Chapter Eleven

"Buffy." She heard her name faintly, like a cheesy dream sequence in a movie. It sounded kinda muffled and like it was coming from all angles. "Buffy," she heard again. She opened her eyes expecting to see Spike lying next to her in his bed, instead she found Willow and Xander, looking at her as if through a microscope. "Nice of you to join the conscious," Xander quipped.

Buffy slowly rose, noticing 1.) it was still night time and 2.) she was still in the graveyard. "My head," she spoke, gently rubbing it with her right hand.

"Yeah, I would say even a Slayer's head would hurt even after being whacked in the cronom with an angel's head. Those guys just don't fight fair." Willow had her arm around Buffy's trying to help her up but they both stopped and gave Xander a look of confusion. "I was going for the obvious joke that you were fighting an angel instead of being hit with a statue- nevermind."

"What's a cronom?" Buffy asked.

"I think he meant cranium."

Xander stated, "No, cronom. The brain."

"That would be the cranium," Willow corrected, firmly getting Buffy to her feet.

"Then what's a cronom?"

"Not a clue. Buffy, are you okay?" the red head asked, turning her attention to the recently conscious Slayer.

"Besides the throbbing of my skull and my eyes' desire to stay closed, I feel great. What are you guys doing here?"

"We got ice cream," Xander said with a smile. "And luckily we came across you in time to stop the vamp who was looking to make your neck more holey."

"We used our crosses." Willow and Xander held up the wooden life savers and then tucked them back into their pockets.

Buffy nodded, trying to take everything in, then she remembered, "Did you guys see Spike?"

Xander was taken back by this sudden question. "What? Why?"

"Because I must have dreamed about him or something but we had a conversation here but I don't know if it was real or not."

"I hate it when that happens. Wait, you dream about Spike when you're unconscious now?"

"You say that like I'm unconscious as much as Giles."

"How is he doing in the stats?"

"I think he's up to six now," Willow answered Xander's question.

"He was there too. He was talking about how Harmony was taking bells so she could put them on her clothes and Xander was complaining that he looked like Glenda from The Wizard of Oz."

"That was Sunday," Willow replied, curious if her friend had a little case of amnesia.

"How did you know about the Glenda thing? You think I look like her too?"

"No, I heard you say it."

"You parade around the men's dressing room now?"

"Xander, could you stop with the… Xanderness!" Buffy pleaded. "I get it, you're funny." Buffy started to walk ahead of them while Willow and Xander shot each other a look of 'oh great, a crabby Slayer.'

"I think we should go with recently being knocked on conscious, on top of the only a week until showtime," Willow said, trying to explain Buffy's extreme angry outburst.

"And this whole Spike thing has been gettin' her down. I think it's all him." Xander felt very confident in the fact that he was right. He never liked Spike and the fact that he was making one of his best friend's lives Hell, was just the cherry on top of the sundae. Or would it be the straw that broke the camels back?

"Buffy, do you need help getting home?" Willow asked with caution.

"No, I'll be fine. You two get back home safely okay?" Buffy left without a hug or loving glance.

"Should we re-point out the fact that she would be a dead Slayer if it weren't for us?"

"I think we should just head home and hope she's better by tomorrow. But should we tell Giles about this?"

"Will, if Buffy wants him to know then she'll tell him. I'm not one for interfering with the relationship between a Watcher and his Slayer."

"What about last week, when-"

"So I've done it once."

"There was also that one time when Giles needed to go on a Watcher's trip-"

"Let it go Will."

It was Sunday; only four more days of rehearsal. Not that that was Buffy's only problem. She needed to know what happened with her and Spike. She could've just assumed that the conversation in the graveyard was the only real part, considering she woke up there, but what if she blacked out once she got home and the kissage with Spike really happened and even though she thought it happened in her mind it really happened in reality but it was put into the dream sequence of her memory. Oh, here comes the headache again.

"Buffy, you have rehearsal in half an hour!" Joyce called up the stairs.

She rolled over and looked at her clock. It really was 12:30. Well, 12:32 but same difference. She got up from the warmth and security of her down comforter and made her way to the bathroom.

