Over The Summer

Chapter 31

Faith’s Car

RING-RING

“Faith speaking.”

“. . .”

“Friday night.”

“. . .”

“Where at?”

“. . .”

“What time?”

“. . .”

“Seven?”

“. . .”

“No. No problem. It’s just that, isn’t that kinda early?”

“. . .”

“I understand.”

“. . .”

“Everything will go as planned Mrs. Winthrop.” After the line went dead Faith turned off her phone and headed towards her dorm room.

*****

Loft Apartment

“So this is Spike?” Parker asked he gave Spike the once over before turning to face Buffy. “I really thought that you had better taste in men then this.”

“I dated you didn’t I?” Buffy bit back at Parker’s comment.

After a few moments of silence Spike finally spoke up. “Parker?”

Buffy and Spike locked eyes before all hell broke out.

“You Bloody Bastard.” Spike yelled as his fist hit Parker dead in the face.

“SPIKE!” Buffy screamed as Parker got a hit in on Spike.

The fight continued with punch after punch, and blow after blow.

“Spike stop.” Buffy pleaded.

“Cordelia help me.” Buffy demanded as she out herself in between Spike and Parker.

After both of the girls got the two men apart Spike looked down at Buffy. “What’s he doing here?”

“I didn’t know he was coming. Do you really think I would have let him near me if I had?”

Spike ran his hand down Buffy cheek. “Of course not.”

Parker stood up fully and approached Spike and Buffy. “I came to discuss a few things with Buffy.”

Spike moved so that he was in-between Buffy and Parker. “What would a wanker like you possibly have to talk with Buffy ‘bout?”

“Parker is here to make a deal with Buffy.” Cordelia said.

Spike turned towards Cordelia. “What type of deal?”

Cordelia just looked down at the floor, causing Spike to turn back towards Buffy. “What type of deal Buffy?”

“The same type of deal you made with Faith.”

“I won’t let you.”

“It’s not up to you. Parker knows about us.”

“How?”

“He got Alyson drunk, and she told him everything.”

“You still don’t have to do this.”

“Yes I do.”

“Buffy. . .”

Buffy turned back towards Parker. “Done.”
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Chapter 32

Loft Apartment

“Buffy hurry up or you’re going to be late for class.” Cordelia yelled through the door of her friends room as she gathered the things she needed for the day.

“I’m not going to his classes this week.” Buffy yelled back through.

Cordelia came to a stop in front of the door. “Why?”

Buffy opened the door to face Cordelia. “I just can’t.”

“Buffy. . .”

“Here.” Buffy said as she handed a few things to Cordelia.

“What’s this?” Cordelia asked as she looked down at the papers.

“It’s the two papers that are do this week for class. Will you turn them in for me?”

“Yeah.” Cordelia said while trying to figure out a way to get her friend to come to class.

“Thank you.” Buffy said as she gathered a few of her things into her purse.

“You can’t hide forever.” Cordelia stated knowing that Buffy was trying to do just that.

Buffy turned to face Cordelia. “And I won’t. But for this week. . .I just can’t see him.”

“Next week will only be harder for you. The aftermath and all of the situation is going to get to you and you know it.”

“Next week will be harder, but you can’t change the past.”

“You can change the future though.”

“Not this time.” Buffy stated as she looked around her room to make sure she had everything that she needed.

Cordelia walked over to Buffy and placed a hand on her arm. “I know you’ve made up your mind, and nothing I say will change it. I just want you to think about what you’re doing, what you’re really giving up before you talk with Parker on Wednesday.”

Buffy turned away from Cordelia. “I will.”

‘No you won’t.’ Cordelia thought but didn’t mention. “I’ve got to get going before I’m late.”

Buffy turned back towards Cordelia. “I see you later tonight then.”

“Are you absolutely sure about this?”

“It’s the only way.”

“Alright.”

‘It’s the only way.’ Buffy thought in her head as she watched her friend head off to class as she headed for her car.

