Disclaimer: Yes...Joss Whedon owns all of the characters except the ones that
you have never heard of because I created them...I wonder if Joss has ever
heard of a thing called 'sharing'...
Summary: ((Warning: Spuffiness!!! Everyone is human too...the story isn't as lame as the summary...seriously)) Starts off with everyone as young teenagers...Glory and Buffy are step sisters, and Angel is the step brother...blah blah blah ((Sorry, it's too juicy to give away)) And Buffy is hit by a car, loses all her memory...including all recollection of her love...Spike...this is a really vague summary...
((A/N: I WANT TO TELL ALL OF THE REVIEWERS WHO HAVE REVIEWED THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! IT REALLY ENCOURAGES ME TO CONTINUE!!! *muah* LOVE YOU ALL!!! REMEMBER MORE REVIEWES=MORE CHAPPIES!!!))
((A/N: Luv to all my steady reviewers, Shitaka, Ruthie2, Courtney37, ekmw511, hotspike7, and Cho-freak-dragon. Thanks for reviewing Sarianna, please, and hells-angel01. PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHAPTER...Will Elizabeth remember?))
((Okay, I'll make longer chappies...and take a little more time...just for you Shitaka^^, but this chapter wasn't updated late on purpose! I was AP exams looming overhead...And I don't know what the hell is going on, but ff.net is screwing up my formatting! It's pissing me off!!! I will go back, and try to change them, so it will be easier to read...anyways, I think this is a crappy chapter, so I apologize ahead of time. I ESTIMATE THAT IT WILL BE 1- 2 MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL ELIZABETH REMEMBERS!!!))
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If love was meant to be between two people, Then they will always find each other, No matter how long it takes, No matter how far, No matter how many obstacles stand in the way, In the end, they will always end up in each other's arms.
* * * * * * * * * *
Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. -Albert Einstein
* * * * * * * * * *
Elizabeth walked through the underground parking lot with a shopping bag, and purse in hand. She was nearing the exit that led out to the busy streets when an all too familiar car stopped. The passenger side window rolled down, and out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw Glory's smiling face.
"Hi Liz!" Glory greeted.
Elizabeth smiled with a genuine smile, and stopped walking. "Hello Glory," she said politely.
Spike then jumped into view. "Hey there pet," he called casually.
"Hello William," Elizabeth replied, relishing in the sight of Spike wince.
"We're going out to eat, and we'd really appreciate it if you would join us." Glory explained.
"Oh it's okay, I'm out to lu-" Elizabeth began.
"I...we...insist." Spike cut in.
Elizabeth sighed, and climbed into the back. For some reason she sat as close to the door as she could, and ignored all the glances that Spike was sending her way.
Spike looked up into the rearview window again. Once again, Elizabeth was refusing to look at him. He sighed inwardly, and pulled up alongside a curb. Elizabeth got out of the car, and smoothed the imaginary wrinkles of her knitted turtleneck sweater.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that we need to stop by the jewelers for a little bit," Glory explained, her eyes smiling at Elizabeth with a slight evil look to them.
Elizabeth pursed her lips, and followed behind Spike and Glory. She followed grudgingly, and it was evident by her posture and that she would much rather be anywhere else. She watched Spike and Glory look at rings for their big engagement coming up, noting the way Glory's eyes shined every time she looked at Spike.
'And of course he feels the same way...' Elizabeth told herself. She couldn't help but feel a slight pang in her heart. She was about to leave the store quietly, and wait for them outside when Spike turned around.
"Which one do you prefer?" Spike asked Elizabeth. He held up a simple yellow gold band with a small diamond in the middle, and a white gold version of the same ring.
Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows, and came up to them to inspect them both. "For who?" she finally asked.
"Me," Spike answered.
Elizabeth was in love with the white gold one, but out of spite she pointed to the yellow gold one, "That one."
Spike nodded, and gave it to the jeweler along with Glory's. Hers was a gold band with a one-carat diamond in the middle of the band with two much smaller diamonds on each side. Elizabeth put down the white gold ring rather reluctantly. It was such a nice ring.
Glory smirked as she saw the simple silver band on Elizabeth's hand, "Aren't you engaged?" she asked Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked down to avoid Spike's eyes. Little did she know that his eyes now looked at her with eyes of unfathomable sadness. "Yes," she said quietly. 'Why do I sound so forlorn about this? I'm engaged to Aidan, the man of my dreams!' she chided herself.
