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'...Also do not own the song, "I'll Be," and
"I will remember you." They belong to Edwin McCain and Sarah McLachlan...
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!!!))
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
* * * * * * * * * *
Giles swung open the door. "Liz? Aidan?" he called out, almost hesitantly. Glad to see that no one around he closed the door behind him, and crept to the living room. That is...if you call it that. It was more like Aidan's studio, each and every nook and cranny was filled with some form of Aidan's art work.
He gingerly stepped over and around some of the canvases on the floor and headed towards the coffee table at the far end of the room. There was a small stack of art posters that Aidan had colored. They were all just experiments of Aidan's as he experimented and perfected certain techniques. Some were his own, and some were imitations that were so masterfully done that one wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Giles was no art curator, but he could tell which technique was harder than the other. He sifted through the pile until he came to one of two children sitting underneath a red cow in the middle of a field. "Here it is..." he muttered as he slipped it out from underneath the others. He held it out in front of him and inspected it. "Yes...the special block and square technique that few have mastered," he recited, "Its primitive looks are deceiving for it is a fairly recent technique that was only made a mere century ago, and was not known for many many decades..."
He carefully rolled it up, and slid an elastic rubber band over it. He then grabbed some of the newspapers that Aidan used to cover up to the floor that were scattered on the ground, and wrapped them around the art poster. He left the house as quietly and subtly as he had arrived.
Giles walked into the elegant swinging glass doors of the art museum, and walked up to the front desk. "Yes, I'm here to see Mr. Spence," he told the lady.
The young secretary looked him up and down. She didn't know squat about art, but had landed this job because her father was a good friend of Mr. Spence. He had the artsy British accent that many of Mr. Spence's colleagues and friends had, and he was dressed perhaps a bit too casual, but who cared? She nodded, "Right this way sir," she led him up several floors, and down a hallway. She opened a door for him ,and let him in. "Mr. Spence will be with you shortly."
Giles nodded, and looked around, slightly nervously around Mr. Spence's office. It was decorated with many prestigious looking placards, and various awards and degrees. He was inspecting a small porcelain figurine when Mr. Spence came in. He was a prominent looking man, or at least one who was striving to be with this slightly graying black hair, gold-rimmed spectacles, and a smart dark blue collared shirt.
"May I...help you?" Mr. Spence asked with an air of haughtiness.
Giles shifted a bit, and held out the newspaper wrapper poster. "I stumbled across this while sifting through some things that I inherited. I thought that perhaps this might be worth something," he explained as he ran a hand through his hair.
Mr. Spence gave him a doubtful look as he took the newspaper wrapped poster. He carefully unwrapped it, and unrolled the poster. His 'dignified' and composed posture disintegrated at the sight of the picture. "Oh my...where...where did you get such an item?" he asked, almost gasping.
Giles shrugged, trying to hide a smile. "Like I said, something I inherited. It's an old painting...forgot who painted it..."
"Do you have any clue how difficult it is to imitate this technique?"
Giles replied with an air of indifference, "Well I knew it wasn't easy, but..."
"How much do you want for it?"
Giles grinned inwardly, 'Now we're talking...' he thought to himself.
"Thank you for coming by Mr. Johnson, and please, please do feel free to come by again if you discover anything else," Mr. Spence urged.
Giles nodded, and shook hands with Mr. Spence. With a large manila envelope in hand he left the museum. $12,300 wasn't bad for a day's work. Now he had more than enough money to go to that auction and hopefully find the books that he was looking for.
"Come on Liz! You need to get out more!" Willow whined.
"Yes! You're acting like a hermit." Anya added.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and grinned. "I am not!"
"So tell us, are you busy tonight?" Willow asked.
"Well..." Elizabeth began.
"AH HAH! So you DON'T have plans!" Anya exclaimed, "Call Aidan right now, and tell him that you're going out for a night with the girls."
"I can't..." Elizabeth looked at Willow and Anya. She sighed, "Oh fine...but I still have to go home and change."
"No problem!" Willow and Anya chimed together. The two girls ushered Elizabeth out the door, "We're going out for lunch!" Willow called over her shoulder to Harmony.
"Just let me call Aidan first," Elizabeth grumbled.
Willow and Anya looked at each other, "You are allowed only one phone call for the rest of the day, you sure you wanna use it on Aidan?" Willow asked.
Elizabeth glared at Willow who smiled back, "Just joking?" she offered.
Elizabeth pulled out her cell phone as Anya hailed down a cab.
"Aidan?" ... "I'm going to come in late tonight...okay?" ... "I won't. I'll be in around midnight...don't wait up for me this time okay?" ... "Uh...I think that there might be some left over pasta from a night or two ago." ... "It's not rotten. It's in the freezer...just heat it up and eat it." ... "Seriously? So the mural's done?" ... "How about I just come for the whole ceremony tomorrow?" ... "Hey, I know these kinds of things...you're probably going to be on TV and the newspaper because the press was invited." ... "I will definitely come...and can't it wait tomorrow?" ... "Oh come on...this 'important' thing can wait till tomorrow...right? ... "I know...and I PROMISE...bye."