*****

Lecture Hall-Professor Winthrop’s Class

Spike turned to face his class as he leaned against the desk in the front of the large room filled with chatting students. “I have an announcement to make before we start class today.” As the room quieted down hetinutinued to speak. “I know that you all have mid-terms coming up in a couple of weeks, and because this is a freshman class these will be your first college mid-terms. You’re all probably a little on edge about this so I have made an important decision.” Spike handed a stack of papers to one of his T.A.’s to pass out to the class. “Next week you will only have class on Monday as you can see from the schedule that my T.A. is passing out at the moment. You will also see that the actual week of the mid-terms we will not meet.”

Spike took the extra copies and placed them on his desk before turning back to his students. “I expect all of you to be here for the class the following week however, and I also suggest that you be ready to take a quiz over the material that will be coved this week and next Monday. Does anyone have any questions about this?”

After a few moments of silence Spike continued to speak. “Alright. Let’s begin class.”

*****

Few Hours Later

“Professor Winthrop?”

“What can I do for you Ms. Chase?” Spike asked as he turned in the direction that Cordelia was standing.

Cordelia held out the papers Buffy had given her earlier. “Buffy asked that I turn today’s and Wednesday’s papers into you.”

“And way is Ms. Summers not turning them into me herself?”

“She won’t be back in class until next Monday.”

Spike looked down for a moment, then back up towards Cordelia. “Buffy’s going through with this isn’t she?”

Cordelia nodded her head yes. “She said that you can’t change the past.”

“What do you mean?”

“She told me that she couldn’t see you before any of this actually happens. I told her that it’s only going to be harder for her next week. That’s when she said that it would be, but you can’t change the past.”

“Why would she do this?” Spike asked.

“Why would you?” Cordelia asked back.

“It’s the only way.”

“The two of you were meant for each other.”

“When?”

Cordelia looked at Spike for a moment knowing full and well what it was he was asking. “I don’t know. Buffy’s suppose to talk with Parker on Wednesday to set everything up.”

“Is she meeting with him?”

“No. He’s said that he would call her.”

“Oh. . .”

“What about you?”

“Friday. Ms. Wilkins made an appointment with my secretary for this afternoon. I’ll find out than I s’pose.”

“What ever Faith may say to you or Buffy, this isn’t about getting Riley back anymore. This is about how much pain she can inflect on Buffy. She knows you’re the key to doing that.”

“Buffy has feelings for Mr. Finn, I could tell when Faith first told Buffy what she wanted.”

“You’re right, Buffy does have feelings for Riley in more than just a friend kinda way.” Cordelia stepped closer towards Spike and looked him directly in the eyes. “There nothing compared to how she still feels about you.”

“Am I interrupting something?”

“Drusilla. . .” Spike said as he and Cordelia stepped away from one another. “Ms. Chase could you. . .”

Cordelia looked towards Drusilla then back to Spike. “Of course. Here are the. . .”

“Right.” Spike said as he took Buffy’s homework from Cordelia. “Thank you.”

“Goodbye.” Cordelia gathered her things and headed towards the door giving Drusilla a somewhat dirty look. “Mrs. Winthrop.”
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Chapter 33

Carter, Deacon, and Spike’s Apartment

KNOCK-KNOCK

Carter walked over and opened the door. “Buffy?”

Buffy looked up into Carter’s eyes. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.” He said as he moved aside in order to allow her room to pass. “Is something wrong?”

“Is Deacon here?” Buffy asked as she looked around the apartment she once loved to be in so much.

“Um, no he’s not. Buffy what’s going on?” Carter asked as he moved over towards Buffy.

“Did Alyson call him?”

“Yeah, he went to L.A. Sunday afternoon. Buffy will you tell me what has you so worked up?”

“Parker’s in town.”

“So?” Carter asked not really knowing who Parker was.

“He knows about the affair.”

“Who is he, and how does he know?”

“Parker is the guy I was dating before Alyson introduced me to you guys. We were together for a little over three years, and we had a bad really bad breakup.”

“Buffy. . .”

“He found out about the affair from Alyson.”

“So that’s way Deacon left.”

“If she called I’m guessing that would get him there.”

“What did he do?”

Buffy looked up into Carter’s eyes. “Parker just told me that she had to much to drink and she talked. I don’t know what he fully did to her, but I have a pretty good idea.”

“Is she okay?” Carter asked as he sat down next to Buffy on the couch.

