Disclamer: *Sigh*…You think you'd know by now after the what? Past five chapters?
Author's Note: Getting close to completion people! (Sorta). I hope so far you've enjoyed reading it as I have writing it. It's really cheered me up a lot, especially after I got some unsettling news about my health. In anycase, I hope you all enjoyed your Valentine's Day and got lots of candy, roses, sex and whatever else you normally get!!!! Enjoy!!
PREVIOUSLY
"I found this.." He held it up in the same manner he did before. "..On top of our sink, and I noticed you didn't have anymore of this. Mind telling me what this is and what it's doing in the bathroom?"
The object was handed over to him, and no sooner than it was placed in her hands, did a big grin occur on her face. She turned the stick around and let out a hearty laugh, holding her round stomach as she tossed the stick casually in the garbage.
"There's a positive sign on it." She managed to choke out in between her soft giggles. Jet's eyebrow raised up, still not understanding what she was trying to say. The lady groaned.
"Man, you ain't real quick on the ball ain't you? I'm sayin though, congrats."
"Wait..congratulations? For what?"
"Jet, what's she saying?"
"Youse gonna bes a.."
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
CURRENTLY
It was as though he were searching for a precious jewel. For the past nine hours he searched high and low for the woman that vanished mysteriously from his sight and grasp. Where was she? Where did she run off to? What was she thinking of doing??
He only hoped it wasn't suicide.
Questions upon questions were being asked left and right to people he didn't know. He started off with the blond haired woman at the front desk, but unfortunately she did not recall seeing Faye Valentine rush out in a hurry towards Main Street. He asked the local vendors—though some provided very little information. Jet damn sure didn't want to involve the police, seeing as how they were already in some hot water as it is.
Great! He thought to himself, placing both of his hands on his knees out of exhaustion. Just fucking great!
He had contacted Ed afterwards to keep a track on her ship, but Faye was smart—for her ship had not budged. There was no way to keep in contact with her, no way of finding out her location. All this could've been avoided…if Spike had just STAYED.
He wandered about the city aimlessly, getting a bit tired of looking for the woman he was slowly but surely falling for every minute. Something wasn't right..something was out of place. He didn't quite know what it was, and to be honest he didn't want to but at the same time it was just eating at him.
The smell of Empanadas and various fried food filled the air sweetly, accompanied by lively upbeat jazz music being played on the side of the street. Right across from the entertainment was Saturn's sea, ladled with fisher boats, ships, yachts and yes, even some children's paper boats floated on top of the water. The sunset silhouetted the occupants of the area, giving it that old romantic glow it was most famous for. The entire scenario reminded Jet of Ganymede, where he went to visit his Alisa one last time. His heart skipped a beat as he remembered that day. The day tears came to her eyes as she explained to him why she left him on that rainy evening.
"..Alisa.." He murmured underneath his breath before shoving his hands deep in his pockets. His heels click clacked across the cobble stoned streets slowly, before stopping to sniff the air a bit. The familiar scent seemed out of place with the environment.
Jasmine and Vanilla? The scent was synonymous with Faye's favorite perfume, but after nine hours of tireless searching, could it really be that easy to find her at the dock of the bay?
Apparently so, for there she was, Miss Valentine, leaning against a wooden post overlooking the sea ahead of her. The meteor showers a few miles off shone brilliantly as they hit the ground; small flashes of light accompanying it. Her hair swayed about in the cool breeze, and so did the bottom of her yellow shorts, displaying a bit more than what was needed. Didn't seem as though she cared much, however, for it was clearly evident she had a lot on her mind. Jet inhaled sharply and walked towards her, though he silently wished he were somewhere else. Hell at one point he even wished this was all a bad dream…but the way things seem to be going so far, that was damn near impossible. He leaned against another post not too far from her and tried to focus on what she was staring at. He cleared his throat.
"Wanna hear a story..?"
"……"
"There was once a woman name Lisa. Beautiful woman I used to work with back in my ISSP days. She had everything going for her, and seemed like nothing could stop her..except for one thing."
"………..what?" Good, he got a response from her. He continued.