"Are you sure you're engaged?" Anya asked Elizabeth as they filed into the cab.
Elizabeth held out her hand, "See the ring?" she asked.
Anya rolled her eyes, "Well duh," she replied, "It's just that you guys don't act like most fiancées do."
"And how would YOU know?" Elizabeth asked.
Anya shrugged, "Movies...mags...books...oh! And Oprah."
Willow and Anya laughed while Elizabeth sat with her eyebrows furrowed and in thought. They were right...on a few occasions, Aidan had been bold enough to say 'I love you,' and Elizabeth had never been able to say it back to him...not that she ever tried. She had always replied with a mere, 'Me too.' But it always seemed to satisfy him.
Elizabeth closed the door behind her as she stepped outside. She wore a nice tight pair of black pants with a pair of black boots, and a dark dark green scoop neck top that had a layer of sheer material over it. Over her whole outfit, she wore her khaki coat that resembled one of a trench coat.
"You look maaaarvelous," Anya complimented in a faux British accent, "Just simply ravishing."
"By the way, change in plans, we're going to go meet up with our co and eat together...does that sound okay?" Willow asked as she turned around from the front seat.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "They're all coming?" she asked.
Willow nodded, "Oz just called to tell us. So how 'bout it?"
Elizabeth's eyebrows furrowed again. Willow and Anya glanced at each other nervously, fully expecting her to say 'no.' But Elizabeth's frown disappeared as she nodded, "Let's go!"
"THANK YOU MR. CORNELIUS!" everyone chimed as the platters of food were set on the banquet table.
"BLOODY HELL!" he yelled back, "How hard is it to get through your soddin' heads that I want you all to call me SPIKE?!" he demanded, a wide grin spread across his face.
The whole group erupted into laughter, and 'Thank you Spike!'s filled the air. Before sitting back down next to Glory, he glanced down the table towards Elizabeth, but she seemed to be absorbed in a conversation with Willow. His lips tilted downwards into a slight frown as he sat down. For the next hour or so, laughter and conversation filled the air along with the delicious aroma of the food and the clanging of silverware. As soon as everyone was done, people piled into cabs to head toward a club with Wesley's car in the lead.
The whole group took one of the larger, and more private booths. Shots went around, and just as they were going to order 'dessert,' Glory's cell phone rang. "Sorry," she said apologetically to Spike as she opened it.
"Hello?" ... "Oh hello Mrs. Cornelius!" she exclaimed, a fake smile plastered onto her face. ... "Oh...right now?" she asked, almost in a whine. ... "Um...let me ask William..." she placed the phone against her chest and turned to Spike. "You don't mind if I go see your Mom for a bit...do you?" she asked.
Spike shrugged, his speech already slightly slurred. He usually wasn't a heavy drinker, but today was not his day...and it didn't help to be so close to that girl who looked so much like Elizabeth. "Go ahead," he urged, "I'll wait for you. Oh and here," he withdrew his car keys from his pants pockets, "Take my car."
Glory grinned and turned back to the cell. "Mrs. Cornelius?" ... "Yes, I'll be right there."
Glory grabbed her purse, and left the table, reassuring everyone that she'd be back, but not before she gave Elizabeth a warning glare. "This better be good," Glory grumbled as she drove away in Spike's car.
"Let's play Shots!" Wesley yelled.
Oz whooped in agreement while everyone gave them quizzical look. "Well first, we need three couples." Oz explained. "And we only need two more now!" he added as he gestured to himself and Willow who was looking at him with a doubtful look on her face.
"One more," Harmony added as she sidled up next to Wesley.
"You got that right," Anya replied as she pulled Wesley towards her.
Harmony glared at Anya, giving her a look that said, 'No way, he's mine.'
"Oh come on Harmony, just let Anya and Wesley try it," someone called.
Harmony finally obliged...reluctantly, but being one of Glory's best friends she shot Anya a warning look.
"One more, one more!" Wesley called.
"I'll join," Spike called from a corner.
"Mr. Cornelius...I mean Spike...?" Wesley asked in surprise.
"Hey now, I'm quite the drinker,"
Wesley grinned, "Alright then...which lovely lady wants to be with our dear boss?"
"Elizabeth will," Willow interjected before anyone could volunteer.
Elizabeth looked up from her martini, "What?"
"Lizzie, Lizzie..." Willow urged, starting a chant. Elizabeth obliged...almost as reluctant as Harmony.
She stiffly seated herself next to Spike who merely raised an eyebrow at her. Wesley stood up to explain the game, "Alright...this is how it goes, we spin the bottle, and which ever couple it lands on has to choose the option of kissing, or each taking shots of this gorgeous, 100% pure Irish whiskey!"
"That's it?" Spike inquired.
"It's strong stuff," Wesley replied, almost startled.
