Chapter 15 - Once More With Feeling
Riley stepped toward him attempting to intimidate the master vampire. Spike shrugged off the advance and looked back to Buffy, "Don't go wasting' your emotions," Spike sang out and kicked in the door to the Bronze, "Lay all your love on me." Then bowed slightly and gestured Buffy forward as if he just opened it like a true Victorian gentleman.
As they entered they were greeted by 3 human size puppet-like men, the only seeming difference between them was their hair color. Buffy punched the first red haired one out of her way, as Spike grappled with a black haired one. Then Buffy went for the third blonde one, but Riley beat her to it before he started to croon. "I wasn't jealous before we met." Spike kicked his target away, then Riley threw his puppet in the vamp's direction. "But, now, every man I see is a potential threat." He glared toward Spike who was now in vamp-face and tossing the second creature across the room, then the red headed demon came at Riley.
The vampire grabbed hold of Buffy's arm to gain her attention. "And I'm possessive, it isn't nice." He let her go, shook off his fangs, and took a step back with his hands up. "You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice." Buffy lunged forward and grabbed his lighter out of the coat pocket where it always lived, and backed away quickly while she held it up teasingly. "But now it isn't true." Spike smirked, and stalked up to her, "Now everything is new, and all I've learned has overturned," Spike stood in front of her and held his palm open between them. "I beg of you."
The puppets that Spike and Buffy had thrown across the room came back at them, but the pair each roundhouse kicked one away as the beat dropped, then returned to their stance facing each other. Riley punched out the demon he was contending with, then he looked back to the pair. As Buffy started to sing on, she placed a hand on Spike's chest and stalked forward gently pushing the vampire back a few paces. "Don't go wasting your emotion." Spike started to reach out to grab the lighter from her but she spun around with her back against him and tucked the lighter in her front pocket. "Lay all your love on me." Buffy's eyes darted up and she saw the puppet she had kicked off running at her. She bounded forward, jumped up a little and punched the red headed demon to the floor. The vampire merely smiled and watched the deadly woman work.
Spike barley flinched when the black topped demon came running up behind him, he promptly backhand punched it, knocking it to the floor. "It was like shooting a sitting duck." Buffy smirked at the effort-less move then stepped up to Riley. "A little small talk, a smile and baby I was stuck." She smiled coyly and moved a little against the boy. Spike walked up ready to pull her away, but she stepped away from Riley herself and reached out for Spike, placing a hand on his chest. "I still don't know what you've done with me." Then her attention went back to Riley as she started to back away from the boys and further into the Bronze, "A grown-up woman should never fall so easily." She glanced over her shoulder, seeing all the demons had regrouped on the dance floor, and a red devil-like demon and her sister were on the stage. "I feel a kind of fear," She looked back to the men following her, and reached out to Spike with her left hand. "When I don't have you near." Then reached out to Riley with her right. "Unsatisfied, I skip my pride." She pulled her arms in tight to her chest and collapsed to her knees. "I beg you dear!"
"Don't go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me." The men both sang practically running up to her. The demon on the stage smiled and held up his hand, apparently in a cue to his minions to hold.
"Don't go sharing your devotion." Spike sang as he grabbed hold of an arm and hoisted her up to him.
Then Riley grasped her from behind and pulled her to lean against him. "Lay all your love on me."
Buffy easily squirmed from their grip, then noticed that the rest of the scoobies had made their way in. "I've had a few different love affairs." She sang out looking between the men. "But they didn't last, and they've been pretty scarce."
"I used to think I was sensible." Riley stepped up to her, placing a hand on her waist. "It makes the truth even more incomprehensible."
Then the slayer sang back to him, while running a hand up through his short brown hair. " 'Cause everything is new."
"And everything is you." Spike chimed in stepping closer, making the girl recoil her hand.
"And all I've learned has overturned." Riley sang out, stretching his arm around her, regaining her focus on him. "What can I do?"
"Don't go wasting your emotion." Buffy belted, stepping away from both men and bumped into a puppet demon. Who wrapped his arms around her to restrain her. "Lay all your love on me." She struggled a moment, then as her men at arms ran up to help her she high kicked the demon, hitting him between the eyes, and forced his grip to loosen as she stepped away. She continued her assault, careful to avoid what attacks she could, waiting for her moment to strike.