Spike finally opened his mouth and spoke after there was some awkward silence. "Have you gotten him a ring yet?" he asked.
"Well no, we were sort of going to wait until after he finished the mural," Elizabeth replied, looking up at Spike. She noticed the cold look in his eyes. His usually warm sky blue eyes now reminded her of glaciers. She had never seen this look before, and she didn't like it too well, but she refused to look away.
"If you really love him, you shouldn't let some stupid mural get in the way," Glory interjected smugly.
Elizabeth found it hard to swallow and nodded. "I suppose you're right," she said. She turned around, and began to look at other rings. She finally settled for a similar looking ring of silver with a much smaller, much much smaller diamond in the middle. She bought it, and hastily shoved the ring into her pocket, and left the store with Spike and Glory behind her. As soon as they were out of the store Elizabeth turned around.
Her emerald eyes looked slightly stormy as she faced them. "You know, I've sort of lost my appetite...I think that I'm going to just head on back to the office," she said.
"Awww Lizzy, please come with us!" Glory pouted as if she and Elizabeth were the best of friends.
Elizabeth offered them a small smile and shook her head, "Sorry, but I really don't feel like eating."
Spike rubbed the back of his head, and with a forced smile nodded, "It's alright pet, we understand...can't wait to give Aidan the ring eh?"
Elizabeth was speechless, was that why she didn't want to eat with them? Why did she find it so hard to breathe all of the sudden? She was so occupied in her thoughts that she did not wonder how Spike had known that Aidan was her fiancée.
A look of triumph filled Glory's face as she looked at Elizabeth. "You're right William, Elizabeth must be eager to show Aidan her token of love..."
Without a word, Elizabeth turned around, and walked away, sucking in and breathing out air heavily to calm herself. "Why do I hate her so much?" she muttered to herself. "What has she done to me? Exactly, nothing..."
Spike watched her walk away, her long silky hair being blown by the wind. 'Why does she walk so slow, and why does walk so dejectedly?' he wondered. He would've stood there, until she disappeared from view if he could, but Glory pulled him into the car.
Elizabeth trudged on, and ended up taking a taxi back to work. Instead of heading for the headquarters, she made her way out to the amusement park. She paused several yards away from the mural, watching Aidan paint. The mural was almost done. Soon she'd quit this job, and move with Aidan far far away. Away from the confusion, the mixed feelings, and away from the single man who could cause so many feelings to erupt.
"AIDAN!" she yelled as she forced herself to smile.
Aidan turned around from his mural in surprise. A huge grin lit his face. "ELIZABETH!" he scrambled down the side ladder, and walked over. "Isn't your lunch break over?"
Elizabeth shrugged, "It doesn't matter..." she shoved a hand into her pocket, and pulled out something. "Here, it's for you." she explained.
At first confused, Aidan raised an eyebrow, but then his eyes widened when he saw the silver band in her hand. "It's for...me?" he asked again. Did he dare believe that Elizabeth had bought this ring for him? He gingerly picked it up, treating it as if it were the most precious jewel in the world. He put it on his hand, "Well, how does it look?" he asked.
Elizabeth was about to reply that he looked, 'dashing,' but all of the sudden her vision was blurred. Replaced by the fuzzy image of a man with spiky blonde hair holding up a hand with the white gold ring that she had liked so much. She blinked, and dumbly nodded.
Aidan was so overjoyed that he had failed to notice Elizabeth's pause. He was about to say something when Elizabeth interjected.
"You know Aidan, I really am late for work...see you later," Aidan nodded understandingly, and waved as she walked away. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, and smiled at Aidan in response, but the smile did not touch her eyes.
Aidan's joy was shattered as he turned around to resume his work. It was almost done...several more days, and she might be gone, forever.
* * THE NEXT DAY * *
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair as she eyed the picture she was drawing. "Nah..." she ripped the page out, and crumbled it up. Then Anya and Willow came bounding in.
"Elizabeth!" Willow squealed.
Elizabeth turned around in her chair in surprise. "You sure seem chipper this morning," she commented as she raised an eyebrow. Slowly a smile spread across her face, Willow was the sort of person who could do that to you.
"We have a perfectly good and logical reason why." Anya added.
Willow nodded vigorously, "Your scarf is going to be sold in all stores owned by Global Fashions in about a week,"
"More or less," Anya added again.