"Her vanity. This woman was so vain, she couldn't stand not looking in a mirror and applying make up every five to ten minutes. Me and the boys used to tease her a lot, calling her 'Luck Shut Lisa', but heh..she normally ignored us. Well one day it so happen that she was in her usual routine of looking in the same mirror she usually carried and out of no where, it just…snapped. Like some kind of rock hit it or something, we never knew but it just shattered into a thousand pieces."
"……."
"…Man that day, we saw a big change. She helped us out whenever we needed it, she slowly became a better person because she realized that there were other people out there besides herself. She changed for the better, all because of a shattered mirror."
"….So what's your point?"
He sighed, turning his back from the shore and kicking a small pebble away from his left foot.
"The point I'm trying to make is that you have to do the same, Faye. So you have another life coming into the world, so what? Just make sure you take the time out to care for it more than you do yourself…more than you do for Spike."
Her eyes widened. Wha..? How..
"How..How did you…?"
Jet chuckled.
"Come on now Faye, do you really think I wouldn't find out? He walks around smelling like your cheap perfume after hours, and as much as you'd like to think you are, you ain't exactly the discreet type either. After I saw how you reacted to him leaving, I had an inkling or two, but I wasn't sure."
"….Jet..I…I'm sorry."
"Bah..don't worry about it. We'll find him, I promise you. It may take some time yeah but we'll find him and let him know, alright? I promise. We'll find Spike."
"…Spike?"
An old lady that looked no older than in her mid seventies carrying a basket of apples and red roses stopped in front of the now confused bounty hunters; her glasses falling of her face. The frail sunflower dress she worse, along with her worker's men boots seemed to give some insight into her personality.
"Yes..yes Spike.." She continued, adjusting her glasses yet again. "I think I know that name somewhere. Quite an unusual fellow. Had green hair and was kinda skinny, right?"
Faye blinked moronically before approaching the old lady with curiosity in her heart.
"Tell me, where did you see him? Please, it's very VERY important that we know."
"He was in mah shop earlier y'know. Damn near knocked over my basket of apples and roses. Said he was picking up some for tonight for that big play."
"…Play?"
"Oh don't tell me you kids ain't never heard of a play before! It's 'Les Miserables the Redux'! Everyone's been talking about it, and all the rich young people are gonna be there tonight. You two should go, y'know!" The old lady paused momentarily as the two strangers in front of her stood dumbfounded by the sudden coincidence and luck that popped right in front of them. She shrugged her shoulders slightly, then turned on her heels to make her exit. "Hm. Well, gotta go!"
"Wait, WAIT! Where is this play?!"
"Eh, I believe it's on Colfax and Broadway, in downtown Axxis, on Jupiter. Can't miss it, there's tons of people gonna be there. Tickets are going fast and it's mostly done by compulinks, so good luck findin' seats! Cya!" And with that, she disappeared. Faye silently thanked the Heavens above her for their good fortune before running off in the other direction towards her Redtail.
"Wait where're you going?!"
The woman stopped mid tracked, turned around and smiled, flipping her hair back slightly and flashing a cheeky anime-like grin. Jet blinked quizzically at her actions, before rubbing his bald head in exhaustion.
"Getting ready for a play of course. Didn't you hear? It's going to be a miserable one."
Couple hours later, in space.
Both their ships zoomed past asteroids and broken satellites, in a race against time to reach the planet early. The I.S.S.P were on their tail earlier for speeding but due to their skillful maneuvering, it was to no avail.
Beep!
"Ed! Did you get those co-ordinates?!"
"Searching searching searching searching….Got 'em! Rozokovozo will be there too!! Also, Ed hacked into the virtual guest list, and Spike person's gonna be there! Can Ed come?!"
"No Ed, you can't this is business. Put Jet and I on there, we'll kill two birds with one stone!"
"Okie Dokie Faye Faye!"
Beep! Incoming vid link from Hammerhead. Will you acc—
Beep!
"Faye! Are you sure about this?!"
"I've never been more sure about anything in my life, Jet. This time, I won't fucking miss!"
Meantime. Axxis City, Jupiter. 8:45 PM. Harder Rock Café Playhouse Emporium.
"Thank you."
Swipe. Beep.
"Thank you."
Swipe. Beep.
"Thank you."
Swipe. Beep.
"Ah. Miss.."
"Call me Julia."
"Miss Julia, pleasure to meet you again. Please, enjoy the show."
