London Calling

Chapter 13


Spike watched as Buffy raced up the stairs.

"Buffy!" He called after her, a stricken look on his face. She ignored him and he heard the door to her room slam violently.

"Didn't you miss me, my Spike?" Drusilla crooned, grasping onto his arm.

Shaking her off, he folded his arms over his bare chest and gave her a pointed look.

"Why in the bloody fuck did you tell her that?!"

Moving closer until he was backed against the foyer table, she ran her fingernails lightly over his chest. "Tell her what?"

Shoving her hands away from him, he began to pace the entryway.

"You know what. We're not together anymore, Dru." He sighed and ran an agitated hand through his hair.

Drusilla smiled at him. "You don't mean that. We're destined to be together! Miss Edith has been whispering to me."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Miss Edith has obviously lost her touch, then. You and I are NOT going to do this again. I thought that had been made perfectly clear when I caught you fucking that sorry excuse for a landlord on our anniversary."

Drusilla frowned slightly, then shook her head. "Ethan needed me. You... There's something different about you. There was even then. You weren't mine anymore. Your mind was already off wandering around other places." She got a glazed look in her eyes and began to sway.

Oh great. Here comes the insanity act. Was there ever a time when I truly found this attractive?

"Listen, I don't know what the hell you're going on about, but what you just told Buffy was wrong. It's over between us, Dru." He stated firmly.

Drusilla began to wring her hands and moan pathetically. "Oh my Spike... where will I go? What will I do?"

He almost felt bad for her.

Almost.

"Listen," He compromised, "You can stay here for the wedding, but after that I don't ever want to see you again. I'm trying to make something work with Buffy here." He turned and began walking up the stairs.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What does this girl have that I don't?"

Spike stopped and replied without turning around.

"She believes in me."

He started back up the stairs.

"You can let yourself out." He called back over his shoulder before dissapearing into his room.

Scowling, Drusilla turned and left the house, slamming the door behind her.


***


"Buffy, could you please hand me one of those chocolates amusingly shaped like a man's penis?"

Buffy rubbed her aching head.

THIS was a NIGHTMARE.

"Here you go, Anya." She said, handing over the tray.

Anya beamed at her. "Thank you! Aren't you having a fabulous time?! I can't wait for the strippers to get here!"

Buffy's eyes widened in shock. "Strippers?! Are you kidding? Xander's going to have a fit when he finds out!"

Anya rolled her eyes and bit into one of the chocolates with relish. "Oh, who cares. He's probably off getting a lap dance as we speak. Bachelor and Bachelorette parties are the last time that the married couple gets to freely ogle the opposite sex!"

Buffy nodded wearily and laid her head down on the counter.

Tonight was the night of both Anya's Bachelorette Party and Xander's Bachelor Party. Usually, she'd be doing anything humanly possible to avoid this kind of an event - sex talk and slimy looking male strippers weren't usually her thing, per se - but it was a welcome distraction from her thoughts of Spike.

Sighing, she got up to get herself a drink. Hopefully alcohol would numb the effects of today's horribly tragic events.

She'd stayed in her room crying for HOURS. Spike had banged on her door repeatedly, begging her to listen to him, but she'd turned on her stereo full-blast and tuned him out. She hadn't come out of her room until after he'd left for Xander's Party.

Hmpf. He was probably getting frisky with some strippers t not now, that stupid perv.

Grimacing, she chugged her margarita and winced when a sharp pain hit her brain. Holding a hand to her forehead, she grimaced. "Owie! Headrush!"

Pouting, she laid her head back down on the countertop.

"Anya!" Harmony squealed, running into the kitchen. "You HAVE to come open your gifts. I can't wait until you see what I got for you!"

Anya clapped her hands. "Oh goody! Free things!" Turning, she yanked Buffy up and towed her into the living room. "Buffy, as my Maid of Honor, it's your duty to write down all of the gifts I recieved and who gave them to me. Then, you write them thank you cards from me."

Buffy pulled her arm away from Anya. "What? That's not what happens! YOU write them thank you cards."

Anya rolled her eyes and pushed Buffy down into an easy chair. "Don't argue with me. It's tradition! I read it-"

"In Cosmo!" The women in the living room finished for her, laughing.

Anya smiled triumphantly. "See? They must have read that article, too!"