"Don't go sharing your devotion." Spike and Riley both sang as they engaged the other two puppets that had turned to start in on the slayer. "Lay all your love on me." Spike thrashed his opponent to the ground and roundhouse kicked it across its head, causing it to collapse to the floor limp. "Don't go wasting your emotion" Riley had a harder time with his, exchanging blows, "Lay all your love on me." Spike smirked to the human struggling to take out his demon. "Don't go sharing your devotion." Spike sang a bit louder before coming up behind Riley's foe and snapping its neck. "Lay all your love on me." The men then turned to Buffy who was finishing her own puppet, throwing it against a support beam when they all heard the sound of wood snapping.
Buffy turned to face them, but couldn't move toward either of them. "Don't go wasting your emotion." All three of them sang, "Lay all your love on me."
After a moment they all felt the release of the song. Buffy tried to give an apologetic glance to both of them, but their attention was drawn to the clapping they heard from the stage. "Hmm, I love a good entrance." The demon smiled, not seeming too upset that his minions had been disposed of.
"How are you with death scenes." She motioned to the carnage on the dance floor, trying to shake off the uncomfortable stare Riley was giving her after everything she and Spike did and sang. The demon simply laughed at her insinuation. "You got a name?"
"I got a hundred." The demon stepped closer to Dawn.
"Well I ought to know what to call you if you're gonna be my brother-in-law." Buffy stated, none too worried and walking closer to the stage.
"Buffy I swear I didn't do it." Dawn pleaded from the chair she seemed to be invisibly bound to.
"Don't worry, you're not going anywhere." Her sister assured her, placing her hands on the front of the stage. "Give me back my sister or I'll rip out those vocal cords I'm sure a musical demon like yourself is so fond of."
"Hmm, that's gruesome." He commented touching his throat.
"I'm the Slayer."
"So you're interesting little sibling has sung." He acknowledged as he ran his fingers through the end of her hair. "I thought it was odd that a vampire slayer had a vampire sister, but then you came stomping in with a vampire at your side. One who's competing for your affection nonetheless. And winning..."
Buffy looked to Riley on her left, who was looking more aggravated, and yet sad at the same time. Then she glanced to Spike who was close to her right, he didn't dare look at her face to confirm or deny it. He simply stared forward and addressed the demon. "You ain't soddin' leaving with the girl."
"Quite the abstract vampire you got there." He smirked, a bit too relaxed for Buffy's taste. "You can call me Sweets honey, and as far as your sis is concerned... You should know I have rules I abide by."
"Incase you haven't heard, I'm not a big fan of following rules." Buffy smiled back, trying to match his unnervingly calm demeanor.
"Oh, your reputation does proceed you." He snickered and stepped away from Dawn. Then the demon noticed the confusion on Riley's face and smiled. "However it seems I'm not quite done here. It looks like the man on your other arm has more to say before I depart..." He smiled and gestured to the open stage between him and Dawn. Then everyone heard a soft piano echo through the Bronze.
Riley reached across the space between them and grasped her hand in his. "If it's true what they say," He sang just loud enough for the room to hear. "If there's nothing to be done. If it's true that it's too late." He turned both of them to face one another and placed his other hand on her cheek. "And the girl I love is gone." Even if Buffy could interject she didn't know what to say. She was most definitely not the same girl he left a few months ago. "If it's true what they say..." He recoiled his hand and nearly yelled in frustration above him, "Is this how the world is?!" He looked back to her and pulled his other hand away from hers and took a step back then sang on, "To be beaten and betrayed and then be told that nothing changes? It'll always be like this? If it's true what they say..." he motioned to the witches to his right and the young vampire and the demon to his left. "I'll be on my way." Then he turned and started to leave but heard the Demon speak over the group.
"And the boy turned to go," Sweets seemingly narrated, " 'cause he thought no one could hear." Riley stopped but didn't turn around. "But everybody knows this Slayer's got friends." The demon pointed to the Watcher, Xander and Anya. "And her friends had heard him."
"If it's true what they say." Giles, Anya, and Xander found themselves singing on Riley's behalf, stepping toward him.