"Sweetie are you all right? You don't usually- oh my goodness!" Joyce shrieked. She grabbed her daughter's head and turned the right side so she could see it better. "Buffy you have a gash on your head!"

"Oh great. Nothing says Juliet more than a battle wound."

"Are you all right? Is whatever did this dead?"

For the sake of keeping her mother calm Buffy said, "His heart ain't pumping anytime soon… Not that it was in the first place." There was am moment of silence before she requested, "Can I have my head back now?"

"Oh, sorry." Joyce dropped her hands to her side but her eyes kept going back to Buffy's injury. "Maybe you should take a night off from slaying."

"You know I can't do that," Buffy said as she walked into the bathroom. She put some toothpaste on her toothbrush and started to help make her teeth shine.

"But sweetie, you're hurt."

"It'll be gone in like a day. I got the fast Slayer healing."

"Well why don't you let it heal tonight and stay home?"

"Becaw beoble ill wie." Buffy looked at her mom who showed no signs of understanding. She spit the toothpaste remains from her mouth, "Because people will die," then washed her mouth out with water. "I'll be fine. He just got in a good hit is all. No worries." Buffy went into her room and shut the door.

"Does this happen often?" Joyce asked, freely opening Buffy's door.

"Mom, I'm changing!" she exclaimed, covering her chest with her pajama top she removed.

"Oh come on Buffy, I've seen you naked before."

"Yeah when I was sucking on a bottle and topless was in. Now things have developed."

"They're called breasts dear."

"Can we not have the womanly chat right now," Buffy requested, holding her hand up to signal for her mother to stop. She walked over to her closet and pulled out a just-above-knee-length, light gray skirt and salmon, long sleeved shirt. Joyce walked out and left her daughter to change.

Buffy was only a couple minutes late to rehearsal and made it in time for another Xander vs. Cordelia word swap. "You are one of the most pathetic people in this universe Harris!"

"Just because I don't bow down at the sight of you like the rest of your line of Mattel merchandise!"

"I think you sprayed on a little too much Ode de Loser!"

"Well someone had too much bitch in their water!"

"I haven't had any water since nine o'clock this morning!"

"I guess it needed some time to settle!"

"Screw you Harris!"

"You wish!"

"In your dreams!"

"Those would be nightmares!"

"I hate you!"

"I hate you more!"

"What the heck happened?" Buffy whispered to Willow.

"He said 'good morning' and then it just took off from there."

"Will you two please stop this, you're acting like children," Giles interfered.

"Did you hear that Cordy, he complimented you by calling you a human?" Xander said.

"Ya know what Harris, I am gonna-"

"Cordelia please. I can't-" Giles stopped and looked at her hair as if there was something crawling around in it.

"What? Is there something wrong with my hair?" she asked, placing her hands on her head. She then ran off the stage and out the door. "You were right, it works like a charm," Giles informed Xander. "Now, will you please get off the stage so we can get this rehearsal started?"

Buffy walked up the steps and met him before he left. "Giles, have you seen Spike?"

"No I haven't yet, but I need you to get into costume Buffy. We have a new dress for you because Harmony took yours by accident and sewed those bloody bells onto it."

"Whoah, bloody? You're so angry you're pulling out the British words."

"Yes, yes, very funny. Will you go try on the dress now please?"

"Yes sir, Mr. Director sir." Buffy grinned, happy that ugly dress was now gone from her attire forever. Although there was a good chance the new one was worse. She clenched her teeth as she walked into the dressing room. "Hi Mrs. Ferns." She fitted Buffy for her dress last time. Now she was holding a beautiful maroon gown that had a v-neck and silver trim on the bodice.

"Why don't you try this on dear. I used the measurements from the last fitting so there shouldn't be a problem." The forty-three year old woman handed her the dress and Buffy gladly slipped it on. It fit like it was made just for her, which it practically was, but she didn't want to think of it that way. "It looks wonderful on you."

"Thanks." Buffy smiled, knowing too that she looked beautiful. She stepped out into the hallway where Giles was panicking about something but then he stopped once he looked at Buffy.