"Fine." Buffy grumbled, slouching down into her seat.

Anya turned to leave the room. "I'll go get you a notepad and pen."

Buffy sat up and shouted after her. "Hey! And bring me another margarita while you're at it!"


***


"'Nother beer, man?"

Spike nodded his head in assent and held up his glass for Xander to fill. He knew he probably shouldn't, but after the way that things had ended with Buffy, all he wanted to do was get completely snockered.

"Is this fun or WHAT?" Xander shouted over the throbbing music, holding up his beer triumphantly.

"Yeah, terrific." Spike replied, voice monotone.

Xander didn't notice, so caught up in the action on stage. "I know! This is the best bachelartyarty EVER!"

Spike sighed and drained his beer.

He'd stayed outside Buffy's door for hours desperately wanting to talk to her. He couldn't believe Dru's unbelieveably bad timing in showing up when she did. God, if only Buffy would listen to him for one minute, she'd see that nothing had changed. He still wanted her. Still needed her so badly.

"Hey there, stud." A big-breasted blonde crooned, snuggling herself onto his lap.

He squirmed uncomfortably. "Listen, luv... why don't you go play with someone else. I'm really not in the mood."

Eyes lighting up, she ran a hand through his mussed hair. "Ooh baby! That accent is HOT! Are you sure you wouldn't like a lap dance? For you... it could be free of charge."

Spike shook his head. "No thanks."

She shrugged and hopped up. "Your loss." She turned and sauntered over to a nearby table where some of the other guys from their party sat.

Spike laughed as he watched the stripper thrust her chest into Riley's face. The boy looked positively flustered.

He tapped Xander's shoulder. "Looks like Captain Cardboard's gonna be getting some action tonight!"

Xander looked over and guffawed. "Poor Riley! I don't think he knows what to do with her." He turned and looked questioningly at his friend. "Hey, why didn't YOU take her up on her offer? You feelin' all right?"

Spike nodded. "Yeah. Just a little tired." He got up out of his seat and stretched. "I'll go get us some more beer." Picking up the empty pitcher, he started through the crowd towards the bar.

Xander watched his friends retreating form with some concern.

Maybe I should set him up with someone. He thought to himself, nng hng his beer.

He seems lonely.


***


"Ooh! Another skimpy piece of lingerie! Xander's REALLY going to appreciate all this." Anya cried happily, hugging the hot pink teddy to her chest with glee.

Buffy shuddered and took another swig of her margarita. Listening to Anya talk about sex with her brother was grossing her out to an extreme degree.

"Buffy? Are writing all this down? This hot pink number is from Harmony." Anya stated, shaking the garment in Buffy's direction.

"Yeah, yeah..." She mumbled, scribbling it down on her legal pad.

"How're you doing, Buff?" Willow asked, handing Buffy another drink and taking the seat beside her.

Buffy groaned wearily and rubbed her eyes. "I'm just so tired, Wills."

Willow smiled sympathetically. "Are things going badly with you and Spike?"

Buffy gave her friend a startled look. "How can you tell?"

"Because your face has that I-Cried-All-Day-Long look to it." She replied, lazily sipping at her vodka tonic.

Buffy sighed. "It's complicated."

"I've got time to listen." Willow said.

Leaning her head back against the back of the chair, Buffy closed her eyes. "I slept with him, Willow."

Willow spewed her drink everywhere.

"What?!" She shrieked, glass flying out of her hand and smacking a nearby woman in the head.

"Willow!" Anya shouted, running over. "You just spit an alcoholic beverage onto my lo par party gifts!"

"Hey!" The woman who was knocked in the head complained. "What about my head?"

"Oh, and you hit that woman in the head with your glass... which, by the way, is the good family crystal!" Anya said, shaking her finger in Willow's face. She then turned and flounced off to the kitchen to try and get the stain out of her new babydoll nightie.

Buffy looked at her friend, who still had an intense look of shock plastered all over her face.

"Hello? Wills? You in there? Helloooo!" She called out, rapping her fist against her friend's skull jokingly. When she still didn't answer, Buffy leaned in closely to get a look at her eyes.

Maybe I sent her over the edge into a state of catatonia...

"What?!" Willow shrieked once more, startling Buffy so badly that she nearly fell out of her chair.

