(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 18

Buffy ought to have been having a good time in LA. Right now she should be rushing back from a shopping trip with Willow, or trying to convince Angel they really ought to get out of bed already. Instead she was sitting on aforementioned bed all alone, staring out the window at the city where she was born. It was home, and it was beautiful, she'd been looking forward to this trip back to Los Angeles and yet, now she was here, it was far from as special as she'd wanted it to be.

When she'd arrived yesterday it'd been pretty late and she'd gone straight up to her room to sleep. The double bed and the luxury suite seemed awfully big for just her, and only made her feel lonelier in the big city that was once her home. Though she hated to admit it even to herself, of all the people she was missing, Buffy was missing Spike most of all, and so wished he'd have just accepted when she offered him the chance to come with her this weekend.

She knew why he'd said no, of course she knew. What had happened between them was too big an event, way too intense to be swept under the carpet and ignored. They couldn't be friends now, it was together completely or apart forever, Buffy knew that, and though she was missing the bleached blond terribly the fear inside her remained, making her wary of any decision she might make about the whole situation. To choose Spike was to cross a divide, to connect the good family name with what many would consider the lower class. It had always been expected that Miss Summers would marry a doctor, or a business tycoon, or maybe a lawyer like Angel. A wannabe rockstar would not impress her mother or her friends, and as much as Buffy wished that didn't matter, a part of her still felt like it did. She'd lived her whole life trying to achieve the goals set in society, tried to grow up and be the young woman they all expected her to be, and yet she wondered if she really was, or of it really mattered anyway. Spike had said he loved her. Despite the way she treated him, despite her holier-than-thou attitude that she was all too aware she had, despite everything, he loved her.

Buffy sighed as she looked over at her dress, hanging on the closet door in it's plastic wrapping. It was pink but looked like it sparkled with gold when the fabric shifted in the light, another fairytale-type perfect gift from her father. She would look nice enough in her dress and the fancy men and women at the party would tell her she was beautiful and so smart for running the Bronze as she did. Still Buffy knew it wouldn't mean much. She didn't run that club alone, she had help, and most of it came from Spike, as well as Doyle, and Cordelia, and several others. She wished she was in Sunnydale right now with all those people that had fast become her friends.

As she went over to her dress, took it from it's wrapping and held it against her body in front of the full length mirror she sighed. This ought to be her world, with the fancy dress and the fancy party in the expensive fancy hotel, but it seemed her world was changing, and didn't turn quite so steadily without Spike there with her. That thought brought tears to Buffy's eyes that she couldn't hold back. She just couldn't see a way for any of this to turn out well.

"Where is the sod!" Doyle complained as he tried calling Spike's cell again and got no answer.

"If he's not at your apartment and he's not here..." Cordy frowned, "I mean, where else does he ever go?"

Her boyfriend shook his head confirming that he really had no idea. A call to Xander had confirmed that Spike had attended The Chosen's practice session today and had seemed 'as okay as Spike ever is lately', leaving Doyle and Cordelia at least a little confident that their friend hadn't done anything too stupid.

"Is there nobody else you can call that might know where he is?" Cordy asked, surprising herself with how worried she really was about the guy. Still, he'd treated her well since she started working at the Bronze, he never made nasty comments about her fall from the upper class or the fact she sometimes made mistakes when tending bar. He helped her out, gave her good advice, and was supportive of her dating Doyle. She had no reason not to like him, and now he was missing, she was getting a little scared that something bad had happened to Spike.

"Yo guys, sorry I'm late" called a female voice before Faith appeared, removing her jacket as she approached the bar.

"Late for what?" Cordy frowned as she looked at the other brunette with distaste, this girl really was a slut and she did not like her type.

"Workin'" Faith said simply, as if Cordelia were retarded for not realising what she meant already, "I figure you're a man down with Spike in LA and all, so meet your happy helping volunteer bar tender for the night" she grinned overly much and Doyle frowned.

"Spike's in LA?" he checked, not following the story too well.

"He didn't tell you?" she said, only a little surprised, "Huh, I guess he was in too much of a hurry. I convinced the guy to get off his ass and do somethin' about what he's feelin' for B is all, and before you know it he's half way to the City of Angels and no lookin' back" she grinned triumphantly as she helped herself to a bottle of beer and popped the top off, taking a large swig.

"Oh my God" Cordelia gasped, "You actually got Spike to see sense about Buffy? I love this woman" she told Doyle, gesturing at Faith who looked decidedly unimpressed, "Well, not like that, eew" Cordy amended when she saw the other girls expression, but in a way she had meant what she said. Anybody who could get the two blondes together was going to be a friend of hers.

As much as she loved Buffy and Spike they had been driving her crazy this past month or so, just as they'd been getting to everybody. She wanted them both to be happy, just like she and Doyle were, just like Willow and Oz seemed to be. Everybody deserved to be happy with the person they loved, no matter who they were.