Spike waved a hand, "I can handle it, come on now Wes, let's start already."
Elizabeth glanced sideways at him with a worried look that almost had some disgust with it. 'Pompous bastard...' she thought to herself. 'He's nothing but a ostentatious, egoistical...' her thoughts trailed off as she found herself at loss of more adjectives.
"Alright...and it's spinning..." Oz announced as he spun the bottle.
The rest of the group began to clap their hands as the bottle spun, "And it's Wesley and Anya!"
Wesley was going for kissing, but Anya shook her head stubbornly, "I want to try this Irish Whiskey!" she insisted. Wesley grinned and they both took a shot each of the whiskey.
A sour look crossed Anya's face, "Bleh...it IS strong..." she muttered. "And it tastes nasty," she added as she drank some water.
Oz spun the bottle again, this time it landed on Elizabeth and Spike. Spike looked at her questioningly, but Elizabeth refused to look at him, and reached for her shot glass. But Spike reached it first, and downed hers...AND his. 'Ooohs,' and 'Aaahs,' filled the air.
Oz spun the bottle again, and again it landed on Elizabeth and Spike, and once again, Spike drank his and Elizabeth's. Elizabeth glared at him, and poured herself another shot, and drank it, even though it was completely unnecessary.
"Come on, make it land on us!" Anya exclaimed rather impatiently.
"Trying to prove something Summers?" Spike asked as he watched the bottle spin.
"Yes, that I'm capable of holding up my own just fine," Elizabeth snapped back irritated.
"I beg to differ."
"And it lands on Wesley and Anya AGAIN!" Oz announced, "I guess tonight's our lucky night eh?" Oz asked Willow who was grinning, and laughing at Anya and Wesley.
"We're catching up boss," Wesley warned as he pointed at Spike and Elizabeth.
"I wouldn't be so sure of it mate," Spike replied as the bottle landed on them again. This time, Elizabeth drank her own. The game continued for a few more rounds, and it was clear that Spike and Elizabeth were the winners.
"And the winners are Spike and Elizabeth!" The group applauded, and the group quickly dissipated as everyone went over to the dancing floor to dance. Elizabeth remained though, sipping on a soda. She had stayed because she had seen Spike leave with everyone else and assumed that he had decided to dance too.
Spike watched Elizabeth sip on her drink from the railing of the second story of the club. Here he had a clear view of her. He hated the fact that she looked so damn gorgeous. She had finally taken off her khaki coat to reveal a shirt that matched the color of her eyes. He watched as Willow and Anya scampered over, begging her to dance.
His eyes followed her as she followed her friends to the dance floor. He watched her cross her arms, and shake her head, refusing to dance. The way her blonde hair caught the light...his eyebrows furrowed in slight wonder as she then broke out into a wild dance. He slowly descended down the stairs, his crystal blue eyes never once leaving her.
Aidan walked into the art gallery as Glory pulled up along side the curb. He had heard that the gallery had acquired a painting of a rare and hard to master technique, and was eager to check it out...and he had plenty of time considering the time that Elizabeth had said that she'd come in by.
Aidan took a brochure from the front desk and walked around the gallery, inspecting all of the pictures as Glory came inside. "Mrs. Cornelius!" she yelled as she spotted Spike's mom by one of the sculptures.
Mrs. Cornelius turned around, "Oh Glory dear..."
Aidan spun around in time to see Glory rush over to a lady. His eyes widened...Glory...it wasn't that he hadn't seen her in years, he saw her occasionally, but they never acknowledged each other really...it was just that seeing his sister here was odd...and so...strange...
"Yes, I wanted you to see a new masterpiece that my dear friend Mr. Spence found for my art gallery..." Mrs. Cornelius ushered her towards the picture of a red cow in the middle of a field with two children sitting underneath it.
Glory raised an eyebrow, it seemed vaguely familiar, "Who painted this?" she asked as she studied it intently.
"We're not sure, but Mr. Spence said that any imitation of the original is just as good because it is so difficult to replicate and imitate," Mrs. Cornelius replied.
Aidan stood nearby, his nose buried in a art magazine by a potted plant, but with is ears straining to listen to their conversation. As soon as they left the painting, he quickly walked over, his eyes about to pop out of their sockets when he saw it...it was his. Aidan was so busy mulling over how it could've gotten there that he did not see Glory leave.
Aidan turned around as Glory walked down the steps. "GLORY!" he yelled as he dashed out the doors after her.
Glory turned around, expecting to see Mrs. Cornelius or something, but instead she saw her brother. "Aidan..." she gasped.
"That picture in there!" he cried out, "That's my picture...I painted it...listen Glory, you have it take it down...you have to!"
Glory looked at him in disgust, "No," she replied as she unlocked the door.
"No, Glory...you don't understand, you have to take it down!" Aidan begged as he began to pound on the hood of the car.
Glory shrugged, and pressed down on the gas, making Aidan jump out of the way. "GLORY!" he yelled as the blue Jaguar drove away.