Elizabeth tried, but was unsuccessful in suppressing in a squeal as well. Soon the three girls were giggling like little schoolgirls. Little did they know that they were being watched by a pair of sad blue eyes. An hour before her day was over, her cell phone rang. Raising an eyebrow, Elizabeth picked up her cell phone, and went outside the room to answer it.
"Hello?" ... "Oh hey Aidan," Elizabeth smiled slightly. ... "Dinner? Where?" she asked. ... "Medici Terrace? But I don't really feel like Italian tonight if you know what I mean," ... "I dunno...something bigger and better, like steak?" she offered. ... "Hmm...how about Sandy's Steak Shack?" ... "Who cares if they're cheap?! They have good food, and that's something I could use right now!" ... "Well, I heard that Pierre's Bistro serves a mean steak," ... "You're so strange...anyways, sure," ... "6:45 pm...eh...I guess I can fit you into my busy schedule," Elizabeth said with a smile. ... "Hey, I'm a busy person, okay?" ... Elizabeth laughed, "Hmph, okay, I'll see you then...Pierre's Bistro, 6:45 pm?" Elizabeth nodded, "Bye." She hung up, and furrowed her eyebrows. Perhaps it was just her on edge, but she felt like someone was watching her. She looked over her shoulder, and seeing no one, went back inside.
Spike watched her go inside, "Pierre's Bistro, 6:45 pm eh luv?" he whispered to himself. He hung his head, and shuffled to his office. As he sat himself down into his chair, he couldn't help but wonder if he was insane. "Lovely, I've become a stalker," he muttered as he found himself dialing Glory's cell number.
"Glory?" ... "Yeah, it's me luv," ... "Oh nothing, just wondering if you wanted to go to Pierre's Bistro with me tonight," ... "On me...show up at my office by 6:50 pm, alright?" ... "Bye Glory."
Aidan practically dragged Elizabeth toward the restaurant. He was linking his arm with hers when she pulled away, "What are you doing?" she demanded, her eyebrows as she glared at him.
"What? Can't we link arms?" he asked, a surprised grin still on his face.
"No, we can't," she snapped as she angrily stomped her way to the entrance of the restaurant.
Aidan raised an eyebrow as he ran after her, he grabbed her shoulder, and whirling her round, pressed her against him in an embrace. "Do you feel better?" he asked.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, this was her fiancé...her life...how come it didn't feel right? How come it felt like she was betraying someone? She forced herself to nod, "But don't touch me, I don't feel like being touched," she added as a warning of apprehension.
Aidan smirked, "Sheesh," he remarked, "But of course, whatever you say milady," He said, bowing as he opened the door for her.
Elizabeth gave a half hearted, but amused smile at Aidan, and went inside. They sat at their table, and had just gotten their food when Spike and Glory came in, just as casual as they could be. Elizabeth who had been sitting on the side that looked towards the entrance quickly looked back down at her steak, and began sawing away at her steak.
"Is your meat tough?" Aidan asked as he looked up from his plate of several small pieces of pork loin sautéed in the houses' special sauce, and poured over with a the houses' special gravy with sliced porter mushrooms on top.
Elizabeth looked up at him with a confused look, "What? Oh no, it's actually just the way I like it...really really rare..."
Aidan grimaced; he wasn't really the bloody meat type of person. "Then why are you sawing at it like some pissed off lumber jack?"
Several of the other customers in the restaurant raised eyebrows at Aidan's coarse language. The restaurant happened to be a rather upscale one, the kind that Aidan had insisted on taking her too. Elizabeth took a long drink out of her wine glass as Spike and Glory seated themselves at the table next to them.
Aidan followed her gaze, and turned around. He felt his anger, bubbling up inside of him...it was them...the two people that he hated the most. Gritting his teeth he spoke, "Glory! Spike! How nice of you two to come," he exclaimed loudly.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes rested her forehead on her hand.
Spike smiled, ignoring Aidan's venomous tone, "Aidan, nice to see you. The mural is coming along wonderfully," he replied courteously, "And Elizabeth,"
Glory raised her eyebrows, giving them a look of victory and supremacy.
Then Spike got up, "Glory, perhaps we should join the couple for dinner, after all, we are all acquaintances, and could afford to get to know each other better...if that's alright with you," he looked straight at Elizabeth, but Aidan nodded.
"Of course, come on, pull up a chair or two!" Aidan encouraged, with false cheer.