"Likewise. Ready, Spike?"
His two toned eyes glanced around the surrounding area and sighed deeply, looking about the fancy glitzy place with growing uninterest. He watched as patrons and guests filled the large movie theatre like room to almost full capacity, some touching the long red drapes on the walls out of curiosity and some arguing with others on which seat belongs to whom. He needed a cig. Back on the Bebop when he wanted one, he smoked one and, as odd as it may sound, he could breath a lot easier. It was his release, his 'anti drug' however ironic—his life source. Being with Julia was a long time dream come true..but though there were no restrictions, Spike could not breath. It was getting harder and harder to do so now on a daily basis, as though his mind was telling him to take a step back into the old—the way things used to be. The way things should be.
"Spike..? Spike?" Julia nudged as she pointed to one of the seats that was closest to the stage. "You like it here?"
"Yeah. S'take a seat huh?" And there they sat.
The sex was good. Very good, in fact. He felt as though he was making love to a new woman, but his mind always went back to Faye.
The roles reversed..he thought to himself. Now Faye to him was the girl he never had—in retrospect of course. First the bickering and the fighting, then an epiphany—now love. Julia felt like the 'new girl' to him now, just a bit needy, clingy, and obsessive in a sense. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew there was something stirring in him, some deep emotion in that little black box he kept his heart in.
Meanwhile.
"Faye come on, we're going to miss the damn thing!"
"I'm coming old man, just wait!"
"Will you hurry UP?!"
"Don't rush me, I'm coming!"
Out she hopped out of the hotel double doors with a shoe in one hand and a hair clip in the other. She'd been so busy worrying about what to say, and how to approach him that she barely had time to take care of herself at all.
"Ten seconds then I'm going on without you."
"Will you WAIT?! GODDAMNIT YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN SUCH A—"
"….excuse me..?"
A tiny frail voice seemed to come from below, belonging to a dirty, unkempt Jupitarian boy with a large Styrofoam cup in one hand and a sorrowful disposition. His eyes, one could say was compared to that of a puppy dog's and his clothes were simply tattered. Faye looked at the child with a raised eyebrow, then shrugged her shoulders slightly.
"Sorry kid."
Jet frowned. Jesus Faye, just give the kid a dol—and before Jet could even complete his thought, a strange thing happened.
"This is all I got. Make sure you buy food now, not toys, 'k?" She handed the now astonished boy a fifty (which he took with many a 'thank yous') and watched with a smile on her face as he hurried off to the nearest corner store. Faye giggled.
"…….Well?" Jet started, shoving both of his hands in his pockets and leaning forward slightly.
"Well what?"
"What in the fuck was that about?"
"I gave the kid some money, so what?"
"Faye. Faye Valentine? You gave him all THAT WE HAD FOR FOOD FOR THE NEXT! THREE! WEEKS!!"
"Ah?" She checked back in her little black purse and blinked moronically, now realizing that she did indeed give the kid a fifty. "..And so I did. We're bounty hunters aren't we, so we should be okay as long as the next bounty head comes about. We'll live. That kid wouldn't have, had I not."
He couldn't deny, but there certainly was a change in her. She was more humble, more supportive, more giving..he didn't know if he should embrace it, or check himself into a sanitarium for delusions of grandeur.
"You're an odd one, Valentine" He mumbled underneath his breath, though he couldn't help but be proud. "An odd one indeed. Let's hope he deserves you.." And off they sped.
Back in the theatre
The introduction to finally start the show was longer and even more boring. Since when did Julia start caring about theatres arts? If he recalled correctly, they met in a bar for Christ's sake, around a pool table filled with cigarettes and booze—not that he was complaining though, for he was beginning to like this side of her. Everything was going so easy, no worries at all. He found what he was looking and though he thought about 'her' for a tad bit back on the Bebop, right now, he was enjoying this. All of this.
…Well. Maybe not all. The fact that her damn cell phone has been going off non stop since she started getting ready for the show was beginning to get on his nerves, and the fact she kept on glancing to it every minute it vibrated showed that she was much more interested in the call than she was in the play. She had once explained that she still had some loose ends to tie up before they can begin their life together and that, to him was certainly understandable; still, damn that fucking phone.