"They laid down their weapons." Sweets crooned.
"What's the purpose of a man?" The trio sang on and set their weapons aside.
"And they quit their mission."
"Just to turn his eyes away?" The three turned Riley to face Buffy again.
"When they heard him singin'." Sweets smiled, raising a hand and seemingly calling both Buffy and Riley up to the stage.
"Just to throw up both his hands?" Riley's support sang as they followed him toward the stage.
"He pours out his heart."
"What's the use of his backbone?" The group paused as Riley climbed the stairs.
"Hoping she would hear him." Sweets looked to the Slayer as she stepped up the stairs on the other end of the stage.
"If he never stands upright?" Dawn, Willow, and Tara chimed in, with more accusation in their voices than support.
"And they stood and listened."
"If he turns his back on everyone?" The girls pointed out as they sang.
"To the poor boy sing..." The red demon looked to the pleading boy's face.
"That he could've stood beside!" The girls nearly yelled.
"If it's true what they say..." Riley interjected, pointing down to the witches and the vampire on the floor. "I'll be on my way. But who are they to say what the truth is anyway?" He took another step closer to Buffy. " 'Cause the ones who tell the lies." He pointed blatantly at Spike.
All of the scoobies except Buffy and Spike 'Ahh-ed' along as back up.
"Are the solemnest to swear. And the ones who load the dice. Always say the toss is fair." Riley was directly in front of her now. "And the ones who deal the cards."
"Deal the cards..." All of the scoobies echoed from below the stage.
"Are the ones who take the tricks." Riley placed a hand on his chest. "With their hands over their hearts. While we play the game they fix." He extended his hand out to her, grazing the backside of it over her cheek. "And the ones who speak the words."
"Speak the words." the whole gang echoed.
"Always say it is the last. And no answer will be heard, to the question no one asks." Riley retracted his hand and sang with more vigor. "So I'm askin' if it's true. I'm askin' me," he pointed to himself then to the scoobies gathered at the base of the stage "and you," Then gestured to Dawn, who was still seated behind where Buffy was standing. "And you," Then he looked back to Buffy, "And you." He grasped her hands in his. "I believe our answer matters more than anything they say."
"We stand and listen." the scoobies crooned.
"I believe if there is still a will, then there is still a way." Riley pulled her closer, placing her arms around him then enclosed his around her.
"We're standing with him." Anya and the men chimed in. Spike wanted to leap up and break all this up, but all he could do was clench his fists.
"I believe there is a way." He brought a hand up to the base of her neck, and pulled her to him, burying her face in his shoulder. "I believe in us together, more than anyone alone."
"We're standing near him." Riley's backup sang. "Near him."
Riley pulled them apart to see Buffy's face again. "I believe that with each other, we are stronger than we know."
"We hear him." The team of ladies sang with some annoyance in their voices.
"I believe we're stronger than they know." Riley shrugged off his competition's supporters. "I believe that we are bonded, I believe we'll make it through."
"We're standing." The ladies added as Dawn stepped forward with confidence and Willow placed a hand on Spike's shoulder in support.
"And it isn't for your friends to tell us what is true." Riley pleaded, holding her firmly and staring into her hazel eyes.
"We understand him." The others sang, with Xander stepping forward from their group.
"So I ask you:" Riley glanced down to see Willow and Tara standing with Spike, "If it's true what they say..."
"We're standing." Dawn, Tara, and Willow responded, while Spike merely glared at the boy.
"I'll be on my way!" He released her and threw his arm to the door.
"We're standing." The other three responded.
"Tell me what to do!" He practically yelled at Buffy.
"We're standing!" Buffy's friends all sang out.
"Is it true? Is it true what they say?!" Riley proclaimed as the music faded away.
"Yes." Buffy finally said, firm but quiet.
"Why?" Riley was heaving from his song, and thrown by her answer.
"He stayed Riley!" She practically yelled throwing her arm toward the vampire, then stepped back and stated quieter "And because I can trust him... I don't know if I can trust you."
"Since when is a soulless vampire something you can trust?" Riley pushed. "I kind of wrapped my head around the whole you and Angel thing, but Spike is completely different..."