"Jesus, Willow! It's not THAT big a deal."

Willow grabbed her hand. "Not that big a deal?! THIS from the girl who wouldn't even french kiss her boyfriend of three months because it seemed 'Too Soon'?? Are you kidding me here?"

Buffy fiddled with the leftover ice in her glass. "That was a totally different situation."

Willow rolled her eyes. "Right. I think the situation was different because it wasn't with SPIKE." Leaning in, she whispered, "So? What happened? Was it good? How big was he?"

"WILLOW!" Buffy gasped, shocked.

Willow grinned. "Spill it! I want to know EVERYTHING."

"There's nothing to tell." Buffy said, frowning. "He used me, just like I thought he would. I should have known better."

Willow reached over and rubbed her shoulder comfortingly. "Buffy... not every guy is like your Dad."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Buffy answered, turning away.

"If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine." Willow said, backing off from an obviously sore subject.

Buffy turned and abruptly hugged her friend.

"Sorry to snap at you." She replied. "It's just that... it seems like all guys are the same. Spike, Angel, my Dad... Especially my Dad. He used to tell me he'd be coming to visit, a special trip to the zoo, or the beach, or a picnic. And you know what would ALWAYS happen?"

Willow shook her head.

"He'd never show. It's like that in EVERY relationship. They tell you what you want to hear, but they don't really mean it. They're all just users." She sat back in her chair, sniffling back tears.

Willow dug through her purse until she found a Kleenex. "Here," she said, handing it to her. Buffy wiped at her eyes and sat back with a sigh.

Willow gave her a scrutinizing look. "You know that's not true, right?"

Buffy blew her nose. "What's not true?"

"What you said about all guys being users."

Buffy rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Yes it is, Will. Name one guy who hasn't treated a girl like crap."

Willow smirked. "Well, Oz for one."

Buffy sulkily crossed her arms over her chest. "Doesn't count. He's just one measly guy."

"Well, then there's the one guy I can't believe you're forgetting."

Buffy looked at her questioningly. "Who?"

"Xander." Willow said, beaming at her.

"Xander..." Buffy repeated, completely confused.

"Yes, Xander!"

"But..." Buffy started, shaking her head, "He's my BROTHER. He doesn't count, either."

Willow punched her in the arm. "Hello! He's a guy, and he's been faithful to Anya for more than FOUR YEARS NOW."

Anya entered the room waving around her new sex toy. "I can't wait to try this sucker out!" Holding up the package, she read the description off the side of the box. "Pleasure yourself for hours with The Rabbit. RABBIT?!" She shrieked, throwing the toy halfway across the room in her horror. "Is this some kind of sick joke?! Who'd want a... a... RABBIT in the BEDROOM!" She shuddered and hugged herself.

"And we ALL know how trying she can be sometimes." Willow finished with a grin.

Buffy smiled tentatively. "I guess so..."

"You KNOW so." Willow replied, reaching over to squeeze her friend's hand. "And maybe this isn't the best time, but you should think about what happened between you and Spike. Did he try and explain things?"

Buffy had the grace to look somewhat ashamed. "He did, but I wouldn't listen to him."

"Well, maybe you should give him a chance. Xander obviously thinks highly of him... and I think you should give him the benefit of the doubt." Getting to her feet, she picked up their now empty glasses. "I'm going to get us some more drinks."

Buffy nodded absentmidedly, already thinking about what she wanted to say to-

"-Spike's cock."

She whipped her head around.

Drusilla was sitting on the sofa with Harmony and Aura, and they were quite obviously discussing "male attributes".

"I TOTALLY remember." Harmony drooled, fanning herself. "He was the biggest guy I've ever been with!" She stopped a moment and pondered. "I wonder how big Riley is..."

Drusilla nodded, not really listening. "Yes, my Spike is quite impressive. He can always satisfy me in the bedroom." She gave a sideways look in Buffy's direction.

Buffy's eyes narrowed in rage.

"And he knows exactly what I need." Smiling over at Buffy, she gave a feline smirk before adding: "I can't wait until our wedding night."

Buffy stood abruptly.

So the Bitch wants a fight, is that it? I'll wipe that grin off her pasty face!

"You are marrying Spike over my dead body!" She shouted, stomping over to the sofa.