Spike downed another shot. He had long since come down, and was on his seventh shot of whiskey, not including the ones from the game. His vision was fogging, and he felt like passing out when a certain song came on.
"The strands in your hair, that color them wonderful, stop me and steal my breath...emerald fountains thrust toward sky, never revealing their depths...tell me that we belong together, dress it up, with the trappings of love...I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips instead of the gallows of heartache that hand from above..."
Spike's vision got even more blurry as thoughts of Buffy filled his head. Those few brief moments that he had seen her was all he had. He still remembered the way her hair bounced when she jumped up and down, yelling his name, so happy to see him. The way her green eyes sparkled...
"I'll be your crying shoulder...I'll be your love suicide. I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life..."
Before Spike knew what he was doing he was up, and shakily making his way towards the dance floor. He walked right into a young waiter, and did not even stop to help him when his tray of beer bottles crashed to the ground. He stumbled his way to the dance floor where everyone parted for him. He walked straight to Elizabeth whose eyes widened in surprise when he nearly collapsed onto her. She was about to step away when he spoke again.
"Please, don't move," he whispered, "I think that I'm going to fall..."
"...you're my survival, you're my living proof, that my love is alive and not dead. Tell me that we belong together, dress it up with the trappings of love...I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips, instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above..."
Elizabeth stood there, stock still with Spike leaning heavily against her...the smell of alcohol and whiskey heavy on his breath. She wasn't quite sure why she felt so compelled to stand there...and why she was standing so still. Perhaps she was afraid that he really would fall, or perhaps she was just afraid...?
A different song came on, another slow one much to Elizabeth's disappointment.
"I will remember you...will you remember me...don't let your life, pass you by, weep not for the memories...I'm so tired, but I can't sleep. Standing on the edge of something much too deep, It's funny how we feel so much, but cannot say a word, though we are screaming inside...we can't be heard..."
Spike's vision blurred even more...with tears though. More memories of Buffy filled his mind, God how he missed her. "Buffy..." he whispered to a startled Elizabeth.
"And I will remember you...will you remember me...don't let your life, pass you by, weep not for the memories...I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose...Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose..."
"She was gone like that..." Spike whispered, "And I haven't seen her since..."
"Where once, there was a darkness, a deep and endless night...you gave me everything you had...you gave me light...And I will remember you..."
"And I'll never forget her," Spike continued, "What am I going to do? I can't move on because of her..."
"Will you remember me? Don't let your life pass you by...weep not for the memories..."
"Please tell me," he begged softly, "How am I supposed to forget her...and move on? I can't...I miss her so much...I think that I'm going to go insane..."
Elizabeth bit her lip to prevent the tears from spilling from the eyes. Without a word she stepped back, and let Spike crash to the floor. Everyone dancing immediately rushed to help him while Elizabeth ran back to the table to grab her jacket and purse. As she ran out of the club...crying...
She ran across the parking lot, trying to figure out why she was crying...was it the deep love that Spike had for her? And why did she want to be that Buffy girl so much? And why did she feel so horrible for him? Her thoughts were interrupted by a blinding white light...((A/N: I was going to stop here, but I realized that I wouldn't be updating for a while...so here's your guys' little present...))
Elizabeth tripped, blinded by the bright white lights. The car screeched to a stop, and Elizabeth's eyes widened as the 'flood gates' opened.
She ran...she ran like she had never run before in her life, and begged the taxi driver to hurry. She was on her way to the airport to see someone...someone important to her...she stepped out of the taxi, and saw him.
"BUFFY!" he yelled.
She grinned, and jumping, waved at him vigorously, "SPIKE!" He stood up at the railing of an overpass, and she stood on the sidewalk. They stood there, staring at each other, and took off running towards each other at the same time...
She ran across the street, and was blinded by a pair of headlights, but the car never stopped...
Elizabeth shook her head...what was happening? She saw the headlights burning down on her again before she saw it again.
She didn't bother looking both ways before she ran...she had to see Spike...but a pair of bright white headlights sped toward her...never stopping...
Elizabeth's breathing got heavier...she was...Buffy...she was the Buffy that Spike was always talking about, the one he loved so much.
Glory came out the car, "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice showing genuine concern...
Glory saw Buffy run across the street just a ways ahead of her. She stepped on the gas, and didn't let go until she felt her car hit something...
Her eyes widened as she found it hard to swallow, without another word, she got back inside the car, and drove off, leaving Elizabeth on the ground. Elizabeth remained on the ground as memory after memory rushed through her mind.
Spike leaned in forward to clasp the necklace around her neck, and she in return did the same...
Her hands flew to her neck...the necklace...she had thrown it away. Panicking she jumped off, and took off running toward the park where she had thrown it away.
((A/N: TA DAH!!! SHE REMEMBERS...BUT THIS FIC IS FAAAAAR FROM OVER! I MEAN SPIKE AND GLORY ARE ENGAGED...AND ANGEL GETS BEATEN UP BY A GANG...AND BUFFY...hehe...so many more twists to come!))