Spike and Glory smiled at him, and pulled up to the same table as them. A waiter came, "Is there anything that you'd like to drink?" he inquired.
Spike looked over at Elizabeth, and then Aidan, "I assume you two drink wine?"
Aidan nodded, "But the wine isn't going to be on me," he warned.
Elizabeth groaned inwardly, why was Aidan acting so hostile and strange?
Spike nodded curtly, "It's on me, the whole dinner will be on me...think of it as an engagement present,"
Elizabeth clenched her fists as she felt herself go cold. Why did she feel so strange about it all? Her emerald eyes stormed over with a confused look.
"In that case, bring us your most expensive wine!" Aidan declared to the waiter.
Elizabeth's head shot up, "Aidan!" she hissed as she glared at him.
"What?" Aidan asked, his voice innocent, "Let's enjoy our little gift from Mr. Cornelius, after all, after we get married you won't be seeing the guy anymore,"
Spike raised an eyebrow, "Are you planning on quitting Elizabeth?" he asked, his voice all of the sudden, polite, and distant.
Elizabeth glanced up at him before averting her eyes back to her plate again, "Well yes, you know, Aidan and I were planning on moving after-"
Spike interjected, "To my understanding, the contract you signed was for six months, and if you wish after the period of six months you can renew it, which I see will not be the case. And if you wish to quit before the six months are up, you will have to pay a fine,"
"Well I suppose I will just have to pay the fine then." Elizabeth replied quickly and firmly. She refused to meet anyone's eyes. Then the wine came, and Aidan quickly helped himself.
"Excellent wine, do you want some Liz?" Aidan asked.
Elizabeth shook her head, "Actually we should be going," she muttered, trying to give Aidan a hint.
"No, no, no. We are going to stay and enjoy Mr. Cornelius's little gift," Aidan insisted.
Elizabeth looked at Aidan with an incredulous look, "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice harsh. Her patience was wearing thin today for some reason, and Spike and Glory's presence wasn't helping. "And stop being so obnoxious, and rude."
Aidan raised an eyebrow while a innocuous look spread across his face. "What? What did I do? I'm not being obnoxious and rude," he retorted.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, she was going to explode any minute now...
Spike noting this, pushed his chair back and stood up. "As another present, I'd like to play, a special song for you two," he announced.
Elizabeth and Aidan stopped glowering at each other, and looked up at Spike. Glory beamed up at him, her face just glowing with happiness. As soon as Spike turned his back to them, Glory looked at Elizabeth out of the corner of her eyes, obviously stating that she had the more 'perfect' guy.
Elizabeth ignored her and Aidan. Instead she watched Spike slowly pad up the carpeted steps that led up to the carpeted platform that had a large black, grand piano on it. His pale skin, and light hair contrasted with the dark piano. Spike's blue eyes looked up, and their gazes met. Elizabeth was the first to look away.
Spike sighed inwardly, and began to play the piano. The customers of the restaurant all listened as well, and it was obvious who he was playing for, for he occasionally looked up at Elizabeth who had her head bowed. Aidan was listening to the music as well, his body tense even though he was trying to put on the nonchalant look, and Glory's eyes were riveted upon Spike, a slight smile on her face.
Elizabeth felt tears prick her eyes. It was that haunting melody again. The same song that she had heard the first time she visited the beach with Aidan. The same song that Spike had played before he asked if he could hug her. The same song that had been Buffy's favorite...Elizabeth sat up. "I'm leaving," she said quickly as she grabbed her purse, and rushed out of the restaurant.
Spike's playing stopped abruptly as he sat up to watch Elizabeth run of. In a split second, Aidan had run out after her. "Elizabeth!" he yelled. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, breathless by the time he had caught up with her.
"Nothing," she snapped, rather irritably.
"Don't lie," he ordered.
Elizabeth stopped walking, and looked at him. "Fine then, you really want to know why I left?" she asked.
Aidan nodded in earnest.
"I felt uncomfortable, and I knew that you were ESPECIALLY uncomfortable," she replied with a sigh, "And DON'T even think about denying it," she added as an afterthought.
Aidan sighed, and smirked, "Fine, I admit it...I don't like the guy all that much," he admitted as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his corduroy pants. They looked relatively clean, but there were several little dots of paint that stained them.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she noticed his pants. "You're horrible," she commented.
Aidan grinned, "I know."