Drusilla sneered."Oh, that can be arranged!" She said, standing and shoving a finger in Buffy's face.

Buffy smacked the offending digit away. "Keep your claws away from me, Morticia!"

Drusilla pushed Buffy back into the opposite wall. "Stay away from my Spike, Barbie!"

Buffy's hands fisted at her sides.

"Oh! I KNOW you didn't just call me barbie, you psycho nut-job!"

"Nut-Job!?" Drusilla screeched. "You'd know all about THOSE, wouldn't you? Slut!"

"Bitch!"

"Vapid Whore!"

"Tramp!"

"Cheerleader!"

They flew at each other and began wrestling on the carpet, dislodging a mountain of Anya's lingerie.

DING DONG!

Nonplussed by the brawl going on not three feet in front of her, Harmony went to answer the door.
A hot young "fireman" stood on the other side, holding an axe and a boombox.

He smiled sexily. "Fire department! I heard there's a RAGING INFERNO blazing away in here, and..."

Buffy and Drusilla rolled past the entryway, screaming and pulling each other's hair. Buffy's head sported a pair of crotchless panties, and she was making a valiant effort to strangle Drusilla with a tassled bra. "I'm going to KILL you, you BITCH!" She shrieked, banging the brunette's head viciously against the tile floor of the foyer.

The "fireman's" jaw dropped in shock. "Holy Shit! Cat fight!" Leaning in through the threshold to get a better look, he was caught off guard when Harmony slammed the door in his face.

"There's no fire here." She stated.

Looking at her watch, she frowned and ignored the desperate knocks coming from the front door. "I wonder when that stripper is going to get here." Shrugging, she stepped over the girls and headed into the kitchen.


***


"'Nother pitcher over here, 'keep." Spike said, settling himself down onto a stool at the bar.

The bartender came over to fill the order. "Anythilse?lse?" he asked, refilling the peanut bowl.

Spike sighed. "Yeah. Might as well get me a whiskey while you're at it."

The bartender nodded in silent commiseration and poured him a glass.

"Leave the bottle." Spike stated, passing him a fifty.

The man arched a brow, but did as he was told.

Left alone with his thoughts once more, Spike glumly swilled his drink and pondered for the eightieth time what to do about Buffy.

"Stupid bitch." He muttered under his breath, tossing back another swallow of whiskey. Letting it burn its way pleasantly down his throat, he grimaced. He was at a fuckstristrip club and he couldn't even appreciate the naked women for Christ's sake! After last night's passionate interlude, she'd ruined him for anyone else. The way she'd felt in his arms, the way her body had molded perfectly with his... it was like she was MADE expressly for him.

He sighed deeply.

Now he couldn't even look at ebony hair... only sparkling blonde would do. Dark eyes held no power over him, but green could melt his heart. Pale ivory skin suddenly seemed much too gothic for his tastes when compared to her sun-kissed limbs.

Crunching on a piece of ice, he sadly accepted his fate. He was completely and undeniably Buffy's bitch.

He turned in his seat when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"I thought I told you to keep your hands off of my girlfriend, asshole." Angel pulled back his arm and let fly-

Only to look down quizzically when his fist didn't connect with anything.

Spike stood up with a sneer, Angel's fist gripped in his hand.

"Fool me once..." He said, sending a wicked blow into Angel's midsection. "Shame on you."

The dark-haired man immediately folded over in pain.

"Fool me twice..." Spike said, jerking Angel up by his t-shirt. "Well, shame on you again." Shoving him down onto the floor, Spike aimed a kick at Angel's kidney. "Poofter."

Angel reached out and grabbed Spike's foot, yanking him down onto the floor with him. The two began wailing on each other, scattering patrons and sending tables and chairs flying in all directions.

Seeing the commotion going on at the bar from his seat at the table, Xander ran over to break up the fight.

"Spike!" He shouted, "C'mon, man. Quit it!"

Spike ignored him and proceeded to aim a well-placed blow to Angel's chin, effectively knocking him out.

"Yeah. That's what you get, you wanker!" Spike sneered, bottom lip gushing copious amounts of blood.

"Thanks for the entertainment, Spike." Xander griped, pushing his friend towards the exit.

"What's your hurry?" Spike questioned, turning back towards where Angel still lay on the floor. "I wanna wait for him to wake up so I can have another go at 'em."