"Your right, Spike is eons different than Angel... Spike has stayed by my side and protected my family and friends, without the help of a precious soul. Angel didn't do that." Buffy stated with conviction, Spike couldn't help but smile at the comparison. Riley scoffed at the notion then the girl added angrily, "God! You haven't been here Riley! You don't know the hell we've gone through..."
"Yeah, I know, everyone's filled me in." He interrupted her. "I'm a piece of shit for leaving... But he's who you found? Spike?!" He spat out and glanced to the pale man.
"He understands."
"Understands what?" Riley questioned.
"Take your pick: vampires, people, magic, demons, fighting, slayers..." She listed then she defended quieter. "He...he understands me."
"And I don't?" Riley defended. "You once told me you'd given me your heart, body and soul. But if you wanted someone with superpowers you'd be dating Spike... I didn't realize that meant he was next in line."
"He wasn't Riley!" Buffy declared. "You left, that was not my choice! I ran to stop you, I was on that helicopter pad when it took off. You didn't so much as look down." She confessed.
That caught Riley's attention. "You were?"
"You were the one who decided we were done and didn't give me much time to convince you otherwise." Buffy pointed to Spike. "He had nothing to do with that. You broke my heart Riley… All on your own…" She brought her hand back down, and stared down the taller man.
Riley was reeling from the new information, but aggressively pushed his point further. "He can never give you the life you want."
"And what life do I want?" She questioned then admitted, "Who's to say I still want a normal life?" Spike perked up a little at her words, recalling their earlier conversation and song '...or do you need more, is there somethin else you're searchin' for...' "This music has brought out a lot that I'm still trying to sort out, but one thing was abundantly clear to me before any of it: Spike has been here... He has been since before you left. He's protected my friends and family. He saved Dawn. And he has cared for me after a fight that nearly broke me." Buffy didn't dare look to the cocky vampire with everything she was confessing.
Outwardly the vampire was remarkably stoic, only letting an evil smirk escape. However internally the not-so-evil-creature-of-the-night was elated. He hazarded a glance to Willow behind him, who smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder before retracting her hand.
"There it is..." Sweets smiled, stepping back into the conversation. "That's the big drama we were missing."
"I'm not bound to a song anymore, you best clear out before I kill you." Buffy warned.
"So testy." He smirked. "Well then I suppose the little misses and I will be on our way. First time I've taken a vampire as a bride, who knows, this may be my fairytale ending..."
Spike leapt up on the stage between the demon and Dawn. "You don't go near the girl Slick."
The demon smiled and offered a hand past the vampire. "She summoned me. This is just how the song goes my friends."
"I didn't summon anything." Dawn defended as she stepped closer to Spike, ready to use him as a shield.
"You got my talesman on sweet thing." The demon explained, pointing to the jewel on her neck.
"This?" Dawn questioned, holding up the necklace. "This was a gift from Riley, he got it off a merchant in south-central-where-ever-the-hell."
The group looked to Riley, most were confused, but Buffy and Spike's faces showed more anger. "Where did you get that trinket you gave my sister?"
Riley looked around the room, the demon and the scoobies were patiently waiting, then as he settled on Buffy he took a deep breath and let it out. "The crew I was with, we had a shaman with us." Buffy crossed her arms. "I had mentioned how I wanted to make things right with you, but I didn't know how to go about it. He made this sound like it would lower our inhibition and help us get to our happy ending. I did it for us..."
"Since when do you turn to magic to solve your problems?" Buffy asked, not believing what the man had done.
"I'm always trying to understand you more, and well magic has been a part of your life."
"You really don't get it you stupid git." Spike snarled, then turned to Dawn, pulling the trinket off her neck and tossed it to the boy.
Then Buffy stepped closer to Riley and spoke softly. "Riley, the harder you try..." Buffy reached up and placed a hand on his face. "The less you understand me." Riley's face was downcast. "My answer is no. This isn't going to work."
Riley tried to shake off his sad demeanor, then looked to the demon behind him. "So I'm bound to you now?"