"You look… you're so…"

"Thank you," she said genuinely.

"Giles, we need you on set!" Willow informed him. He quickly ran to the auditorium, knowing that anything could have gone wrong. "Buffy, you look amazing!"

"I know, isn't it great? I don't have to wear that ugly orangey dress any more."

"Rehearsal is starting!" Giles yelled. He was able to separate Xander and Cordelia again by sitting them on two different sides of the theater. "As you all know, we will be going through the entire play every day this week until Thursday, when there is no rehearsal. Then, Friday will be our opening night. Now I want you all to try your best, don't panic and Willow will be ready to feed anyone their lines. So let's start shall we?"

Oz opened the curtain and the play began.

Buffy watched from the end of the third row on the left of the stage because that's where Xander was seated. "I can't believe I'm in a time out. He never put you in a time out after your fights with Spike." Buffy rolled her eyes, ignoring his venting. "Watcher's pet."

"Xander, do you like Cordelia?"

His mouth was a little open and his eyes looked off to the side. "Are you kidding? Did you see us up there, we were like lions fighting for our domain?"

"Yeah but, some couples show affection that way."

"We are not a couple. We are far from a couple. Whatever is the exact opposite of a couple, take a another step further and then you would find where me and Cordelia stand."

Brent Williams, Lord Montague, finished off his scene with, "Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,

Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
We would as willingly give cure as know,"

Spike stepped onto the stage, making Buffy hold her breath. "Is the day so young?"

Benvolio, as portrayed by the president of the drama club, spoke, "But new struck nine."

"Ay me! sad hours seem long.
Was that my father that went hence so fast?"

"It was. What sadness lengthens Romeo's hours?"

"Not having that, which, having, makes them short." Spike snuck a glance at

Buffy who took full notice of the tactful placement of his glare. She slumped back into her seat, unknowingly mimicking Xander's posture.

After about fifteen minutes, Buffy was on stage, ready to do her own glaring in Spike's general direction.

"That book in many's eyes doth share the glory,
That in gold clasps locks in the golden story;
So shall you share all that he doth possess,
By having him, making yourself no less.

Speak briefly, can you like of Paris' love?"

Now, even though Buffy reserved a hatred in her heart just for Cordelia, she had

to admit that she was very good at playing a selfish, gold digging mother. "I'll look to

like, if looking liking move:
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly." This is when Buffy's eyes

quickly from Spike, second row, sixth seat from the left side, and then back to her over dressed "mother."

The play continued with only a few minor mess-ups here and there. The important thing was that Romeo and Juliet were doing extraordinarily, in their scenes apart, but next was when they met for the first time. Also, in terms of Buffy and Spike, their first time seeing each other since their possible conflict last night, which Buffy was still unsure of its actually occurrence.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."

"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,
Which mannerly devotion shows in this;
For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch,
And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."

"Have not saints lips and holy palmers too?"

"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer."

"O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do;
They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake."

"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take." This was it, THE KISS. Well,

the one of many, but still important. Spike moved in and Buffy moved in as well. Their lips connected for about three seconds and then slowly parted.

That wasn't horrible, Buffy thought. Oh who are you kidding, he's an amazing kisser. Oh, crap I have a line now. "Then have my lips the sin that they have took."

"Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again." Another kiss. This one lasting a couple seconds longer.

If only Buffy knew how this was going to end.

Author's Note: That's it. The end of the story. You can imagine it ending any way you want to. If you want them to get together, then they got together. If you want them to just be friends, then they're friends. Isn't that great? You choose the ending? Okay, I'm totally kidding. I know I said that this would be the last chapter but this is like a little surprise. Like when you bring a twenty-dollar shirt to the register and it rings up for eight dollars (I love that!). Well, you get an extra chapter when you thought there wasn't going to be another one. All right, I'm sorry about the rambling and freaking you out that this was the end. Oh, and for falsely making you think they already got together. Stick around for one more chapter! Will Romeo and Juliet flop or will everyone make it success? Will Buffy and Spike end up together or will Angel swoop in out of nowhere and capture her heart? Will Harmony get to wear her dress with bells? Only I know, but you will soon.