Buffy curled up on her bed again and started to lie on her hands as pillows but winced when her head touched the deep bite marks on her wrists. Spike had left so Fast they didn't even get to bandage the marks up. So Buffy just lay on her pillows awaiting the arrival of Willow. She knew her best friend would bring ice cream of some sort and they'd do the whole comfort thing which she was more then happy to enjoy. Her eyes were actually closing again as light finally entered the room. Her eyes shot open just in time to see Willow glide into the room and hop on the bed. Buffy was right because Willow carried two bowls filled with ice cream.
Buffy sat up slowly, "Thanks Willow."
Willow nodded and after a spoonfull of her own ice cream she started to talk, "Angel told me what happened last night." Buffy just nodded and put the ice cream bowls down to show her the marks on her wrists. Willow stared already scared, "With how much vampires drink from you I'm surprised you aren't one yet."
Buffy smiled and nodded, "Yea well you know me, I can't die."
Willow nodded back to her and brought up another topic, "Spike still hasn't come back from wherever he ran to."
Buffy just smiled remembering her conversation with Faith a few minutes ago, "He'll come back when I start to worry. I know him like the back of my hand."
"Faith is kind of worried about that."
"I know. We talked and I told her I couldn't promise her anything but Spike does like her a lot and he's worth the effort and patience he takes."
Buffy put on her little teasing smile, "I don't know Buffy, I mean you and that vampire act...You two looked made for each other."
Buffy looked down embarassed but continued to tell the truth, "You have to admit though, I did look damn hot."
Willow could only nod and take another spoon of ice cream into her mouth, "You really really did. If I didn't have Oz I'd totally take a crack at you."
Buffy smiled and changed the subject at the mention of Oz, "Oh yea Oz is back in the game. How's that going?"
Willow shrugged, "We didn't even sleep in each other's rooms last night but when we're together it's like he never left. I'm feeling better yet he still takes care of me. We've only had two almost kisses and one peck on the cheek kiss."
Buffy laughed, "Just as long as you don't go kissing Xander I think you two can work it out."
Willow threw a pillow at her which buffy just caught and leaned on. "I want to, i mean it's Oz and I love him so much."
Buffy nodded, "Oh the love thing."
Willow smiled, "Gives us a reason to get drunk."
Buffy looked out the crack in the door to make sure no one was around and pulled out two bottles of alcohol from under the bed, "Or we could just do it now. We'll blame it on confusion and pain."
Willow took one bottle and poured some in her ice cream, "This is so not going to end well."
Buffy could only laugh and take a swig of hers, "But it will sure as hell feel good for a while."
-Angel's Office-
Angel stood leaning on the desk as Cordelia lounged on a chair. It only made Angel smile at the famous bored look that crept over her face. It also told him to start talking. "Cordy, I just wanted to apologize. Since you've been back I haven't even talked to you. We were a lot closer to suddenly become nothing."
These words made Cordelia's day and yet it was barely beginning. She could only spread a smile accross her face, "Don't worry about it. I know how you and Buffy get."
Angel nodded, "Her and Spike have something though. Spike's trying to stop himself because he likes Faith and then I don't know about Buffy anymore. Sometimes we could be so close and then other times she could be screaming at me."
Cordy did have jealousy rushing through her veins but she had to play best friend for a little longer. She spoke in her most comforting voice, "Give it some time. Maybe you and Buffy are in absoloute love but you aren't meant to be together yet."
Angel smiled, "Kind of what I was thinking."
Cordelia smiled and looked around the room, "I haven't been in this room in a long time."
Angel nodded, "Yea, me niether. Spend a lot of time in the..."
"Training room." Cordy smiled as he nodded. "I know Angel. I was there remember."
The conversation he had with Spike when Cordy walked in came rushing back to him, "I should of talked to you first and I know that but Spike had this big over protective thing going on and it was just a instinct feeling. You know I'd always come to you first."
Cordelia nodded and walked over to him. She grabbed his hands as she stood directly in front of him, "I know you would of. So don't even worry about it Angel. We're good now but we still have to have the big welcome back Cordy party."