"Jean Benoit's version of 'Les Miserables' will be dramatized by last year's elite actors. Please sit back and enjoy the refreshments. We will begin shortly in five."
Bzeeeet! Bzeet! Breeeeezt!
Bzeeeet! Bzeet! Breeeeezt!
"….Business again?"
"I'm sorry love, but I must take this. Save the seat for me, will you..?"
"Uh.."
"I'll be back, I promise." Gently she planted a kiss on those soft, smooth lips of his before walking off in the opposite direction. Somewhere deep down, Spike was not amused.
"This had better end in some sex."
…Down the Lobby………..
"What?"
"I have not hear' word from you and all you can say is 'what?' 'ow nice."
"…..I've been busy."
"Oh yah sure. Busy. Heh, busy screwin' your brains out I see."
"That should be none of your concern. Did you find what you were looking for..?"
"Oh yah..and trust me, it's a beaut."
"Good. You're a professional, you know what to do."
"I ca't decide if I should at the end, like a finale, or right in 'tha middle."
"When the time comes, you'll know. Just be on your toes."
"Gotcha."
"..Excuse me, miss?"
The blonde turned to see a dark skinned man with a rather pricey looking suit and the smile to match greet her, with his head and hat tipped down in respect.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but you wouldn't happen to know if the show has started as of yet, do you?"
"Hm..actually I believe it already has. You'd better hurry if you want proper seats."
"That sounds about right. Thank you ma'am."
"No problem. Enjoy the show." She turned her attention back to her phone, adjusting the hair over her blue eyes.
"Who was tha'?"
"Some nigger."
In the Hallway.
"So was that her?"
"Yeah. Beautiful woman up close too. I can see why he fell for her."
"Gee thanks."
"Much obliged. Where did you say Ed got tickets?"
"Balcony."
"All the way there? Well shit, how're we going to spot them?"
"Look for a mop top. Shouldn't be that hard to find."
Their conversation on the matter was brief. Silently they headed towards the Balcony area, and waited to be directed to their seats. As Faye walked with Jet, her fingers subconsciously clutched her hand bag before coming to a complete halt.
"..Jet Black?"
Uh oh....
"Erhm..yes Faye?"
"What in the FUCK isSHEdoing HERE in the first place?!"
And it occurred to him as well! Julia was supposed to be dead as a doornail—at least as far as they know. Now Faye found out that he didn't leave for any damn mission—he left for HER!
Fifteen minutes into the show
The main actress sang beautifully on stage, but needless to say, Spike was quite bored. Julia seemed very focus on the play and the old rich people around him kept on mumbling and farting. All was quiet as a mouse, until..
"We interrupt this play for a brief intermission. We'll be back shortly."
"I'll be back, I'm going to the ladies room"
"Don't be too long, I want to hit a bar after this one."
"Heh heh..oh you.."
She walked off towards the bathroom but stopped in the dark pathway leading to the main hall. Flipping open her phone her phone, she pressed 'call' to the previous number and waited.
"Lovely play, isn't it?"
"Do you have the shot lined up?"
"Yeah. Kin' of an obvious target. Except instead of red, I got green, heh.."
"I have no time for your jokes, doctor. You do what you were paid to do."
"I would've done it fo' free but you insisted.."
"I insisted because I don't want any strings attached."
"But you sur' are attached to that man..even if it's leading him on"
""Listen, whatever. I'll give you the signal. You just make sure you're ready up top, got it?"
"Yeah yeah got him in my sites. Ready when you signal"
Balcony
"Do you see him?"
"No..just a bunch of hats."
"Damnit, if I get my hands on him..!"
"Hold on now Faye, we don't even know if that was really the case."
"How in hell can you--!"
"SHH!"
"…how in hell can you say that?! Look at him! Sitting there in..in his lil white suit on..it should be red with his blood!"
"Faye calm down. Relax. We'll get him. Go clean yourself, you look a mess. Your eyeliner's streaking."
"What're you trying to say that I look like shit?!"
"SHH!"
"'SHUSH' ME ONE MORE TIME YOU OLD BITCH! DO IT I DARE YOU!"
"Will you sit down?!"
"Ma'am! Ma'am please you're blocking my view!"
"What view?! The intermission isn't even over! We still got five more minutes!"