Summary: ((Warning: Spuffiness!!! Everyone is human too...the story isn't as lame as the summary...seriously)) Starts off with everyone as young teenagers...Glory and Buffy are step sisters, and Angel is the step brother...blah blah blah ((Sorry, it's too juicy to give away)) And Buffy is hit by a car, loses all her memory...including all recollection of her love...Spike...this is a really vague summary...
((A/N: I WANT TO TELL ALL OF THE REVIEWERS WHO HAVE REVIEWED THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! IT REALLY ENCOURAGES ME TO CONTINUE!!! *muah* LOVE YOU ALL!!! REMEMBER MORE REVIEWES=MORE CHAPPIES!!!))
((A/N: Luv to all my steady reviewers, Shitaka, Ruthie2, Courtney37, ekmw511, hotspike7, and Cho-freak-dragon. Thanks for reviewing Sarianna, please, and hells-angel01. PREVIEW OF THE NEXT CHAPTER...Will Elizabeth remember?))
((Okay, I'll make longer chappies...and take a little more time...just for you Shitaka^^, but this chapter wasn't updated late on purpose! I was AP exams looming overhead...And I don't know what the hell is going on, but ff.net is screwing up my formatting! It's pissing me off!!! I will go back, and try to change them, so it will be easier to read...anyways, I think this is a crappy chapter, so I apologize ahead of time. I ESTIMATE THAT IT WILL BE 1- 2 MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL ELIZABETH REMEMBERS!!!))
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
If love was meant to be between two people, Then they will always find each other, No matter how long it takes, No matter how far, No matter how many obstacles stand in the way, In the end, they will always end up in each other's arms.
* * * * * * * * * *
Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. -Albert Einstein
* * * * * * * * * *
Elizabeth walked through the underground parking lot with a shopping bag, and purse in hand. She was nearing the exit that led out to the busy streets when an all too familiar car stopped. The passenger side window rolled down, and out of the corner of her eye, Elizabeth saw Glory's smiling face.
"Hi Liz!" Glory greeted.
Elizabeth smiled with a genuine smile, and stopped walking. "Hello Glory," she said politely.
Spike then jumped into view. "Hey there pet," he called casually.
"Hello William," Elizabeth replied, relishing in the sight of Spike wince.
"We're going out to eat, and we'd really appreciate it if you would join us." Glory explained.
"Oh it's okay, I'm out to lu-" Elizabeth began.
"I...we...insist." Spike cut in.
Elizabeth sighed, and climbed into the back. For some reason she sat as close to the door as she could, and ignored all the glances that Spike was sending her way.
Spike looked up into the rearview window again. Once again, Elizabeth was refusing to look at him. He sighed inwardly, and pulled up alongside a curb. Elizabeth got out of the car, and smoothed the imaginary wrinkles of her knitted turtleneck sweater.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that we need to stop by the jewelers for a little bit," Glory explained, her eyes smiling at Elizabeth with a slight evil look to them.
Elizabeth pursed her lips, and followed behind Spike and Glory. She followed grudgingly, and it was evident by her posture and that she would much rather be anywhere else. She watched Spike and Glory look at rings for their big engagement coming up, noting the way Glory's eyes shined every time she looked at Spike.
'And of course he feels the same way...' Elizabeth told herself. She couldn't help but feel a slight pang in her heart. She was about to leave the store quietly, and wait for them outside when Spike turned around.
"Which one do you prefer?" Spike asked Elizabeth. He held up a simple yellow gold band with a small diamond in the middle, and a white gold version of the same ring.
Elizabeth furrowed her eyebrows, and came up to them to inspect them both. "For who?" she finally asked.
"Me," Spike answered.
Elizabeth was in love with the white gold one, but out of spite she pointed to the yellow gold one, "That one."
Spike nodded, and gave it to the jeweler along with Glory's. Hers was a gold band with a one-carat diamond in the middle of the band with two much smaller diamonds on each side. Elizabeth put down the white gold ring rather reluctantly. It was such a nice ring.
Glory smirked as she saw the simple silver band on Elizabeth's hand, "Aren't you engaged?" she asked Elizabeth.
Elizabeth looked down to avoid Spike's eyes. Little did she know that his eyes now looked at her with eyes of unfathomable sadness. "Yes," she said quietly. 'Why do I sound so forlorn about this? I'm engaged to Aidan, the man of my dreams!' she chided herself.