"I think we'll wave that clause just this once. You're a handsome chap, but I'm really only interested in a queen." He smirked, causing the man to breathe a sigh of relief. "Big smiles everyone. You beat the bad guy." Spike started toward the demon, still wanting to get a few licks in for all the singing he had him produce. Sweets simply raised a hand, pausing any motion as he started to sing. "What a lotta fun, you guys have been real swell." He chuckled and stepped toward the group on the stage. "And there's maybe some, who can even say this, ended well." The demon raised a brow to Spike, giving an evil smirk. "All those secrets you've been concealing." He directed his gaze to Buffy and grabbed her hand. "Say you're happy now." he bowed a little and kissed her hand. "Once more with feeling." He winked and released her hand and stepped to the edge of the stage. "Now I gotta run, see you all..." The demon started to disintegrate into a shiny dust cloud, but they heard him finish his line as he spun around the room and disappeared. "in hell…!"
The room was quiet, nobody knew what to do next. Buffy hazarded a glance to Riley then put her hand in her jean pockets and felt the lighter she had stolen from the vampire to her left. Then the room heard Dawn's voice echo.
"Where do we go from here?"
"Where do we go from here?" Buffy and Spike sang as they looked to each other.
"The battle's done, and we kind of won." Giles sang along.
"So we sound our victory cheer." Tara's high soprano voice harmonized with Giles's baritone.
"Where do we go from here?" Riley crooned, and the people on stage started to make their way down.
"Why is the path unclear?" Xander and Anya stepped together, and the rest of the group stepped in line with them. "When we know home is near."
"Understand, we'll go hand in hand" The group all sang and joined hands down their line. "But we'll walk alone in fear." The friends broke apart and spread out across the Bronze.
"Tell me!" Giles belted.
"Where do we go from here?" The group sang together. "When does the end appear?" They all took a few steps backward, but Spike bumped into a pillar. Shaking him free of the spell's hold.
"Heh. Bugger this." He scoffed before turning for the exit. I'll go have a smoke, let them finish their little diddy.
"When do the trumpets cheer?" The crowd harmonized together. "The curtains close on a kiss god knows." Buffy turned to face her friends and noticed the tail end of a black coat waft out the door. "We can tell the end is near." Buffy found the strength to move against the melody and follow the vampire. "Where do we go from here?"
The scoobies started another verse inside as Buffy stepped out to see Spike with a cigarette in his mouth and searching his pockets.
"Hey." Buffy called out holding up the lighter she had pulled out of her pocket.
"You should go back inside," Spike walked up to her, collecting his property. "Go finish the big group sing." He lit the cigarette, and tucked his lighter back in his coat pocket. "Get your kombi-ya-yas out."
"I don't want to." She crossed her arms almost pouting.
He took a long drag then commented, "The day you sus out what you do want, they'll probably be a parade," He rolled his eyes and inhaled another calming hit. "76 bloody trombones."
"Spike..."
"Look, you don't have to say anything..."
"Apparently I do." She sassed, cutting him off. "Do you even realize what's been happening? What just happened in there?"
"Your mates know you trust me, oh happy day..." He snarked then took another long drag glancing away.
Buffy stomped up to the vampire, grabbed the cigarette out of his mouth and tossed it away so he'd focus 100% on her. "I chose you dammit!" She practically yelled, then took a deep breath and spoke softer. "I'm the Slayer. I don't get a normal life, no matter how much I try... And you're the only one who's ever gotten that... Who's ever really understood me..." Buffy reached out a hand, lightly grasping the collar on his leather coat, feeling it in her fingers. He knows slayers... Spike was thrown by the tender contact. "And you've made me believe that it's okay."
"It's who you are luv." He tucked some hair behind her ear. "Ya don't need to explain yourself to me."
"I've never had to... why is that?" Then they heard a separate kind of music from what had been echoing from the Bronze.
"I could find the whole meaning of life in those sad eyes." Spike sang and placed a hand on her cheek, and gently rubbed the top of her cheekbone with his thumb. "They've seen things you never quite say, but I hear." He let his hand drift down to her shoulder as he lowered his face slightly to match her eye-level. "Come out of hiding, I'm right here beside you." Spike clasped his other hand over hers that was still gripping his coat. "And I'll stay there as long as you let me." Buffy raised her other hand, placing it on his chest. "Because you matter to me." Buffy smiled and leaned her forehead against his chest, just as she had in the training room. "Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody." Spike took the hand that was on her shoulder and started to stroke her hair. "You matter to me. I promise you do, you… you matter too. I promise you do, you'll see?" Spike kissed the top of her head and sang softly, "You matter to me..."
