Remember Me

Title: Remember Me
Author: Margie
Rating: R
Pairing: B/S
Spoilers: None - Fantasy AU

Summary: Buffy and Spike have been best friends since they met in
college nearly 10 years ago. Spike needs Buffy's help, asking her to
attend a week long business trip as his pretend fiance. After some
cajoling she agrees. During the trip, Buffy has a mild accident. Spike
discovers his problems have only just begun when Buffy wakes to the
belief that she really is Spike's fiance!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Joss owns it all damn him!
Feedback: Yes please! margaritagomez1@msn.com
Archive: If you want it just email me to tell me where it's going. It will
eventually be on my own website when I get the chance to update
(www.angelfire.com/indie/margarks/index.html)

***

Prologue

"You want me to what?" Buffy asked, incredulous. She stared in
disbelief at her long time friend, wondering if this was just another one
of those jokes she didn't get.

"I really need your help, luv." Spike answered, giving her a pleading
look. "You know what Dru's leaving has done to me." The words
were spoken quickly, as if even speaking her name still hurt him.

"Oh, Spike." Buffy quickly made her way to the couch and plopped
down next to him. She wrapped her arms around his wiry frame and
pulled him close. She kissed his cheek lightly as she hugged him to
her. "I know, sweetie."

Spike didn't want to think of his long time girlfriend...ex-girlfriend.
Buffy had never liked Dru, but that hadn't stopped her from supporting
him and then comforting him once the whole thing had finally come
crashing down. He should have known that Dru would never change,
but he kept giving her the benefit of the doubt.

Her latest betrayal was the last straw. Not only had she been
sleeping with another man but Spike had caught them in his home on
what was supposed to be his and Dru's 2nd year anniversary. The
picture that had been etched in his memory had yet to fade.

"Buffy, luv." Spike turned in her embrace so that they could face one
another. "You know I wouldn't ask if I weren't desperate."

Buffy knew that she should say no. How could he expect her to
spend a week pretending to be his fiance? And was it really
necessary? She could understand him wanting to save face with the
business associates he would be meeting. After all they were all
bringing their spouses, and Spike had made reservations for himself
and his fiance. To show up now with no fiance, while still trying to get
over the breakup would probably not look too good.

But could she do it? Buffy had never liked Dru. In fact, she had a
distinct hate for the other woman. And sometime in the last year
Buffy had realized that, that was exactly how she thought of her, as
the 'other woman'.

Buffy and Spike had become fast friends the moment they'd met in
English 101 at Sunnydale University. Spike, William at the time, had
been shy and reserved unlike every other guy she'd met on campus.
They'd gotten together to study for the class and they hadn't really
been apart since.

She had never really wondered why they never dated. They'd
discussed it once, she thought, maybe while they were drunk one
night. But it seemed as if they'd come to a mutual agreement that
they never wanted to risk their friendship for anything more fleeting.

But over the past year, while watching him agonize over Dru, Buffy's
feelings had somehow changed. It sounded so cliché, she knew, but
Buffy had actually woken up one morning and realized that the
person she'd been looking for her entire life had been standing right in
front of her the whole time.

At the time of Buffy's epiphany, Spike had still been engaged to Dru.
Although Buffy sincerely disliked the woman, she wanted nothing
more than for Spike to be happy. She curbed her tongue, and let
Spike decide for himself whether Dru really was the person that could
make him happy for the rest of his life.

The day he'd come to her, tears streaming down his face, Buffy was
torn. On the one hand she was elated that Spike had finally seen
what kind of woman Dru really was, but on the other Buffy's own heart
ached to see Spike so broken. That had been nearly 5 months ago.

Buffy had several internal debates on whether she should reveal her
feelings to Spike. There wasn't any other person on the planet that
knew her better than he did, but even he didn't know the depths of her
feelings for him. She was always careful to conceal anything that
might ruin the relationship they already had.

She thought, *hoped*, that in a few months time, after he'd h
c
chance to get over Dru she might be able to broach the subject to
him. But could she spend a whole week with him as his fiance,
without letting the cat out of the bag?

Spike's voice broke into her meandering thoughts. "Buffy, I know it's
a lot to ask. But I can't show up there alone. Dru was supposed to
be there to help me with all the social stuff, you know how bloody bad
I am at these types of events. And with all the other businessmen
attending with their significant others it will just make me stand out
even more!"

"Spike, I want to help you, but"
"

"Please, luv. It's a free holiday for you." He gave her another
pleading look before bringing out the big guns. "I could really use a
friend." He whispered the words forlornly.

"Oooh." Buffy chewed her bottom lip in aggravation. How could she
say no? "Okay."

Spike beamed her a brilliant smile before jumping off the sofa. He
turned and gave her a bear hug and a peck on the forehead before
striding toward the door. "Thanks, luv. You won't regret it!"

Buffy wasn't so sure of that.