“I really don’t know. I tried calling her but she kept hanging up on me. If she call Deacon, I’m guessing it’s on the side of bad.”

Carter pulled Buffy into a hug and ran his hand through her hair. Buffy moved her head into the crook of his neck and closed her eyes allowing Carter’s touch to relax her. A grin spread across his face at just how much Buffy really trusted him.

“Would you like it if I called Deacon and found out what happened with Alyson for you?”

Buffy nodded her head yes never opening her eyes, moaning a little when Carter moved away to make his phone call.

“Thank you.” Buffy whispered as she snuggled up into a ball.

“No problem.” Carter whispered back as he kissed her on the forehead. “I’llrighright back.”

**** Los Los Angeles-Alyson’s Dorm

“Can I get you anything else?” Deacon asked as he placed a quilt over Alyson’s body.

“No, this is fine. Thank you.” Alyson said as she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

“Are you su. . .” Before Deacon could finish his question his cell phone stared to ring. Deacon moved away from Alyson and towards the door. “I’ll be in the hallway if you need me.”

“Okay.”

Once in the hallway Deacon answered his phone. “Hello?”

“. . .”

“Carter. What can I do for you.”

“. . .”

“She is?”

“. . .”

“I don’t know why she wouldn’t take Buffy’s calls.”

“. . .”

“She’s not hurt physically.”

“. . .”

“No, I don’t think that she blames Buffy.”

“. . .”

“Yeah. Alright.”

“. . .”

“I’ll talk with you later. Bye.”

Deacon walked back into the room where Alyson was now sitting up in her bed.

“Who was that?”

“Carter.”

“What did he want?”

“He was calling for Buffy.”

“Oh. . .I didn’t realize that the two of them were still close.”

“Why don’t you want to talk to her?”

“I don’t want her to have to go through any of this again.”

“Parker’s in Sunnydale.”

“He’s going to use what happened here against her, and because she’s my friend she’s going to let him do what ever he wants.”

“I think you should call her, let her know your side of things.”

“She’s going to want to know if I blame her for this.”

“Do you?”

“No, but she will. No matter what I say.”


*****

Lecture Hall

“So. . .”

“You lied to me, again.”

Spike ran a hand through his hair for the hundredth time since Dru had shown up. “Nothing has happened between us.”

“You knew that she was on this campus. In my class room, in yours.” Dru yelled.

“She’s just a student.” Spike yelled back.

“Who you’ve had sex with Spike.”

“It’s the past. Why can’t you just let it go?” Spike asked in a lower voice as he stepped closer towards Dru.

Drusilla stepped away from Spike. “Cause you’re still in love with her.”
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Chapter 34

Carter, Deacon, and Spike’s Apartment

“What did he say?” Buffy asked sitting up as Carter walked back into the room.

Carter joined Buffy back on the couch. “Alyson wasn’t hurt physically, but. . .”

Buffy looked down at the floor. “Emotionally she is. . .”

“Yeah.”

Buffy turned back towards Carter. “Did Deacon tell you why she wouldn’t talk with me?”

Carter nodded. “Buffy this is going to be hard for you to hear.”

Tears began to form in her eyes. “Alyson blames me, doesn’t she?”

Carter pulled Buffy into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”

Buffy just clung to Carter as the tears fell freely down her face.

After a few moments Buffy pulled away from Carter and stood up from the couch. “I need to get out of here.”

“Where are you going?” Carter asked as he stood as well.

“I’m going to go from a drive.” Buffy said as she looked for where she put her car keys and purse at.

Carter walked over towards Buffy and turned her to face him. “Buffy I don’t think you should be driving right now when you feel this way.”

“I just need to clear my head.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, I’ll be fine alone.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Buffy said as she walked out the door.

*****

Lecture Hall

“So what do we do now?” Spike asked.

“I’ll come by the house later and get some of my things and stay at my Father’s for a while.”

“No. You stay at the house, I’ll move back into the apartment with Carter and Deacon.”

“Alright.” Drusilla nodded as she looked away from Spike trying to hide the smile forming on her face.

“I’ll pick up some of my stuff around seven if that’s alright with you.”