"GO TO THE BATHROOM AND CLEAN YOURSELF UP NOW FAYE! This is ridiculous!"
"But I—"
"GO!"
"Okay okay..! Geesh.."
Frustrated she walked off towards the bathroom, with every minute adjusting the helm of her dress. She knew she should've worn the purple one she was most famous for, but no…she had to get something that would knock 'em dead. Secretly however, she knew she wore this dress for Spike. He once told her that she looked drop dead gorgeous in the outfit—one of the ever rare compliments he ever paid her back when they were just comrades. Back when things were normal..
The bathroom entrance itself looked more like a hotel entrance, with the transparent sliding doors opening and closing with every person that went through. Carved on the side of the wooden wall that held the doors was the word 'Female' in French—an indication to Faye that she was going to be taking a piss in paradise soon enough. Upon approaching the entrance, she stopped. A convo? Normally it shouldn't be any of her business, no but the voice sounded oddly familiar. She listened closely..
"Do you have the shot lined up?"
…………..
"I have no time for your jokes, doctor. You do what you were paid to do."
……………
"I insisted because I don't want any strings attached."
………….
"Listen, whatever. I'll give you the signal. You just make sure you're ready up top, got it?"
The bathroom door opened unexpectedly, causing Julia's finger son the phone to twitch lightly and a sharp inward gasp. In walked Miss Valentine, with a rather puzzled look on her face, now staring at a ghost called Julia—that devil in paradise. Her long curly golden locks flowed down to the middle of her back, the knee length black dress she wore complimented her olive skin perfectly. She looked like an overly made up whorish Barbie doll, but then again that was probably the hater in Faye talking. This conversation, she figured, was going to be brief. VERY brief. The blood indeed was reaching boiling point but she knew she had to keep her cool. She knew she couldn't lose it.
"….Hello." Julia's response seemed shaky. She knew she recognized her, though she couldn't recall exactly from where. One thing Julia knew for a hundred percent fact that it was indeed Faye. One part of the mystery solved, and one part, in her mind, confirmed.
"Good Evening." The introduction was as dry as Rihanna's knees but never the less she managed to choke out one.
Julia nodded her head politely, then proceeded to walk past her, her hair seemingly floating past her figure as well like that of a ghost down a lonely stairwell. Her body odor smelled lightly of Lavender—ironically Spike's favorite body wash and the cologne he usually wore.
"….There's one thing I want to ask you before you go. You know..just between us women."
She stops in mid walk. The camera pans towards Faye's face, then the offset bottom of their feet.
"Since when did they allow dead people in play houses?"
Julia chuckled underneath her breath, before pressing the 'end' button on her phone. She turns around slightly before approaching Faye boldly with a sweet smile. Faye could smell Spike's cologne even more on her..and any fool could tell in that moment that Faye's blood was definately at a boiling point.
"Before I answer that, there's one thing I wish to ask you in particular."
"Oh really? And what would that be?"
"……Since when do they allow street whores to roam public places..?"
At the entrance to the seating area.
He waited outside the door for her, checking the time. She should've been back already, so what was taking her so long? It was so deathly quiet in the hallway—not even the loud opera singing that went inside the auditorium could be heard. The two old ushers that sat outside the doors didn't seem to know each other that well, nor did they seem interested in starting a conversation. He took a glance outside and saw that it was raining lightly outside—the streets reflecting its resident lights, giving it that old time glow.
"Ugh..Where the hell is she?"
……………………BAM!
"Oh my God!"
"What in the fuck?!"
"Someone call the police!"
"Security!"
The two struggled to get up from the broken glass of the bathroom doors and back on their feet, using whatever leverage they could to stay up. Julia threw a punch straight to Faye's jaw, connected, before quickly slamming her against the wall with a posted artwork memorabilia behind her.
"FUCK! FAYE!"
Raising up from off the wall, she drew her fist back and threw a straight no dodge punch right smack dab in the middle of Julia's face, causing her to tumble over some floral arrangements.
Faye spat some blood from her mouth and grabbed that bitch by the back of her neck, slamming her downwards on the floor before placing a foot against her neck.
"STAY OUTTA THIS JET! I GOT THIS!"
"YOU AIN'T GOT NOTHING!" In a quick move she grabbed Faye's ankle and threw her off to the side, maneuvering herself to the left before sliding her hand up her thigh to the garter that contained her gun.