Angel smiled and pulled her into a hug, "As soon as we save or end the world."
Cordy stood with a wicked smile as she accepted the hug. She was in perfect position to be with Angel and now all she had to do was get rid of buffy which was going to happen...very soon.
-Lobby-
The girls were scattered all over the hotel. Some in showers, in their rooms, playing board games, cards and just talking. Gunn and Rona were were laid out on the couch laughing and talking. Wesley and Illyria were walking around the hotel and somewhere along the walk their hands wrapped in each others. Faith, Oz and Xander were playing go fish as they sat on a floor looking over a table. A few other girls lingered about but not many. The room was filled with low sounds and whispers until Buffy and Willow stumbled out of her room laughing and almost falling as they caught themselves on the railing. Everyone in the room stood and were still as they continued to watch Willow and Buffy try to stand. Wesley and Illyria walked into the lobby on the main floor along with Cordy and Angel who were all hand in hand.
Buffy smiled and looked over to Willow. She whispered really loudly, "Looks like the day of couples. Everybody's so in love."
Willow was silent for a few seconds until both of them burst out laughing. Faith silently swore to herself, "Where'd you buy the booz Buffy?"
Buffy smiled as she and Willow started to walk down the stairs. They tried to glide elegantly but stumbled. Buffy waited until she got tot he bottom to answer faith, "The nice man at the gas station was nice enough to let me buy it."
Willow smiled, "Yea and this nice slayer was nice enough to share it with me."
Oz walked up a little bit, "Since when do you drink."
Buffy and Willow swayed a little bit until Willow thought of her answer, "The week you left me. You were gone and the beer called me only this time it's not beer. It's like vodka I think. Not even any chasers, I think I'm getting good."
Xander shook his head, "You two drunk at the same time defenitely can't be good."
Buffy shrugged, "Maybe you should get drunk too then because we all know how you act. We'd just have to bring Anya back from the dead so you can leave her at the altar."
Willow nodded and smiled. Xander shook his head in anger and in seconds he was lunging at Buffy for saying what she did. Faith held him back and when he was calmed down she glared at buffy, "Let's say we go upstairs huh Buffy?"
Buffy smiled, "No I like it down here. There's a lot of people and I'm in a social mood."
Willow nodded, "I'm with the slayer."
Angel finally spoke, "Since when do you drink?"
Buffy burst out laughing again, "Since you left me. You know if you think about it you and Oz should get together."
Willow suddenly looked completely happy, "Yea. I mean they both left for us when we knew we could take care of ourselves."
Guilt and awkwardness swept through the room. Suddenly a door flew open and a figure under a smoking blanket ran through. After he shut the door he threw the blanket off. He didn't have time to say anything because Buffy charged at him, jumping into his arms and wrapping hers arms around his neck. "Hello Spikey. I missed you. Faith and Willow were all worried about you but I knew you would come home eventually."
Spike smiled at her but then clicked into reality and looked over to the giddy Willow right next to him. He then looked to Xander, "So who got the slayer smashed."
Willow put up her hand and started jumping up and down, "I did!"
Spike smiled and got Buffy to hop off him, "I know you did Willow but who got you drunk?"
Buffy put up her hand and started jumping up and down, "I did!"
Spike nodded already annoyed. He stared over at Angel who happened to still be holding hands with Cordy and sighed. He then looked at Faith, "So what happened?"
Faith sighed, "I was talking to her about you and then Willow went up to her. She was still weak but then they talked with ice cream and about an hour later they come down drunk."
Xander nodded and glared to Spike, "You know how to get her drunk Spike now how do you take care of her drunk?"
Spike didn't have a chance to answer because Angel piped in, "You got her drunk?"
Spike nodded, "Everyone was treating her like a fragile kid and I wasn't."
Buffy sighed, "You know what i may be intoxicated but I'm still here. So what if Spike got me drunk okay, I mean me and Spike drunk was...It got me sick but it felt good."
Willow nodded, "I remember that. You read the toilet."
Buffy burst out laughing, "Oh yea."