Spike finally opened his mouth and spoke after there was some awkward silence. "Have you gotten him a ring yet?" he asked.
"Well no, we were sort of going to wait until after he finished the mural," Elizabeth replied, looking up at Spike. She noticed the cold look in his eyes. His usually warm sky blue eyes now reminded her of glaciers. She had never seen this look before, and she didn't like it too well, but she refused to look away.
"If you really love him, you shouldn't let some stupid mural get in the way," Glory interjected smugly.
Elizabeth found it hard to swallow and nodded. "I suppose you're right," she said. She turned around, and began to look at other rings. She finally settled for a similar looking ring of silver with a much smaller, much much smaller diamond in the middle. She bought it, and hastily shoved the ring into her pocket, and left the store with Spike and Glory behind her. As soon as they were out of the store Elizabeth turned around.
Her emerald eyes looked slightly stormy as she faced them. "You know, I've sort of lost my appetite...I think that I'm going to just head on back to the office," she said.
"Awww Lizzy, please come with us!" Glory pouted as if she and Elizabeth were the best of friends.
Elizabeth offered them a small smile and shook her head, "Sorry, but I really don't feel like eating."
Spike rubbed the back of his head, and with a forced smile nodded, "It's alright pet, we understand...can't wait to give Aidan the ring eh?"
Elizabeth was speechless, was that why she didn't want to eat with them? Why did she find it so hard to breathe all of the sudden? She was so occupied in her thoughts that she did not wonder how Spike had known that Aidan was her fiancée.
A look of triumph filled Glory's face as she looked at Elizabeth. "You're right William, Elizabeth must be eager to show Aidan her token of love..."
Without a word, Elizabeth turned around, and walked away, sucking in and breathing out air heavily to calm herself. "Why do I hate her so much?" she muttered to herself. "What has she done to me? Exactly, nothing..."
Spike watched her walk away, her long silky hair being blown by the wind. 'Why does she walk so slow, and why does walk so dejectedly?' he wondered. He would've stood there, until she disappeared from view if he could, but Glory pulled him into the car.
Elizabeth trudged on, and ended up taking a taxi back to work. Instead of heading for the headquarters, she made her way out to the amusement park. She paused several yards away from the mural, watching Aidan paint. The mural was almost done. Soon she'd quit this job, and move with Aidan far far away. Away from the confusion, the mixed feelings, and away from the single man who could cause so many feelings to erupt.
"AIDAN!" she yelled as she forced herself to smile.
Aidan turned around from his mural in surprise. A huge grin lit his face. "ELIZABETH!" he scrambled down the side ladder, and walked over. "Isn't your lunch break over?"
Elizabeth shrugged, "It doesn't matter..." she shoved a hand into her pocket, and pulled out something. "Here, it's for you." she explained.
At first confused, Aidan raised an eyebrow, but then his eyes widened when he saw the silver band in her hand. "It's for...me?" he asked again. Did he dare believe that Elizabeth had bought this ring for him? He gingerly picked it up, treating it as if it were the most precious jewel in the world. He put it on his hand, "Well, how does it look?" he asked.
Elizabeth was about to reply that he looked, 'dashing,' but all of the sudden her vision was blurred. Replaced by the fuzzy image of a man with spiky blonde hair holding up a hand with the white gold ring that she had liked so much. She blinked, and dumbly nodded.
Aidan was so overjoyed that he had failed to notice Elizabeth's pause. He was about to say something when Elizabeth interjected.
"You know Aidan, I really am late for work...see you later," Aidan nodded understandingly, and waved as she walked away. Elizabeth looked over her shoulder, and smiled at Aidan in response, but the smile did not touch her eyes.
Aidan's joy was shattered as he turned around to resume his work. It was almost done...several more days, and she might be gone, forever.
* * THE NEXT DAY * *
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair as she eyed the picture she was drawing. "Nah..." she ripped the page out, and crumbled it up. Then Anya and Willow came bounding in.
"Elizabeth!" Willow squealed.
Elizabeth turned around in her chair in surprise. "You sure seem chipper this morning," she commented as she raised an eyebrow. Slowly a smile spread across her face, Willow was the sort of person who could do that to you.
"We have a perfectly good and logical reason why." Anya added.
Willow nodded vigorously, "Your scarf is going to be sold in all stores owned by Global Fashions in about a week,"
"More or less," Anya added again.