Buffy forced a smile as she stepped into hall where the party was being held. It was early yet but a lot of the guests were already there, since like Buffy they had rooms booked in the Hyperion and had only had to make the short journey down in the elevator to the hall.

"Buffy, sweetheart" her father looked pleased to see her and the blonde only wished he was half so genuine as he appeared. Hank Summers was not big with the honesty, though Buffy was sure he loved her in his own way, "I'm glad you made it honey, and you look beautiful"

"Thank you" his daughter smiled, "You look very smart yourself"

They exchanged a few words, much more like indifferent acquaintances than father and daughter for the most part. They had little in common and didn't see much of each other. Hank had important business people he needed to talk to more than he wanted to spend time with Buffy and before long had left her alone to go run off and make a deal with some tycoon or other.

Buffy found the buffet table and tried to look like she wasn't already bored and uncomfortable. She wasn't doing a great job of it and somebody soon noticed her.

"You feeling a little out of place too?" said a male voice and she glanced up into a familiar face.

"Bugger this!" Spike swore as he stormed out of the Hyperion Hotel and down the steps to his car. He kicked the nearby fire hydrant out of pure frustration, immediately regretting his action when it felt like his foot was broken in more than one place.

Faith had got him so fired up, he was desperate to get to LA, find Buffy and sweep her off her feet like the big romantic hero of some chick flick or other. It was bloody annoying to get all the way to the hotel, within a few feet of the party he knew Buffy was attending, only to be turned out by the management for being 'unsuitably dressed for the occasion' as the ponce on the door had said. Spike briefly considered knocking the git's teeth down his throat before realising that if Buffy were to hear the commotion and realise what was happening it was unlikely to endear her to him.

A million thoughts running through his head and anger surging through him didn't make it easy for Spike to think straight. He was leaning on the side of his car, tapping his cellphone in his hand before he suddenly had a thought. Flipping open his phone he dialled a number that it took him just seconds to recall and bounced agitatedly on his feet as he waited for the person on the other end of the line to pick up.

"Yeah, what?" said an almost annoyed voice on the other end of the phone.

"C'mon, Ripper" Spike smirked, "That anyway to talk to your old mate when he needs a favour"

"Bleedin' hell, Spike" the older man cursed, "What's up with you, mate? Haven't heard from you in a while"

"Like I said, need a favour, don't I?" the bleached blond explained as he unlocked his car and got inside, "You still livin' in the same place?" he checked and Ripper confirmed that of course he was.

Spike said he'd explain when he arrived, shutting off his phone and putting the car into gear before pulling away from the kerb and heading for his friends apartment. Poor old Ripper would get one hell of a shock when he explained the situation he'd got himself into and the favour he required, but he'd help him out just like he always did.

"Bloody hell!" Ripper repeated for about the fourteenth time as Spike concluded his tale about himself and Buffy and how he'd somehow ended up in love with her. It had been a surprise to himself that he could fall this hard and fast, and it was amusing to see how much shock the story of it all caused his old friend.

"Never expected this to happen to me again" Spike admitted with a shake of his head, "One minute I reckon I hate her, and the next... s'pose she just got under my skin"

"Women'll do that" his friend nodded as he finished off another drink of scotch, moving to refill both the glances on the table, but Spike declined, "So what is it you want from me then? Sounds like you're all set up"

"Yeah, 'cept the party I want to crash isn't the kind of gig I'm used to" Spike rolled his eyes, "Long and short of it is, they don't let in the rabble. Without the monkey suit I don't stand an earthly of the ponce's lettin' me in to the Hyperion's big business bash"

"The Hyperion?" Ripper frowned slightly as he got up and wandered off. Spike wondered where he'd gone to and was starting to worry when his friend returned with a card in his hand that he handed to the younger man.

"How the hell did you get this?" the bleached blond frowned as he realised what he held in his hand - a ticket that world gain him entry to the party Buffy was currently at.

"The suit I can lend you" Ripper explained, "But the ponce's still won't let you in without the magic pass" he smirked, "Course yours truly, bein' a former business man and what have you, got invited didn't I?"

"Ripper, mate, you're a bloody marvel" Spike smiled happily, slapping his friend on the back, "Honestly, I owe you one"

"Gave up keepin' score on what you owe me a while back" Ripper told him, rolling his eyes, "'S not important, not so long as you get the girl and the happily ever after, right?"

Spike laughed a little at that, though perhaps it wasn't as ridiculous as it sounded. As tough as he seemed to be, he wasn't so hard through an though. A part of him wanted to think he and Buffy could be happy together forever. For now though, he'd settle for tonight going well, for her not slapping his face and telling him where to shove himself. With a little bit of luck, and the ticket in his hand, as well as the fancy suit Ripper would lend him, Spike thought maybe, just maybe, things could go his way for once.

"Riley? Wow, look at you" Buffy grinned as she hugged her old friend.

