Away From It All
Chapter 14: Coupledom
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 and Dawn left London and went back to Sunnydale shortly after Thanksgiving, but Dawn promised to be back in time for Christmas. The guys' band Group Therapy finally got its act together and started doing shows down at the Edge every week or two, despite the fact that Angel had finally returned to Dublin and to school. The former vampire had refused to leave Cordelia, but the brunette put her foot down and told him if he didn't go back she'd dump him for some other Irish guy. Faith and Gunn had become official and now everyone was waiting for Spike and Fred to do the same.
"So," said Willow as she sat down on Cordelia's bed. "How's coupledom treating you?"
"It's nice," replied Faith. "I think everyone should try it." Faith looked over to where Fred was being harassed by Cordelia and Anya, who were armed with various pieces of clothing and shoes.
"Will you guys stop obsessing over that?" asked Fred as Anya forced a dress in her face and pushed her toward the bathroom.
"Well my God Fred, you two have been hanging out, for how long now?" Cordelia made quotation marks out of her fingers when she said the word hanging. "You two might as well make it official."
"Yeah, you guys don't even kiss in public," commented Anya. "What's up with that?"
"We're just taking things slow is all," replied Fred as she came out of the bathroom in the dress.
"No, taking it slow is not having sex on the first date, you guys are creeping along at a mind numbly slow rate," said Anya. "And take off the dress, I don't like it."
Fred let out an aggravated sigh before going back into the bathroom.
"Tell me again why you two are fussing over what I wear to the gig tonight?" called Fred from the bathroom.
"Because Spike will be there and you need to wear something breathtaking that will cause him to lose his mind and step on the gas of the car that is your relationship," said Willow as Fred tossed the dress back into the bedroom.
"Did anybody ever think that he's taking things slow because you four are scaring the crap out of him?" asked Fred.
"I really don't think Spike's commitment shy or any type of shy for that matter," said Cordelia as she rummaged through the closet. "Here try this." Cordelia handed Fred some clothes.
"Well the old vampire Spike was all balls and swagger," said Fred. "But what if human Spike isn't?"
"Ooh, I like that one," said Willow as Fred came out of the bathroom wearing the black jeans, purple tank top, and black crocheted jacket that Cordelia had handed her.
"Yes, you most definitely have to wear that," said Anya.
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"What songs are the guys playing tonight?" asked Cordelia as she took a drink of her soda.
"I have no idea," replied Willow. "I didn't get a chance to talk to Oz before the show."
"I guess we'll just have to listen and find out then," said Faith.
"I guess so," said Fred.
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After the show Spike and the rest of the guys came over to the table.
"Great show," said Faith as she gave Gunn a kiss.
"Thanks," replied the black man.
"Do you know when you're next gig is?" asked Willow.
"Well," said Angel. "It's the eighteenth, so that means we have a show sometime around Christmas."
"Ho ho ho," said Xander.
"Maybe Buffy and Dawn will be able to come to that one," said Cordelia.
"Maybe, Dawn did promise that they'd be back for Christmas," said Anya.
The group stayed awhile longer to hang out and talk and then decided to go their separate ways.
"You girls gonna be all right going home alone?" asked Xander.
"I'm sure we'll be fine," said Cordelia. "If not, we can find a strapping young male to escort us."
"Ha ha, very funny," said Angel.
"See ya later," said Fred as she gave Gunn a hug good-bye.
"I'll call you tomorrow," replied Gunn.
"Okay."
Willow hugged Oz and said her good-byes while Anya and Cordelia did the same. The four women were ready to leave and turned in time to see Spike lean down and give Fred a quick kiss on the lips.
"Take care Luv."
"You too," said Fred as she turned and followed Willow and the others out of the Edge.
"Somebody has on a huge grin," commented Cordelia with a smile.
"Don't even start," replied Fred.
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"So, uh, are you and Fred going out now?" asked Gunn.
"Yeah," replied Spike.
"Great!" said Xander. "Now we don't have to listen to the other girls go on and on about how you two need to become official."
"Tell me about it, that's all Cordy ever talks about," said Angel as he put his coat on.
"Well now they'll have to give all of their attention to shoes," said Spike with a smile.
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Buffy came down stairs to find her sister and Andrew playing cards.
"What are you doing here?" asked Buffy.
"I live not too far away," said Andrew. "I thought I'd come visit you guys."
"How sweet." Buffy walked into the kitchen to get something to drink.
"Are you guys going to England for Christmas?" called Andrew.
"I dunno, why?" asked Buffy.
"I am," said Andrew.
"Do you even have family up there?" asked Buffy as she came back into the livingroom.
"I talked to Wesley and he said it'd be nice for us all to get together for Christmas," said Andrew as he put a few poker chips into the center of the table. "Y'know, like some sort of closure."
"Yeah, like an end of our old lives is the beginning to our new better ones," said Dawn.
I don't see how this one is that much better then the old one. Thought Buffy.
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To Be Continued . . .
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