy," said Faith.

"And he looks cute in the uniform," said Fred.

"Ya think so Pet?" Spike looked over at Fred.

"Yeah, I do," replied the Texan with a smile.

Buffy couldn't help, but notice the flirting between the two.

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"Are Spike and that girl a couple?" asked Buffy as she looked over at Willow, Anya, Faith, and Cordelia who were still sitting at the table.

"Who, Fred?" asked Willow.

"I guess that's her name," said Buffy.

"Well," said Cordelia as she looked over to the pool table where Spike, Fred, and Oz were playing a game of pool against Angel, Gunn, and Xander with Dawn keeping score. "They haven't said anything about it."

"But they flirt up a storm," said Anya.

"So, was that a yes or a no?" asked a slightly confused Buffy.

"They might as well be," said Faith. "They go on dates, they hang out, all that's missing is the official title and a lot more kissing."

"They've kissed?"

"Just a few pecks on the cheek," said Willow.

"But it's not because of a lack of trying on our part," said Anya. "We've been trying to get them to make it official for a while now."

"I didn't even know they knew each other."

"Yeah," said Faith. "According to Gunn, there was some major flirting back when Spike first showed up in LA."

"Oh." Buffy looked over at Spike and Fred.

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"Are you staying for Thanksgiving or are you going back home?" asked Spike as he finished his shot.

"I'm staying," replied Fred. "Mom and dad are taking Jeff with them to see Grandma and Grandpa in Texas."

"I thought you loved it in Texas," said Spike.

"I do," said Fred. "But I like it here too."

"Speaking of Thanksgiving," said Gunn. "Where are we having it?"

"That's a good question," said Xander. "Spike?"

"I'm sure mum will want to do something, if not for the family, she'll do it for you guys," said the blonde.

"Are we going to have our own too or just your mom's?" asked Xander.

"Is food all you ever think about?" asked Angel.

"Yeah," said Oz with a smile.

"I think of other things," said Xander in his defense.

"Like what?" asked Dawn.

"Uh, well . . . that's not important."

"Just admit it Xander," said Dawn. "You've got food on the brain twenty-four seven."

"I plead the fifth," replied Xander.

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Spike walked into the kitchen and picked up the phone.

"Ello?"

"William, did I wake you?"

"No mum, I was already up," replied Spike.

"Well, you should be, it's almost eleven."

"Tell that to everyone else," said Spike with a laugh.

"Some people just aren't morning people. Anyway, I called to see what your friends were doing for Thanksgiving."

"I don't think they're doing anything."

"That's good, because we're having Thanksgiving at three this Friday."

"You have it all planned out?"

"Yes, I thought it might be nice for them to do something familiar since they're away from home."

"How thoughtful," said Spike.

"I'm not as evil as you children seem to think I am."

"I don't think you're evil Mum."

"Well, tell that to Sam. I wouldn't let him go out with his friends and now he's raving on about how I'm so cruel and how I don't remember being his age. For heaven's sake, I wasn't born in the dark ages, I know what it's like to be fifteen."

"I'll talk to him," said Spike.

"All right, well, let your friends know about Thanksgiving."

"I will."

"Love you."

"Love you too Mum," said Spike as he hung up the phone.

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To Be Continued . . .