“It’s fine.”

Drusilla started to head for the door stopping when Spike called out her name. She slowly turned back towards him knowing what it was that he wanted to know before saying a single word. “Just for a few weeks, okay? I need some more time to think about everything.”

Spike nodded his head in agreement. “Fine. I’ll just be a call away if you need anything.”

“I know you will.” Drusilla looked over to the clock hanging on the wall above Spike’s desk. “I have a class soon. I need to go.”

“We’ll talk later?”

“When you come by the house.”

“Right. Have a good class then.”

After Drusilla was out of the room Spike screamed at the top of his lungs.

“DAMNIT!”

*****

Hallway

Drusilla pulled out her cell phone getting ready to make a call when it began to ring.

“Hello.”

“. . .”

“What news do you have for me?”

“. . .”

“A new player in town? What’s their name?”

“. . .”

“Parker?”

“. . .”

“What are his plans?”

“. . .”

“Prefect.”

“. . .”

“Oh. Spike will be moving in with you for a few weeks.”

“. . .”

“Keep me updated.”

“. . .”

“Goodbye.”

Drusilla closed her cell phone and headed towards her classroom. ‘A new player in town. This should work out well.’

*****

Professor Winthrop’s Office

As Spike walked through the door his older secretary greeted him. “There’s a young woman waiting for you inside your office. I hope you don’t mind that I left her alone in there.”

“Of course not Mary-Anne. Thank you.” Spike said as he picked up his mail from her desk.

“Is it alright if I take my lunch break now?” Mary-Anne asked as she put a few papers into the out going box behind her desk.

“Sure.” Spike said placing his hand on the doorknob to his office. “You know what, why don’t you just take the rest of the afternoon off.”

“Really?” Mary-Anne asked somewhat in shock.

“Really. I’ll just be grading papers all afternoon, no reason for us to both to suffer through the pain of my students not really knowing anything that they write ‘bout.”

Mary-Anne quickly grabbed her things and headed for the door leading to the hallway. “Thank you Professor Winthrop.”

After Mary-Anne was completely gone Spike walked into his office and placed the papers and mail he was holding down onto his desk.

“That was nice of you.” Came from across the room, causing Spike to jump somewhat.

“Buffy!?”

Buffy stood up from the chair she was sitting in. “I’m sorry to just show up like this. I know you must be very busy, what with grading papers written by your students who know nothing about what their writing.”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Yes you did.”

“Right, I did. What are you doing here?”

“You were expecting someone else I take it.”

“Not really.”

“Let me guess. Faith.”

“NO!” Spike answered a little to fast.

Buffy gave Spike a look telling him she knew he was lying.

“Yes.” Spike said as he looked away from Buffy.

“It’s alright. I know you have an appointment with her later.”

Spike turned to face Buffy again. “How?”

“I have my ways.” Buffy said as she took a seat in the chair behind Spike’s desk.

“And they would be?” Spike asked as he took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

“Mary-Anne told me when I showed up, that’s how I got to wait for you in here. It appears that your secretary doesn’t care for the young Ms. Wilkins that much.”

“Not many people do from what I’ve heard around these parts.”

“Can you blame them?”

“Guess not. Cordelia told me that you didn’t want to see me ‘til afterwards.”

“I didn’t.”

“So why are you here luv?”

Buffy took a deep breath before she began to speak. “Do you remember some of the things that I told you about Parker?”

Spike nodded. “How could I forget? Why do you ask?”

“Alyson called Deacon. He’s in L.A. as we speak.”

“Is she alright?”

“I think I know what happened after Parker got her to talk.”

“The same thing he would do to you after he had to much to drink?” Spike asked remembering the things that Buffy had told him about her relationship with Parker.

“Yes.” Buffy said in a low whisper reliving some of the moments over in her head.

“Have you talked to her?”

“No. When I called her last night she would only hang up on me. I went over to the apartment this morning to see if Deacon was there, that’s when Carter told me that he was in L.A. with Alyson. Carter called Deacon on his cell to find out what was going on for me. After he got off the phone he told me that Alyson wasn’t hurt physically, but that she blames me for what happened to her.”

“Why you?”