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!!!))
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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
* * * * * * * * * *
Giles swung open the door. "Liz? Aidan?" he called out, almost hesitantly. Glad to see that no one around he closed the door behind him, and crept to the living room. That is...if you call it that. It was more like Aidan's studio, each and every nook and cranny was filled with some form of Aidan's art work.
He gingerly stepped over and around some of the canvases on the floor and headed towards the coffee table at the far end of the room. There was a small stack of art posters that Aidan had colored. They were all just experiments of Aidan's as he experimented and perfected certain techniques. Some were his own, and some were imitations that were so masterfully done that one wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
Giles was no art curator, but he could tell which technique was harder than the other. He sifted through the pile until he came to one of two children sitting underneath a red cow in the middle of a field. "Here it is..." he muttered as he slipped it out from underneath the others. He held it out in front of him and inspected it. "Yes...the special block and square technique that few have mastered," he recited, "Its primitive looks are deceiving for it is a fairly recent technique that was only made a mere century ago, and was not known for many many decades..."
He carefully rolled it up, and slid an elastic rubber band over it. He then grabbed some of the newspapers that Aidan used to cover up to the floor that were scattered on the ground, and wrapped them around the art poster. He left the house as quietly and subtly as he had arrived.
Giles walked into the elegant swinging glass doors of the art museum, and walked up to the front desk. "Yes, I'm here to see Mr. Spence," he told the lady.
The young secretary looked him up and down. She didn't know squat about art, but had landed this job because her father was a good friend of Mr. Spence. He had the artsy British accent that many of Mr. Spence's colleagues and friends had, and he was dressed perhaps a bit too casual, but who cared? She nodded, "Right this way sir," she led him up several floors, and down a hallway. She opened a door for him ,and let him in. "Mr. Spence will be with you shortly."
Giles nodded, and looked around, slightly nervously around Mr. Spence's office. It was decorated with many prestigious looking placards, and various awards and degrees. He was inspecting a small porcelain figurine when Mr. Spence came in. He was a prominent looking man, or at least one who was striving to be with this slightly graying black hair, gold-rimmed spectacles, and a smart dark blue collared shirt.
"May I...help you?" Mr. Spence asked with an air of haughtiness.
Giles shifted a bit, and held out the newspaper wrapper poster. "I stumbled across this while sifting through some things that I inherited. I thought that perhaps this might be worth something," he explained as he ran a hand through his hair.
Mr. Spence gave him a doubtful look as he took the newspaper wrapped poster. He carefully unwrapped it, and unrolled the poster. His 'dignified' and composed posture disintegrated at the sight of the picture. "Oh my...where...where did you get such an item?" he asked, almost gasping.
Giles shrugged, trying to hide a smile. "Like I said, something I inherited. It's an old painting...forgot who painted it..."
"Do you have any clue how difficult it is to imitate this technique?"
Giles replied with an air of indifference, "Well I knew it wasn't easy, but..."
"How much do you want for it?"
Giles grinned inwardly, 'Now we're talking...' he thought to himself.
"Thank you for coming by Mr. Johnson, and please, please do feel free to come by again if you discover anything else," Mr. Spence urged.
Giles nodded, and shook hands with Mr. Spence. With a large manila envelope in hand he left the museum. $12,300 wasn't bad for a day's work. Now he had more than enough money to go to that auction and hopefully find the books that he was looking for.
"Come on Liz! You need to get out more!" Willow whined.
"Yes! You're acting like a hermit." Anya added.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and grinned. "I am not!"
"So tell us, are you busy tonight?" Willow asked.
"Well..." Elizabeth began.
"AH HAH! So you DON'T have plans!" Anya exclaimed, "Call Aidan right now, and tell him that you're going out for a night with the girls."
"I can't..." Elizabeth looked at Willow and Anya. She sighed, "Oh fine...but I still have to go home and change."
"No problem!" Willow and Anya chimed together. The two girls ushered Elizabeth out the door, "We're going out for lunch!" Willow called over her shoulder to Harmony.
"Just let me call Aidan first," Elizabeth grumbled.
Willow and Anya looked at each other, "You are allowed only one phone call for the rest of the day, you sure you wanna use it on Aidan?" Willow asked.
Elizabeth glared at Willow who smiled back, "Just joking?" she offered.
Elizabeth pulled out her cell phone as Anya hailed down a cab.
"Aidan?" ... "I'm going to come in late tonight...okay?" ... "I won't. I'll be in around midnight...don't wait up for me this time okay?" ... "Uh...I think that there might be some left over pasta from a night or two ago." ... "It's not rotten. It's in the freezer...just heat it up and eat it." ... "Seriously? So the mural's done?" ... "How about I just come for the whole ceremony tomorrow?" ... "Hey, I know these kinds of things...you're probably going to be on TV and the newspaper because the press was invited." ... "I will definitely come...and can't it wait tomorrow?" ... "Oh come on...this 'important' thing can wait till tomorrow...right? ... "I know...and I PROMISE...bye."