Elizabeth tried, but was unsuccessful in suppressing in a squeal as well. Soon the three girls were giggling like little schoolgirls. Little did they know that they were being watched by a pair of sad blue eyes. An hour before her day was over, her cell phone rang. Raising an eyebrow, Elizabeth picked up her cell phone, and went outside the room to answer it.
"Hello?" ... "Oh hey Aidan," Elizabeth smiled slightly. ... "Dinner? Where?" she asked. ... "Medici Terrace? But I don't really feel like Italian tonight if you know what I mean," ... "I dunno...something bigger and better, like steak?" she offered. ... "Hmm...how about Sandy's Steak Shack?" ... "Who cares if they're cheap?! They have good food, and that's something I could use right now!" ... "Well, I heard that Pierre's Bistro serves a mean steak," ... "You're so strange...anyways, sure," ... "6:45 pm...eh...I guess I can fit you into my busy schedule," Elizabeth said with a smile. ... "Hey, I'm a busy person, okay?" ... Elizabeth laughed, "Hmph, okay, I'll see you then...Pierre's Bistro, 6:45 pm?" Elizabeth nodded, "Bye." She hung up, and furrowed her eyebrows. Perhaps it was just her on edge, but she felt like someone was watching her. She looked over her shoulder, and seeing no one, went back inside.
Spike watched her go inside, "Pierre's Bistro, 6:45 pm eh luv?" he whispered to himself. He hung his head, and shuffled to his office. As he sat himself down into his chair, he couldn't help but wonder if he was insane. "Lovely, I've become a stalker," he muttered as he found himself dialing Glory's cell number.
"Glory?" ... "Yeah, it's me luv," ... "Oh nothing, just wondering if you wanted to go to Pierre's Bistro with me tonight," ... "On me...show up at my office by 6:50 pm, alright?" ... "Bye Glory."
Aidan practically dragged Elizabeth toward the restaurant. He was linking his arm with hers when she pulled away, "What are you doing?" she demanded, her eyebrows as she glared at him.
"What? Can't we link arms?" he asked, a surprised grin still on his face.
"No, we can't," she snapped as she angrily stomped her way to the entrance of the restaurant.
Aidan raised an eyebrow as he ran after her, he grabbed her shoulder, and whirling her round, pressed her against him in an embrace. "Do you feel better?" he asked.
Elizabeth closed her eyes, this was her fiancé...her life...how come it didn't feel right? How come it felt like she was betraying someone? She forced herself to nod, "But don't touch me, I don't feel like being touched," she added as a warning of apprehension.
Aidan smirked, "Sheesh," he remarked, "But of course, whatever you say milady," He said, bowing as he opened the door for her.
Elizabeth gave a half hearted, but amused smile at Aidan, and went inside. They sat at their table, and had just gotten their food when Spike and Glory came in, just as casual as they could be. Elizabeth who had been sitting on the side that looked towards the entrance quickly looked back down at her steak, and began sawing away at her steak.
"Is your meat tough?" Aidan asked as he looked up from his plate of several small pieces of pork loin sautéed in the houses' special sauce, and poured over with a the houses' special gravy with sliced porter mushrooms on top.
Elizabeth looked up at him with a confused look, "What? Oh no, it's actually just the way I like it...really really rare..."
Aidan grimaced; he wasn't really the bloody meat type of person. "Then why are you sawing at it like some pissed off lumber jack?"
Several of the other customers in the restaurant raised eyebrows at Aidan's coarse language. The restaurant happened to be a rather upscale one, the kind that Aidan had insisted on taking her too. Elizabeth took a long drink out of her wine glass as Spike and Glory seated themselves at the table next to them.
Aidan followed her gaze, and turned around. He felt his anger, bubbling up inside of him...it was them...the two people that he hated the most. Gritting his teeth he spoke, "Glory! Spike! How nice of you two to come," he exclaimed loudly.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes rested her forehead on her hand.
Spike smiled, ignoring Aidan's venomous tone, "Aidan, nice to see you. The mural is coming along wonderfully," he replied courteously, "And Elizabeth,"
Glory raised her eyebrows, giving them a look of victory and supremacy.
Then Spike got up, "Glory, perhaps we should join the couple for dinner, after all, we are all acquaintances, and could afford to get to know each other better...if that's alright with you," he looked straight at Elizabeth, but Aidan nodded.
"Of course, come on, pull up a chair or two!" Aidan encouraged, with false cheer.