“Cause its Parker.” Buffy said as a tear ran down her face.

Spike walked over to Buffy and wrapped his arms around her holding her close to his body. “Buffy I’m so sorry, I know how close you and Alyson were.”

After a few moments Buffy pulled away from Spike just far enough so that she could look into his eyes.

“I don’t think I can go through with this.” She said in a low whisper.

“Then we’ll find another way.” Spike said reassuringly.

“How?”

Spike pulled Buffy back into his arms. “We just will.”

“And what about Faith?”

“We’ll find another way with her as well.”
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Chapter 35

Campus Dorms

KNOCK-KNOCK

“Come in. . .”

“Riley?” Buffy asked as she walked into the seemingly empty dorm room.

“I’ll be right out.” Riley called from inside the private bathroom he and Angel shared.

Buffy was looking around the room when he finally came out.

“Buffy!”

Buffy turned to face Riley. “Hey.”

“What are you doing here? Not that I mind you showing up, cause I don’t. I missed you in class today. I everything alright?”

It took Buffy a few moments to take in everything that Riley had just said, but when she did she began to speak. “I’m fine. I had long weekend and wasn’t really in the mood for class today.”

“Oh. I didn’t see you at the after party at the Loft.”

“I know, I wasn’t really in the party mood. I went to my parent’s after everything happened at The Bronze.”

Riley noticed the way Buffy was looking around the room. “Is something wrong Buffy?”

Buffy sighed before looking back towards Riley. “In a way yes and no. I need to speak with you about a few things.”

Riley walked over to where Buffy was now standing by the windows. “You sound so serious.”

“What I have to say is serious.”

“Alright.” Riley motioned for Angel’s bed. “Why don’t you take a seat?” After Buffy was seated on the bed he took a seat on his own bed across from Angel’s.

Buffy locked eyes with Riley. “First I need to know something. . .”

“What is it?”

“I need to know. . .I need to know what feelings you have towards me.”

“Buffy. . .”

Buffy interrupted Riley before he could finish. “Wait. There’s something that I need you to know first.”

“Okay.”

“Riley I have a past. . .”

“Everyone has a past.” Riley interrupted with a smile on his face not full grasping that what Buffy was trying to tell him was really important.

“Not like mine.” Buffy looked away from Riley before she continued. “I’ve been through, and done things that I’m not proud of.”

Riley placed his hands over hers, which were resting in her lap. This movement caused Buffy to turn her head back towards Riley. “Buffy we’ve all had things happen and done things in our past that we wish we could change. These things shape who we will be.” Riley paused for a moment. “Buffy, your past doesn’t change the way I feel about who you are now.”

Buffy looked at Riley with a small smile on her face. “And how do you feel about me now?”

“That you’re a girl I could fall in love with.”

Buffy pulled away from Riley and moved away from the beds. “You don’t want to fall in love with me Riley. I’ll only hurt you in the end.”

Riley walked over towards Buffy. “Maybe you will, but I’m willing to give it a try.”

“Riley. . .”

Riley lightly placing his lips over hers in a slow and sweet kiss interrupted Buffy.

*****

Professor Winthrop’s Office

KNOCK-KNOCK

“ ‘S open. . .” Spike answered putting a mark on the paper he was reading to know where he stopped at.

“Professor Winthrop.”

Spike looked up from his desk. “Ms. Wilkins.”

“Not happy to see me?” Faith asked as she closed the door to the office behind her.

“Reason I should be?” Spike asked back.

“Guess not.”

“What’s the plan?”

“Right to the point, I like that in a man.” Faith said as she took a seat in front of Spike.

“I’m taken.”

“By more than one woman.”

Spike clenched his jaw. “The reason you’re here Ms. Wilkins.”

“Friday night at The Sunnydale Inn, room 213.”

“What time?”

“7:30”

Spike nodded his head. “Fine.” He then went back to his grading, noticing that Faith was still sitting across from him he looked back up. “You can go now.”

“There’s one more part to the deal.”

“What?”

“You have to stay the whole night.”

“Get out.” Spike said as he looked back down at the paper.

“Answer please?”

Spike looked up again. “Friday night, The Sunnydale Inn, room 213 at 7:30, the whole night. Did I miss anything?”