Buffy shook herself away from the embrace, taking a few steps away and singing back to him. "It's addictive the minute you let yourself think." She clasped her arms around her side, almost nervous. "The thing that I am just might matter to someone." Always. Spike thought to himself as he took a step toward her. "All of this time I've been keeping my mind on the running away..." She glanced down the alley then back to the vampire, and held out a hand toward him. "And for the first time I think I'd consider the stay..." Spike stepped closer and took her hand in his. "Because you matter to me." She reached her free hand up to his face. "Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody." Spike leaned into her hand and took their adjoined hands and held it snug against his chest and wrapping his other arm around her. God if I could freeze the moment. "You matter to me. I promise you do, you… you matter too." Spike had a smile plastered on his face as he held her a little tighter. "I promise you do, you'll see."
"You matter to me." They both sang softly, then heard footsteps approach them.
"Dawnie..." Buffy tensed up, turned to her sister and let go of Spike. He released his grip on her as well, but was quickly chastised by the girl.
"Don't you dare split apart cause I walked over." Dawn scolded as she practically ran up to the pair. Spike followed the younger vampire's instructions and wrapped his arms around the blonde from behind. Buffy smiled to the touch, then she looked to her sister who started to squeak excitedly. "I love seeing you two together finally."
"Why?" Buffy questioned.
"Cause you two are freaking perfect together." She smirked then added, "Plus, I suppose it gives me hope I'll still get to find that someday."
"Dawnie, I hope someday, somebody wants to hold you for 20 minutes straight. They don't pull away, they don't look at your face, and they don't try to kiss you. All they do," Buffy wrapped her own arms up around herself to feel the leather clad harms holding her. "is wrap you up in their arms and hold on tight, without an ounce of selfishness to it." She exhaled a satisfying breath. "I hope you become addicted Dawnie. I hope you become addicted to being held, like nothin else in this world matters," Buffy looked over her shoulder to Spike's face. "because you truly matter to someone you can't be without." If my heart could beat... it'd beat right out my bloody chest... Spike squeezed her a little tighter before he loosened his grip and guided Buffy to spin out.
He took her hand in his and placed another on the small of her back. "You matter to me." The vampire led her into a slow dance, as they sang together again. "Simple and plain and not much to ask from somebody." Who knew Spike could waltz… "You matter to me." The young vampire simply backed away, popping herself up on some crates to watch them.
Then Buffy started, as Spike harmonized over her words as he led her in a graceful dance around their familiar slaying ground.
"I promise you do, you!" B
"Come out of hiding I'm right here beside you." S
"You matter too." B
"As long as you have me." S
"I promise you do," B
"I promise you do" S
"You matter too." B
"You matter to..." S
"...Me..." Spike spun Buffy close against him, releasing her hand and wrapping his arms around her as she did the same with him. "You'll see..." The pair relaxed in their embrace and finished singing together, "You matter to me."
"That's what I'm talking about." Dawn practically squealed, running up to the pair again and jumping in on their hug, squeezing them tight.
"Okay enjoying the love, but ribs are still outchy and one of us still has to breath."
"Right," Dawn acknowledged, "Sorry Buffy."
"You alright luv?" Spike asked, gingerly touching the damaged bones.
"Yeah, it's all good." She shrugged off the vampires' concern. "Just would have caused problems if she squeezed harder."
"Again, sorry. Still getting used to the strength."
"No worries Dawnie," Buffy smirked as she tucked some hair behind her sister's ear. "Everyone else still inside?"
"Oh, right, yeah, so Xander and Anya kinda finished off the song by announcing they were engaged!" Dawn announced, expecting a bigger reaction than the subtle nods from the heros.
"Sorry, yeah it's exciting news, but we already knew." Buffy explained their lack-luster responses. "They let it spill last night on patrol." Buffy's face shifted. "Wow...last night..."
"What's that luv?"
"Nothing, just a lot has happened in 24ish hours..."
"All for the good though." Dawn winked to the pair.