"Are you sure you're engaged?" Anya asked Elizabeth as they filed into the cab.
Elizabeth held out her hand, "See the ring?" she asked.
Anya rolled her eyes, "Well duh," she replied, "It's just that you guys don't act like most fiancées do."
"And how would YOU know?" Elizabeth asked.
Anya shrugged, "Movies...mags...books...oh! And Oprah."
Willow and Anya laughed while Elizabeth sat with her eyebrows furrowed and in thought. They were right...on a few occasions, Aidan had been bold enough to say 'I love you,' and Elizabeth had never been able to say it back to him...not that she ever tried. She had always replied with a mere, 'Me too.' But it always seemed to satisfy him.
Elizabeth closed the door behind her as she stepped outside. She wore a nice tight pair of black pants with a pair of black boots, and a dark dark green scoop neck top that had a layer of sheer material over it. Over her whole outfit, she wore her khaki coat that resembled one of a trench coat.
"You look maaaarvelous," Anya complimented in a faux British accent, "Just simply ravishing."
"By the way, change in plans, we're going to go meet up with our co and eat together...does that sound okay?" Willow asked as she turned around from the front seat.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "They're all coming?" she asked.
Willow nodded, "Oz just called to tell us. So how 'bout it?"
Elizabeth's eyebrows furrowed again. Willow and Anya glanced at each other nervously, fully expecting her to say 'no.' But Elizabeth's frown disappeared as she nodded, "Let's go!"
"THANK YOU MR. CORNELIUS!" everyone chimed as the platters of food were set on the banquet table.
"BLOODY HELL!" he yelled back, "How hard is it to get through your soddin' heads that I want you all to call me SPIKE?!" he demanded, a wide grin spread across his face.
The whole group erupted into laughter, and 'Thank you Spike!'s filled the air. Before sitting back down next to Glory, he glanced down the table towards Elizabeth, but she seemed to be absorbed in a conversation with Willow. His lips tilted downwards into a slight frown as he sat down. For the next hour or so, laughter and conversation filled the air along with the delicious aroma of the food and the clanging of silverware. As soon as everyone was done, people piled into cabs to head toward a club with Wesley's car in the lead.
The whole group took one of the larger, and more private booths. Shots went around, and just as they were going to order 'dessert,' Glory's cell phone rang. "Sorry," she said apologetically to Spike as she opened it.
"Hello?" ... "Oh hello Mrs. Cornelius!" she exclaimed, a fake smile plastered onto her face. ... "Oh...right now?" she asked, almost in a whine. ... "Um...let me ask William..." she placed the phone against her chest and turned to Spike. "You don't mind if I go see your Mom for a bit...do you?" she asked.
Spike shrugged, his speech already slightly slurred. He usually wasn't a heavy drinker, but today was not his day...and it didn't help to be so close to that girl who looked so much like Elizabeth. "Go ahead," he urged, "I'll wait for you. Oh and here," he withdrew his car keys from his pants pockets, "Take my car."
Glory grinned and turned back to the cell. "Mrs. Cornelius?" ... "Yes, I'll be right there."
Glory grabbed her purse, and left the table, reassuring everyone that she'd be back, but not before she gave Elizabeth a warning glare. "This better be good," Glory grumbled as she drove away in Spike's car.
"Let's play Shots!" Wesley yelled.
Oz whooped in agreement while everyone gave them quizzical look. "Well first, we need three couples." Oz explained. "And we only need two more now!" he added as he gestured to himself and Willow who was looking at him with a doubtful look on her face.
"One more," Harmony added as she sidled up next to Wesley.
"You got that right," Anya replied as she pulled Wesley towards her.
Harmony glared at Anya, giving her a look that said, 'No way, he's mine.'
"Oh come on Harmony, just let Anya and Wesley try it," someone called.
Harmony finally obliged...reluctantly, but being one of Glory's best friends she shot Anya a warning look.
"One more, one more!" Wesley called.
"I'll join," Spike called from a corner.
"Mr. Cornelius...I mean Spike...?" Wesley asked in surprise.
"Hey now, I'm quite the drinker,"
Wesley grinned, "Alright then...which lovely lady wants to be with our dear boss?"
"Elizabeth will," Willow interjected before anyone could volunteer.
Elizabeth looked up from her martini, "What?"
"Lizzie, Lizzie..." Willow urged, starting a chant. Elizabeth obliged...almost as reluctant as Harmony.
She stiffly seated herself next to Spike who merely raised an eyebrow at her. Wesley stood up to explain the game, "Alright...this is how it goes, we spin the bottle, and which ever couple it lands on has to choose the option of kissing, or each taking shots of this gorgeous, 100% pure Irish whiskey!"
"That's it?" Spike inquired.
"It's strong stuff," Wesley replied, almost startled.
Spike waved a hand, "I can handle it, come on now Wes, let's start already."