Spike only shook his head and walked towards the drunk girls holding each other up. "Hey red."
Willow smiled, "Hi Spike! I missed you. You're like the center of attention all the time. Plus you know I never thanked you for taking care of me or us...US. Buffy was dead and you were there."
Spike nodded and was honored but knew it was just drinking so he turned towards Oz and pointed, "You remember Oz right?"
Willow smiled, "Yea! He's so pretty and I love him so much. You know I could of died when he left me."
Spike finally shut her up at the saddened look of Oz, "Right Willow. You both look a little tired. Are you tired?" Willow only nodded. "So is our little wolfman. Do you think you could keep him company?"
Willow smiled but before she could answer she fell over already passing out. Buffy started laughing, "Looks like she can't hold her liquor."
Spike smiled and looked at Oz, "Take her upstairs and let her sleep it off. She's all mystical so it shouldn't take long for her to wake up with the headache."
Oz walked over and picked Willow up. Despite everything else he smiled as he walked up the stairs with the love of his life. Faith started to laugh herself, "Now what about our little hyper slayer?"
Buffy laughed to herself, "Yea Spike what about me? Cuz you know I won't be fooled as easy as she was. I'm smarter and I'm a slayer."
Spike nodded, "But you're still just a girl. Aren't you Buffy?" He started to circle very close to her as he spoke. "You have the same wants...needs as every other woman." Buffy nodded and closed her eyes obviously under his control. Faith and Angel started to shiver a little bit obviously jealous. Cordy started to twinge in anger though knowing it was getting to Angel. But they all watched anyway as Spike continued to calm buffy down. "I know why you were drinking Buffy, why you cry, why you were sleeping with me, why you argue with your sister..."
Buffy had her eyes closed now, "Why?"
Spike smiled, "Because you're human. And just like any other human you feel pain and you..."
Buffy shook her head, "No! No more Spike. I feel...I need...Maybe I should read the toilet again."
Spike smiled, "Do you remember where the bathroom is?"
Buffy just nodded as she turned in a whole circle before walking out of the room to the bathroom. Faith crossed her arms trying to understand, "So where were you?"
Spike shrugged, "Out."
Rona finally spoke, "We're all going to know later so you mine as well speak now."
Spike sighed, "I was out."
Faith nodded, "I'll know when you tell buffy."
Spike shook his head, "You know Faith, I'm sick and tired of this."
"So am I. I kind of talked to buffy earlier and I got the just of what you're like but I still get the right to ask where you were."
Spike shrugged yet again, "Out."
Angel smiled, "He was doing exactly what buffy was."
Spike shook his head and stayed speechless until he found a good explanation, "Looks like there's reason enough."
Xander spoke again, "Dawn better not hear about this. She does everything Buffy does." Spike and Angel stared each other down which only scared Xander, "What's going on dead guys?"
Angel sighed and started to explain, "When you, Gunn and Buffy were out looking for Cordelia Dawn found out about the spell that might kill Buffy. She was about to run out mad when Hamilton grabbed her."
Xander shook his head and stared down at faith who just looked away. "You knew. You all knew and no one told me or Buffy for that matter. She'd kill herself if anything happened to her sister...again. Almost all of you were alone with her at one point and you said nothing?"
Faith whispered back, "There were other things that came up."
Xander couldn't help but be even more angry at that question, "Like your personal lives." He stared at faith directly, "Your precious Spike." He then stared at Angel and Spike, "You two are just completely obvious."
Angel actually tried to defend it, "She was actually injured and still is. I think that was pretty much the only thing on our minds last night."
Xander smiled, "Really? So then how come you wanted to beet Spike up this morning? There was soap opera Angel, don't lie to me. I know you guys too god damn well."
It went silent when they heard a stumble from a person entering the room. Buffy was holding her stomach as she tried to balance and walk into the room. She stared right at Xander, "What's going on?"
Xander glared at everyone in the room knowing one of them should be the ones to tell her. Buffy suddenly did her best to stand straight and expressed the worried look on her face. "I asked what was going on?"