Spike and Glory smiled at him, and pulled up to the same table as them. A waiter came, "Is there anything that you'd like to drink?" he inquired.
Spike looked over at Elizabeth, and then Aidan, "I assume you two drink wine?"
Aidan nodded, "But the wine isn't going to be on me," he warned.
Elizabeth groaned inwardly, why was Aidan acting so hostile and strange?
Spike nodded curtly, "It's on me, the whole dinner will be on me...think of it as an engagement present,"
Elizabeth clenched her fists as she felt herself go cold. Why did she feel so strange about it all? Her emerald eyes stormed over with a confused look.
"In that case, bring us your most expensive wine!" Aidan declared to the waiter.
Elizabeth's head shot up, "Aidan!" she hissed as she glared at him.
"What?" Aidan asked, his voice innocent, "Let's enjoy our little gift from Mr. Cornelius, after all, after we get married you won't be seeing the guy anymore,"
Spike raised an eyebrow, "Are you planning on quitting Elizabeth?" he asked, his voice all of the sudden, polite, and distant.
Elizabeth glanced up at him before averting her eyes back to her plate again, "Well yes, you know, Aidan and I were planning on moving after-"
Spike interjected, "To my understanding, the contract you signed was for six months, and if you wish after the period of six months you can renew it, which I see will not be the case. And if you wish to quit before the six months are up, you will have to pay a fine,"
"Well I suppose I will just have to pay the fine then." Elizabeth replied quickly and firmly. She refused to meet anyone's eyes. Then the wine came, and Aidan quickly helped himself.
"Excellent wine, do you want some Liz?" Aidan asked.
Elizabeth shook her head, "Actually we should be going," she muttered, trying to give Aidan a hint.
"No, no, no. We are going to stay and enjoy Mr. Cornelius's little gift," Aidan insisted.
Elizabeth looked at Aidan with an incredulous look, "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice harsh. Her patience was wearing thin today for some reason, and Spike and Glory's presence wasn't helping. "And stop being so obnoxious, and rude."
Aidan raised an eyebrow while a innocuous look spread across his face. "What? What did I do? I'm not being obnoxious and rude," he retorted.
Elizabeth gritted her teeth, she was going to explode any minute now...
Spike noting this, pushed his chair back and stood up. "As another present, I'd like to play, a special song for you two," he announced.
Elizabeth and Aidan stopped glowering at each other, and looked up at Spike. Glory beamed up at him, her face just glowing with happiness. As soon as Spike turned his back to them, Glory looked at Elizabeth out of the corner of her eyes, obviously stating that she had the more 'perfect' guy.
Elizabeth ignored her and Aidan. Instead she watched Spike slowly pad up the carpeted steps that led up to the carpeted platform that had a large black, grand piano on it. His pale skin, and light hair contrasted with the dark piano. Spike's blue eyes looked up, and their gazes met. Elizabeth was the first to look away.
Spike sighed inwardly, and began to play the piano. The customers of the restaurant all listened as well, and it was obvious who he was playing for, for he occasionally looked up at Elizabeth who had her head bowed. Aidan was listening to the music as well, his body tense even though he was trying to put on the nonchalant look, and Glory's eyes were riveted upon Spike, a slight smile on her face.
Elizabeth felt tears prick her eyes. It was that haunting melody again. The same song that she had heard the first time she visited the beach with Aidan. The same song that Spike had played before he asked if he could hug her. The same song that had been Buffy's favorite...Elizabeth sat up. "I'm leaving," she said quickly as she grabbed her purse, and rushed out of the restaurant.
Spike's playing stopped abruptly as he sat up to watch Elizabeth run of. In a split second, Aidan had run out after her. "Elizabeth!" he yelled. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, breathless by the time he had caught up with her.
"Nothing," she snapped, rather irritably.
"Don't lie," he ordered.
Elizabeth stopped walking, and looked at him. "Fine then, you really want to know why I left?" she asked.
Aidan nodded in earnest.
"I felt uncomfortable, and I knew that you were ESPECIALLY uncomfortable," she replied with a sigh, "And DON'T even think about denying it," she added as an afterthought.
Aidan sighed, and smirked, "Fine, I admit it...I don't like the guy all that much," he admitted as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his corduroy pants. They looked relatively clean, but there were several little dots of paint that stained them.
Elizabeth couldn't help but smile as she noticed his pants. "You're horrible," she commented.
Aidan grinned, "I know."