Xander pulled his arm. "And I wanna get out of here in one piece!" He said, pointing at the three beefy bouncers who were at that moment making their way towards the pair.

"Oh Bollocks."

They turned and sprinted for the parking lot.


***


Buffy sat at the counter with an ice pack firmly pressed tr brr bruised cheek.

After she and Drusilla had gotten into the free-for-all, the party had pretty much ended. Willow had tried to pull the two dueling women apart, only to be sent sprawling into Harmony... who just happened to be carrying out the cake.

A cake shaped like a giant naked man, no less.

Buffy started to giggle, then whimpered as her cheek began to throb once more.

"Owie." She pouted.

The only satisfaction she'd gotten out of the whole event was the gratifying knowledge she'd beat that bitch's ass! She probably would've been able to get a few more blows in, if Anya hadn't chosen that precise moment to enter the living room.

Seeing the damage the women had done to her gifts, Anya had gone ballistic and effectively ended the fight by pouring a pitcher of sangria over the pair. Sputtering, they'd apologized to Anya and Drusilla had slunk out of the house, vowing that if she never saw them again, it wouldn't be too soon.

Buffy had courteously helped her out the door, aiming a well-placed kick to her ass.

"Serves her right." Buffy muttered. "Spike's mine."

Getting up to freshen her ice pack, she yelped in surprise when the side door slammed open.

"Umm... could use a little help here!" Xander grunted, dragging Spike into the house.

"Spike!" Buffy shrieked, immediately running to his side and helping him to a seat at the counter. "What happened?!"

He groaned and massaged his tender ribs. "Had a run-in with your ex is all, Pet." He grinned. "It's safe to say he looks a fair bit worse than I do."

Giving him her ice pack to put on his split lip, she went to the bathroom to get the first aid kit. Placing it on the counter beside him, she tilted up his chin and swabbed at the cut with some rubbing alcohol.

He hissed. "Bloody hell! That hurts!"

She rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a baby." She finished cleaning the wound and firmly pressed the ice pack to his mouth.

Finally looking up at her face, his eyes narrowed in concern.

"Mmmfremmfshrmfr?" He mumbled through the ice pack.

"What?" She asked, moving it away from his lips.

Bringing up a hand, he tenderly carressed her cheek. "What happened, luv?"

Blushing, she shrugged out of his reach and went to put the first aid kit away. "Nothing. Just had a small scuffle with your fiancée at the party tonight."

Getting up from his seat, he went to Buffy and put his arms around her waist.

She struggled to get free. "Let me go!"

"No," He said, tightening his grip. "Not until you listen to what I have to say."

"Fine." She replied, looking everywhere but his face. "Say it so I can get out of here."

Grasping her chin, he forced her to look at him. "Dru and I are not together. We haven't been together for MONTHS."

She looked at Spike incredulously. "Yeah, right. Then why did she show up here today?"

"She called me up out of the blue before I came to town and I invited her to the wedding." He stated.

"Why?" Buffy questioned.

He shrugged. "I dunno. She was the first person I ever loved and-" Spike wrapped his arms more securely around Buffy's waist when she struggled to get free once again. "Just listen, would you? I don't know why I invited her here, but I DO know that as soon as I saw you, all thoughts of her vanished from my mind." Fondling her lower lip with his fingers, he whispered: "She's got nothing on you, Buffy. You're the one."

Looking up into his eyes, she read the truth in their depths.

"Oh Spike..." She murmured, tentatively bringing her arms around him. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you before. I was just so upset and-"

He silenced her with a soft kiss. "It doesn't matter anymore. Just know that you mean more to me than anyone, Buffy."

"I know now." She replied, eyes shining.

He smiled and leaned in to kiss her once more when an unearthly shriek caused them to mhasthastily away from one another.

"Who has been using my Grandmother's antique flower vase as an ashtray?!" Anya shouted from the living room.

Spike eyes widened in alarm.

"Quick, make a run for it!" Buffy hissed.

He dragged her to him for a quick kiss, then sprinted up the stairs.

Buffy smiled.

"And who ripped my new tassled bra!?!" Anya bellowed.

She took off at a run for her room.

***

Author's Note: See? All better! For now, anyways.... Mwahahaha! Review me, baby.