Elizabeth glanced sideways at him with a worried look that almost had some disgust with it. 'Pompous bastard...' she thought to herself. 'He's nothing but a ostentatious, egoistical...' her thoughts trailed off as she found herself at loss of more adjectives.
"Alright...and it's spinning..." Oz announced as he spun the bottle.
The rest of the group began to clap their hands as the bottle spun, "And it's Wesley and Anya!"
Wesley was going for kissing, but Anya shook her head stubbornly, "I want to try this Irish Whiskey!" she insisted. Wesley grinned and they both took a shot each of the whiskey.
A sour look crossed Anya's face, "Bleh...it IS strong..." she muttered. "And it tastes nasty," she added as she drank some water.
Oz spun the bottle again, this time it landed on Elizabeth and Spike. Spike looked at her questioningly, but Elizabeth refused to look at him, and reached for her shot glass. But Spike reached it first, and downed hers...AND his. 'Ooohs,' and 'Aaahs,' filled the air.
Oz spun the bottle again, and again it landed on Elizabeth and Spike, and once again, Spike drank his and Elizabeth's. Elizabeth glared at him, and poured herself another shot, and drank it, even though it was completely unnecessary.
"Come on, make it land on us!" Anya exclaimed rather impatiently.
"Trying to prove something Summers?" Spike asked as he watched the bottle spin.
"Yes, that I'm capable of holding up my own just fine," Elizabeth snapped back irritated.
"I beg to differ."
"And it lands on Wesley and Anya AGAIN!" Oz announced, "I guess tonight's our lucky night eh?" Oz asked Willow who was grinning, and laughing at Anya and Wesley.
"We're catching up boss," Wesley warned as he pointed at Spike and Elizabeth.
"I wouldn't be so sure of it mate," Spike replied as the bottle landed on them again. This time, Elizabeth drank her own. The game continued for a few more rounds, and it was clear that Spike and Elizabeth were the winners.
"And the winners are Spike and Elizabeth!" The group applauded, and the group quickly dissipated as everyone went over to the dancing floor to dance. Elizabeth remained though, sipping on a soda. She had stayed because she had seen Spike leave with everyone else and assumed that he had decided to dance too.
Spike watched Elizabeth sip on her drink from the railing of the second story of the club. Here he had a clear view of her. He hated the fact that she looked so damn gorgeous. She had finally taken off her khaki coat to reveal a shirt that matched the color of her eyes. He watched as Willow and Anya scampered over, begging her to dance.
His eyes followed her as she followed her friends to the dance floor. He watched her cross her arms, and shake her head, refusing to dance. The way her blonde hair caught the light...his eyebrows furrowed in slight wonder as she then broke out into a wild dance. He slowly descended down the stairs, his crystal blue eyes never once leaving her.
Aidan walked into the art gallery as Glory pulled up along side the curb. He had heard that the gallery had acquired a painting of a rare and hard to master technique, and was eager to check it out...and he had plenty of time considering the time that Elizabeth had said that she'd come in by.
Aidan took a brochure from the front desk and walked around the gallery, inspecting all of the pictures as Glory came inside. "Mrs. Cornelius!" she yelled as she spotted Spike's mom by one of the sculptures.
Mrs. Cornelius turned around, "Oh Glory dear..."
Aidan spun around in time to see Glory rush over to a lady. His eyes widened...Glory...it wasn't that he hadn't seen her in years, he saw her occasionally, but they never acknowledged each other really...it was just that seeing his sister here was odd...and so...strange...
"Yes, I wanted you to see a new masterpiece that my dear friend Mr. Spence found for my art gallery..." Mrs. Cornelius ushered her towards the picture of a red cow in the middle of a field with two children sitting underneath it.
Glory raised an eyebrow, it seemed vaguely familiar, "Who painted this?" she asked as she studied it intently.
"We're not sure, but Mr. Spence said that any imitation of the original is just as good because it is so difficult to replicate and imitate," Mrs. Cornelius replied.
Aidan stood nearby, his nose buried in a art magazine by a potted plant, but with is ears straining to listen to their conversation. As soon as they left the painting, he quickly walked over, his eyes about to pop out of their sockets when he saw it...it was his. Aidan was so busy mulling over how it could've gotten there that he did not see Glory leave.
Aidan turned around as Glory walked down the steps. "GLORY!" he yelled as he dashed out the doors after her.
Glory turned around, expecting to see Mrs. Cornelius or something, but instead she saw her brother. "Aidan..." she gasped.
"That picture in there!" he cried out, "That's my picture...I painted it...listen Glory, you have it take it down...you have to!"
Glory looked at him in disgust, "No," she replied as she unlocked the door.
"No, Glory...you don't understand, you have to take it down!" Aidan begged as he began to pound on the hood of the car.
Glory shrugged, and pressed down on the gas, making Aidan jump out of the way. "GLORY!" he yelled as the blue Jaguar drove away.
Spike downed another shot. He had long since come down, and was on his seventh shot of whiskey, not including the ones from the game. His vision was fogging, and he felt like passing out when a certain song came on.