Faye did the same— the women both knew the art of concealed weapon combat indeed, for it seemed that both of their glocks were held against their thigh by a single black laced garter. In that split moment as they paused to take a good hard look at each other with all the hatred, the jealousy and the strong desire to stop a potential hit man, it was almost like a scenario from some live action Quentin Tarantino movie.
The AC vent blew hard up above their heads, causing both of their hairs to sway in the light air. Faye flinched, but Julia stopped her in her tracks by taking out her Nokia cell phone.
"One phone call…. and I swear…. to God he dies. HE DIES, BITCH."
"WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU HERE ANYWAY YOU DEAD BITCH?!"
"That's none of your concern! You took what was mine! YOU TOOK WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MINE! HE TOOK WHAT WAS MINE!"
"Faye! FAYE WHAT THE HELL!"
"…YOU! You're the one from earlier!!"
"QUICK, SECURITY'S COMING! WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE FAYE, WE CAN'T BE HERE!"
"No Jet this fucking piece of shit is out to kill him! If anyone's going to be killing him it's going to be ME!"
"SHOT GUN BITCH!" She fired two shots in the air and immediately following there came a loud shriek from inside the auditorium.
A stampede of people from all walks of life rushed out the double doors, pushing over all three individuals on to the floor. Faye struggled to grab her Glock .45 and go after Julia, but Julia herself took the time to dash out of there and head BACK inside the play house. As she ran towards the man she supposedly love, she hit 'call' on the phone.
"DIMITRI! DIMITRI CAN YOU HEAR ME?! DO IT NOW DIMITRI! KILL HIM NOW!"
"Roger."
From the service area up above Dimitri Rozokov stood with a short range sniper in hand, complete with scope. He struggled at first to find the man with the green hair on his head, but was most pleased to find him casually standing up in the mist of the crowd, smoking a cigarette. He noticed that Julia was running towards Spike, telling him to 'find her purse', to which he agreed. It was the signal that Dimitri was waiting for—and also where she wanted the shot to be lined up—in the middle of his back!
Faye caught sight of this. She didn't know who or WHAT it was that had the weapon aimed—all she knew was to do one thing and one thing only.
"SPIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!"
"Eh? Huh?! WHAT IN THE—"
"GET DOWN!!"
She was stupid. She didn't even think TWICE of what could've possibly gone wrong in that moment, and though she could count the ways, she preferred not to. She saw nothing but green and black particles, none of which she recognized. Her mind was not filled with judgment but of rather the urge to save the life she grew to love—a life that, if he loved and accepted her for who she was, was ultimately going to be for what would soon be three of them. Within mere SECONDS Faye jumped on top of the cowboy and ultimately pushed him out of the way of Dimitri's deadly shot, the bullet missing them both by inches and hitting the number twenty three chair instead. Amid all the noise, the shot was never heard by Spike. And amid all the noise, Julia grabbed Spike's hand and ran with him all the out the door. Jet struggled to keep up, trying to get in contact with Ed for her to get his ship to block the entrance, but to no avail. Spike and Julia were already gone-- and Faye's heart along with them.
Jet ran out in the middle of the street and saw no one, only the running patrons and the cops coming by to scoop and keep the place under control. He knew they both had to get out of there and fast—and was determined that when he got back to the hotel, he'd find out exactly what happened. He soon found Faye hunched over a chair seat, with her head buried in her hands.
"He..he didn't even notice me! I saved his life and he didn't even give two shits, Jet!"
"We can't worry about that now! Come on! We gotta go! We'll talk more about this later on but right now we can't stay here!"
..She agreed. Did she want to agree? No, fuck no she wanted to chase after those two and demand some kind of answers but alas..she had to follow Jet. They dashed out the front door and slipped by the cops, none of them noticing what went on. They knew they had to get off the planet as soon as possible, but right now, they needed to get their things in order. They needed to clear their heads, their thoughts, their minds and their emotions. And as for Faye..she needed to relax. Combined with her great disappointment that Spike broke his promise, gave her false hope and fucked with her emotions and her sheer rage from realizing Julia was still around after ALL this time of him denying it, it was all just a matter of time before it turned into a recipe for disaster.