"Dam right sweet bit." Spike agreed, grabbing the slayer's hand in his.
"So… Do I get to tell everyone about you two then?!"
"No." Buffy stated a bit too quickly, seeing the sad look on the vampires' faces. "It's not like we need to hide... whatever this is... I just don't think I'm ready to explain it to my friends... I'm still trying to wrap my own head around it..." She tried to explain to them as they waited outside the Bronze for the gang.
Spike took a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it, "You don't have to explain yourself to me pet." He assured. "I'm just happy to be by your side, I don't care who bloody knows."
Buffy smiled to the master vamp, while the more impatient one budded in. "Oh come on, Willow, Tara, and me are totally on board with you two. Xander will come around, Anya follows whatever makes sense, and Giles just needs to get that stick out of his a..."
"Dawn!" Buffy stopped her sister.
"Fine, I'll drop it." Dawn threw her hands in the air. "So long as I can go patrolling tonight with you guys?"
"You blackmailing your first patrol out of us Nibblit?" Dawn just smirked giddily at her sire.
"She gets that from you." Buffy looked to Spike, but the vampire shrugged it off and took it as a compliment. Buffy laughed a little then looked back to Dawn. "I suppose you could tag along on patrol, so long as you remember the rules?"
"Duh, and I'll follow them a lot better than you did in my body." She sassed with her hand on her hips. "Ooo, um can I blackmail one more thing out of you guys?"
Spike just chuckled at the request to blackmail, while Buffy merely asked "What?"
"There's this new movie that's out, and Janice asked me if I could go, and I said I'd have to ask you, and it'd have to be a later showing cause of my new home schooling schedule..."
"You trying to bribe an R rated flick outta your sis?"
"No, it's PG-13." Dawn explained. "I just didn't know if you'd let me go to a movie with my friend at night. Mom or Janice's mom would always go with us, and her Mom can't go..."
"You're asking if I'll chaperone?" Buffy raised an eyebrow.
"No, I'm forcing you two to come have an actual first date before you come up with too many reasons why you two can't work."
"I'm not backing out of this Dawn."
"You say that now, but when Giles gives you his lecture you'll get all backpedally."
"You're sis may know you better than I do luv." Spike smirked as he put out his cigarette. "We're in. Maybe tomorrow night before patrol?"
"Sweet!" Dawn elated then added before she opened the door to the Bronze. "By the way... it's a musical." She snickered then darted in.
"Bloody hell!"
"Still happy she's taking after your evil traits?" She smirked to the vampire before following her sister. Spike put out his cigarette then trailed in after the sisters. They found the gang gathered around the stage. "So, we're sure Dawn's betrothed is gone? Won't be popping back over to abduct her?"
"Quite." Giles assured. "The manner in which he's able to choose if he wants to accept his summoner does give credit to why it always appeared to be teen girls."
"I think Riley was glad the demon passed on him." Tara pointed out.
"Umm, where is Riley?" Buffy asked, having just noticed the tall man was not among her friends.
"He needed some time to himself, think about what was... revealed." Willow informed her. "He was pretty certain he'd win you back... Plus he felt bad about the whole summoning a demon that almost took him to hell."
Everyone could tell the man needed some time to think. And he hadn't even seen what had transpired in the ally after the demon left. "I wouldn't have let him get taken to hell." Buffy defended.
"Arn't you sweet." Spike scoffed.
"Spike, shut up." Buffy sassed with her normal inflection then addressed the group. "Well, Spike, Dawn and I will do a quick patrol tonight. Then we'll meet at the shop tomorrow and get back to our illusive dimension jumping dragon." The gang nodded to the plan before saying their goodbyes and parting for the night.
***Song Credits:
"Lay All Your Love On Me" By Abba, but specifically from the movie sound track, "Mamma Mia" - /YT-wSm18JXM
"If it's True" From the stage musical: "Hadestown" - /12BlRpvOa1o
"What You Feel (Reprise)" From the show episode: "Once More with Feeling"
"Where Do We Go From Here?" From the show episode: "Once More with Feeling" - /7XdAQpq_1Xw
"You Matter to Me" From the stage musical: "Waitress", Written by Sara Bareilles - /EHKxoPPwf5A