"The strands in your hair, that color them wonderful, stop me and steal my breath...emerald fountains thrust toward sky, never revealing their depths...tell me that we belong together, dress it up, with the trappings of love...I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips instead of the gallows of heartache that hand from above..."
Spike's vision got even more blurry as thoughts of Buffy filled his head. Those few brief moments that he had seen her was all he had. He still remembered the way her hair bounced when she jumped up and down, yelling his name, so happy to see him. The way her green eyes sparkled...
"I'll be your crying shoulder...I'll be your love suicide. I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life..."
Before Spike knew what he was doing he was up, and shakily making his way towards the dance floor. He walked right into a young waiter, and did not even stop to help him when his tray of beer bottles crashed to the ground. He stumbled his way to the dance floor where everyone parted for him. He walked straight to Elizabeth whose eyes widened in surprise when he nearly collapsed onto her. She was about to step away when he spoke again.
"Please, don't move," he whispered, "I think that I'm going to fall..."
"...you're my survival, you're my living proof, that my love is alive and not dead. Tell me that we belong together, dress it up with the trappings of love...I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips, instead of the gallows of heartache that hang from above..."
Elizabeth stood there, stock still with Spike leaning heavily against her...the smell of alcohol and whiskey heavy on his breath. She wasn't quite sure why she felt so compelled to stand there...and why she was standing so still. Perhaps she was afraid that he really would fall, or perhaps she was just afraid...?
A different song came on, another slow one much to Elizabeth's disappointment.
"I will remember you...will you remember me...don't let your life, pass you by, weep not for the memories...I'm so tired, but I can't sleep. Standing on the edge of something much too deep, It's funny how we feel so much, but cannot say a word, though we are screaming inside...we can't be heard..."
Spike's vision blurred even more...with tears though. More memories of Buffy filled his mind, God how he missed her. "Buffy..." he whispered to a startled Elizabeth.
"And I will remember you...will you remember me...don't let your life, pass you by, weep not for the memories...I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose...Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose..."
"She was gone like that..." Spike whispered, "And I haven't seen her since..."
"Where once, there was a darkness, a deep and endless night...you gave me everything you had...you gave me light...And I will remember you..."
"And I'll never forget her," Spike continued, "What am I going to do? I can't move on because of her..."
"Will you remember me? Don't let your life pass you by...weep not for the memories..."
"Please tell me," he begged softly, "How am I supposed to forget her...and move on? I can't...I miss her so much...I think that I'm going to go insane..."
Elizabeth bit her lip to prevent the tears from spilling from the eyes. Without a word she stepped back, and let Spike crash to the floor. Everyone dancing immediately rushed to help him while Elizabeth ran back to the table to grab her jacket and purse. As she ran out of the club...crying...
She ran across the parking lot, trying to figure out why she was crying...was it the deep love that Spike had for her? And why did she want to be that Buffy girl so much? And why did she feel so horrible for him? Her thoughts were interrupted by a blinding white light...((A/N: I was going to stop here, but I realized that I wouldn't be updating for a while...so here's your guys' little present...))
Elizabeth tripped, blinded by the bright white lights. The car screeched to a stop, and Elizabeth's eyes widened as the 'flood gates' opened.
She ran...she ran like she had never run before in her life, and begged the taxi driver to hurry. She was on her way to the airport to see someone...someone important to her...she stepped out of the taxi, and saw him.
"BUFFY!" he yelled.
She grinned, and jumping, waved at him vigorously, "SPIKE!" He stood up at the railing of an overpass, and she stood on the sidewalk. They stood there, staring at each other, and took off running towards each other at the same time...
She ran across the street, and was blinded by a pair of headlights, but the car never stopped...
Elizabeth shook her head...what was happening? She saw the headlights burning down on her again before she saw it again.
She didn't bother looking both ways before she ran...she had to see Spike...but a pair of bright white headlights sped toward her...never stopping...
Elizabeth's breathing got heavier...she was...Buffy...she was the Buffy that Spike was always talking about, the one he loved so much.
Glory came out the car, "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice showing genuine concern...
Glory saw Buffy run across the street just a ways ahead of her. She stepped on the gas, and didn't let go until she felt her car hit something...
Her eyes widened as she found it hard to swallow, without another word, she got back inside the car, and drove off, leaving Elizabeth on the ground. Elizabeth remained on the ground as memory after memory rushed through her mind.
Spike leaned in forward to clasp the necklace around her neck, and she in return did the same...
Her hands flew to her neck...the necklace...she had thrown it away. Panicking she jumped off, and took off running toward the park where she had thrown it away.
((A/N: TA DAH!!! SHE REMEMBERS...BUT THIS FIC IS FAAAAAR FROM OVER! I MEAN SPIKE AND GLORY ARE ENGAGED...AND ANGEL GETS BEATEN UP BY A GANG...AND BUFFY...hehe...so many more twists to come!))