It was literally years since they'd seen each other last. His father had known hers through a business connection and they'd been friends on and off through grade school. When the Finn family broke up, Riley went with his mother back to Iowa whilst his father stayed in California. From that day to this Buffy and Riley had not seen each other again.

"I guess we both kinda grew up since we last saw each other" he grinned as his eyes took in her womanly form, "You've certainly... well, it's been what? Six years? The time has obviously did wonders for you" he told his old friend, who blushed at his words and swatted him across the arm.

"Hush" she told him, "You dare to embarrass me and I'll started telling stories to all these nice people about you, Mr Finn" she told him with a playful look, as he looked a little worried, not certain that she was entirely kidding.

"I really didn't expect to know anybody here" Riley told his old friend, "Yours is the first friendly face I've seen"

"Same here" Buffy sighed, "Other than my Dad and a few of his friends that I vaguely remember meeting, everybody's a stranger" she said as she looked around, "I feel so out of place here, I'd almost rather be back at the Bronze..." she admitted, startling Riley somewhat.

"You own the Bronze?" Riley gasped, "My God, I had no idea when I heard people talking that you were the woman that... Well, I guess I didn't really expect someone like you to run a night-club" he admitted and Buffy looked at him strangely.

"Someone like me?" she frowned slightly, "Why shouldn't I run a night-club?" she asked him, not looking at all pleased, especially when Riley went on to talk about the 'unsavoury people' one might come into contact in when running a place like the Bronze. Buffy grew surprisingly angry as he talked of those people she considered her friends, people like Spike and Doyle and Cordy, as inferior and not the kind of crowd he'd want to associate with.

"Oh my God" she shook her head, "Riley Finn, when did you get so damn superior?" she asked him, "You're talking about people like they don't even matter, just because they actually work for a living instead of going to these stupid parties and living off Daddy's cash!"

As she continued her rant at an astonished Riley, Buffy had no idea she was being watched and admired by a man she hadn't expected to see tonight. Spike, now dressed in a tuxedo that he felt a complete idiot in, had handed over his ticket to the startled employee at the door and had been granted admittance to the swanky party he'd been kept out of previously.

A drink was offered to him from a tray by a pretty young waitress and he accepted the glass of wine despite the fact he hated the stuff, in all honesty he'd take any alcohol he could get right now as he spotted Buffy across the room, looking so sophisticated and beautiful - his nerves got the better of him and he veered off his original path so he didn't go straight to her, instead loitering further down the buffet table and trying to hear what was being said by his golden goddess and her enormous hall monitor of a friend.

"Buffy, what happened to you?" the bloke asked, apparently astonished, "I guess now I see why you're here alone" he said, almost nastily and Spike's blood boiled as he realised his woman was being insulted. Seconds away from storming over their and kicking some serious rich-boy ass, he stopped when he heard Buffy standing up for herself, as he knew she was perfectly able.

"I'm here alone because I choose to be" she lied, knowing she'd much rather have had Spike at her side, but unwilling to let someone like Riley get the better of her, "I could have brought a friend with me, but they're all busy working for a living, making sure my business doesn't collapse whilst I'm not there" she explained, "They are the best bunch of people I ever met, they work harder than anyone, and every one of them is better than you or anybody else here, and I couldn't run my business without them, I wouldn't want to try"

As Riley stood staring at Buffy like she'd grown a second head or something equally as strange, Spike felt like applauding her. Finally it seemed the woman had realised she was not so high and mighty, that other people mattered just as much no matter who they were. He was grinning as he walked over to her and her mate. Taking a risk and not caring what it cost him right now, he pulled Buffy into his arms before she knew what was happening and kissed her firmly on the lips.

Buffy herself was too stunned to respond. Spike was the last person she'd expected to see here and the fact he was kissing her after so long of barely wanting to even talk to her surprised her further still. When he let go of her a moment later she was so completely dazed, and Riley looked even more shocked than he had before if it were possible.

"Sorry I'm late, sweetheart" Spike told Buffy with a smile, "Got talkin' to Ripper, y'know how it is, two mates chewin' over old times and all" he rolled his eyes, acting like he always meant to with there with her and had just got caught up with a friend, causing him to be a little late to the event.

"Who is this?" Riley managed to force out the question as both men looked to Buffy. Every word had escaped her, every thought for a moment there and so Spike turned back to Riley to answer him.

"Name's Spike" he said simply, "What's it to you?" he said, looking almost menacingly at the other young man.

"Nothing" he shook his head, "I... I'm Ri-"

"I didn't ask" Spike pointed out, cutting Mr Finn off halfway through giving his name, as he put his arm around Buffy's shoulders and steered her away from the frighteningly dull and annoying Riley.

The look in her eyes when he glanced at her told Spike that Buffy was stunned to see him, and though she was pleased in one way she was a little mad at him in another. How the evening would go from here he wasn't certain, but he had confidence, it might just be bloody perfect.

To Be Continued...