See first chapter for disclaimer

Chapter Two: Shoulda

"Good morning Buffy." Tara said as Buffy walked in.

Buffy smiled at Tara. "Good morning Tara…is Willow here?"

"Yeah she's getting things set up for the band's practice here today."

Buffy cringed. "Okay Tara thanks."

"Buffy." Tara said.

"Yes, Tara?"

"She's really sorry…she was up last night for hours talking about how sorry she was to do this to you."

"It's okay Tara. We need to money so it's fine. I mean I don't want to lose the club right?" Tara nodded and Buffy smiled one last time then headed to her office.

"Buffy!" Willow yelled as she ran across the room.

"Hey Willow what's up?"

"The band's manager is here."

"Oh well send him in please." Willow nodded as a man walked up to Buffy.

"Hello I'm Gunn, the band's manager." Gunn extended his hand to Buffy.

"Hello I'm Buffy, the club owner. Welcome to Bronze." Buffy said as she ushered Gunn in and shut the door.

"As you know we'll be playing here in a month, but we're here to record an album as well."

"Oh so that's why you guys are already here."

"Yes, so I need to know if it's okay if the guys practice here in the afternoons before recording."

"I don't see why not I mean just having you here is wonderful enough."

"Great, and here I was worried."

"Worried?"

"Well you see because of our reputation most places won't do this for us."

"Oh no we're cool here. We got extra security so it should be fine."

"Well thank you Buffy. The guys should be here at 1 to practice."

"Okay I'll be here." Buffy smiled as Gunn walked out. "Willow!" Willow walked in and smiled at Buffy. "I have a couple of errands to run but I'll be back by noon."

"Okay…oh and Buffy." Buffy looked up as she grabbed her purse. "Have fun with your errands." Willow winked then left.

Spike walked off the bus and stared at the building. "Where the bloody hell are we?"

"Don't judge a book by its cover Spike." Angel said.

"Whatever lets go." Spike said as they headed inside.

"Guys you're here." Gunn said as he walked towards them with a redheaded woman.

"Hello Gunn." Angel said.

"Hey who's the lady?" Spike said.

"Oh guys this is Willow, she's the assistant manager."

"Fine club you run here red." Spike said.

"Actually I don't run it, my best friend does."

"Oh…well where is…" Angel said.

"She is umm…oh hey there you are." Willow said as a blonde woman walked in.

Spike didn't recognize her till she was next to Willow. "Buffy?" Spike said as everyone looked at him.

Buffy smiled at everyone. "Hello guys and welcome to the bronze."

"Buffy." Tara said as she walked towards the group.

"Yes Tara."

"You have a phone call."

"Okay thanks…well you guys go ahead and practice. If you need anything I'll be in my office." Buffy said before she left.

"Okay you guys practice and I'll be back at 3." Gunn said before he left.

"Okay was that THE Buffy?" Xander asked after Willow had gone in the office.

"Yes that was the Buffy. Cant we please drop it?" Spike asked.

"Fine lets just practice." Angel said.

"Lets do shoulda." Oz said.

Spike cringed but agreed anyway.

"Hey Spike." Xander said.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure she was just your best friend?"

"Shut up whelp and play the bloody drums."

"Okay guys and a one two a one two three four." Xander yelled.

'Before I hung up the phone all I could hear
Was the dial tone ring in my ear
If I could go back in time
I'd say those three words
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you

Now that you're gone I'm wasting away
The life has been siphoned right out of my veins
If I could go back in time
I'd say those three words
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you

When you said those three words
I kinda freaked out
When you said them first my jaw hit the ground
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
And this can't be saved if you can't be found
You hung up and left me for dead on the ground
You didn't even say goodbye
And this can't be saved
And this can't be saved
If you can't be found
If you can't be found
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you
I shoulda woulda coulda said it back to you'

Buffy stood in the doorway to her office listening to the song as tears fell from her eyes and a memory played in her head.

Buffy ran. She ran so fast she thought she might have broken a few records. She had to though. She had to tell William how she felt about him. He had to know so he could convince her not to leave. She loved William Matthews with all her heart and soul. She just hoped she wasn't too late. Buffy climbed the tree to Will's room and knocked on the window a sleepy eyed William came to the window. "Buffy what is it? It's three in the morning you know."

Buffy hopped in the room and looked at William. "I needed to see you."

"Buffy can't this wait until morning?" William asked.

"No it can't" Buffy kissed Will with everything she had and moaned when he began kissing her back. Will pulled Buffy close to him and slipped a hand in hair. Buffy Summers, his dream girl was kissing him.

'Was this a dream?' Will thought as Buffy pulled away. Buffy smiled at William as he caressed her cheek."Buffy, love, what's going on?"

"Well I think we were making out."

"Ah yes we were but…"

"Quiet." Buffy said before she kissed him again. Will gave himself over to her and moved his kisses to her neck. "Oh William." Buffy moaned. Will took this as a good sign and continued what he was doing. Buffy ran her hands up and down Will's back. She wanted to touch him everywhere. Hell she wanted to give herself to him completely right here and now. "Oh god Will please god please."

"Please what Buffy?" Will teased.

"Touch me."

"Touch you where Buffy?"

'"Here." Buffy said as she took his hand and placed it on her breast."

"Like this?" Will asked as he rubbed her breast.

"Oh god Will…oh god I love you so much." Will stopped and looked at Buffy.

"What did you say?"

"What?"

"Buffy did you just say that you love me?"

"No…yes."

"Buffy…what…how…"

"I just do Will…I love you."

"Oh…well…"

"Will please say something here."

"Buffy…I…"

Buffy turned around as tears began to fall."You don't love me?" Buffy said as she waited.

"Buffy I mean…"

"Oh god." Buffy said before she climbed out the window and out of William's life.

"Well I think that was a good practice." Xander said as they started walking to the car.

"Yeah it was." Angel said as Oz nodded.

"Hey guys you go ahead." Spike said as he stared at Buffy's office door.

"Are you sure?" Angel asked.

"Yeah I'll be out in a minute." Spike said as he walked towards the door. The guys took one last glace at Spike then walked out.

-Knock-

"Come in." Buffy said as Spike opened the door.

"Buffy."

"Spike." Buffy said when she looked up at him.

"You look good." Spike said as he closed the door.

"You look blonde."

"Well I had to ditch the school boy image."

"Yeah I guess so."

"So how'd a girl like you end up here?"

"Do you remember my cousin, Faith? Well she gave me the place just before she got locked up."

"Oh…she always was the crazy one of the family."

"Cut the crap Spike."

"Excuse me?"

"What do you want? Or am I just supposed to believe that you came in here to catch up?"

"I want…I just wanted to say hi."

"Well you did now go."

"Fine whatever Buffy."

"What did you expect Spike?"

"I don't know a polite hello might have been nice."

"You don't deserve it."

"Why Buffy? Why don't I deserve it?"

"Because I told you how I felt that night and you said nothing. You just let me stand that with my heart on the ground while you stomped all over it!"

"What did you want me to say? Buffy you surprised me. I didn't say anything because I-"

"Freaked out? I know you told me so in your song."

Spike looked down. "I'm sorry."

Buffy sighed. "I know you are William." Buffy said before she got up and left the room.