“Not a single thing.” Faith stood and walked towards the door. “See you then.”

Once Faith was out of his office he placed his head in his hands. ‘I hope Buffy understands.’
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Chapter 36

Spike and Dru’s House-7:45pm

Drusilla stood in the doorway of her and her husband’s room as she watched Spike pack his things into a few bags. She had gotten a call from Ms. Wilkins telling her that everything was set for Friday night, and a call from Carter telling her that Spike had called to find out if it was all right for him to move back in for a few weeks. She had also talked with the woman who was pregnant with the child she was planning to pass off as her own earlier that day. The woman lived just outside of L.A. and was looking for some quick cash. Once every two weeks Dru would call to check on the baby. Today she found out that everything was going well, and in a few short months she would be able to pass off the baby boy as hers and Spike’s with no trouble at all.

The plan for how the baby was going to be born and made to look like Dru’s was all worked out as well. Dru would be going out of town with her Father for a shopping trip the weekend that the mother would be having a preplanned sea-section at a small hospital. Dru was paying off some off the doctors and nurses there to make it look like she had the baby herself when her husband arrived after getting a phone call from her Father at the hospital a week earlier than she was due.

The time it would take for Spike to get to the hospital from Sunnydale would give them enough time for the baby to have already been born. Causing Spike to miss the delivery of his son. Everything was worked out; now the only thing to do was to wait for the end of December to come.

Spike turned to face his wife once he had finished gathering his things, and everything was packed. “You have the number to the apartment, and my cell phone right?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll call if you need anything, or anything happens?”

“Spike don’t worry so much. Besides my Father is going to stay with me while I take this time to think things out. I won’t be alone, and I will call you if I need anything.”

Spike nodded his head. “Right.”

“I just need some time.”

“I know. I’d better get going then.” Spike said as he walked towards the door stopping in front of Dru. “I love you.”

And with that he was gone, leaving Dru with a grin on her face. ‘This is so much fun.’

*****

Loft Apartment

As Buffy walked through the door and into the apartment she came face to face with her four roommates all sitting in the living room.

“Where have you been?” Cordelia demanded.

“I was at Riley’s. Why?”

“Buffy we think it only far that you tell us what’s going on.” Anya stated.

“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” Buffy asked as she stood in front of everyone.

“I’d like to know why Tara and I were ordered out of our home last night?” Willow asked.

“And I’d like to know why it is that every time you’re talking with Cordy and one of us walk into the room the two of you quite down immediately.” Anya demanded. “I thought I was your friend too.”

“Anya you are my friend.”

“Then why?”

“Cordy and my talking have nothing to do with you guys in any way. And for me asking you and Tara to leave last night I had a good reason for doing so.”

“Buffy that’s the problem, it my be a good reason but we have a right to know why we are being kicked out of our home.” Willow said in a slightly angry voice.

“Cordy do you have anything to say?” Buffy asked looking somewhat hurt by being attacked when she just got home.

“No. I just wanted to know where you were all afternoon. I was worried.” Cordelia stated.

“I’m fine. Really.”

“Are you going through with the plan?” Cordy asked knowing that the others wouldn’t know what she was talking about.

Buffy simply nodded her head yes before taking a seat across from Willow, Anya, and Tara who where on the couch.

“What plan?” Anya asked.

“That’s none of your business.” Cordelia told Anya.

“But it’s yours?” Anya bit back.

“Yes.” Cordelia simply stated back.

“Fine.” Anya said as she stood up. “If you need me for any reason I’ll be at Xander’s for the rest of the week.

Willow also stood up. “The same goes for me. If you need me you’ll be able to fine me at Oz’s.”

Tara was the only one who was still seated on the couch.

“What about you?” Buffy asked.

Tara stood up. “I’ll still be here, but I have to start studying for my mid-terms so I’ll be out late most of this and next week.” Tara started to walk towards her room but stopped and turned back to face Buffy. “He’s going through with it, just like you are.”

Tara left leaving both Buffy and Cordelia in shock as to what she had just said.
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Chapter 37

Carter, Deacon, and Spike’s Apartment

There was a light tapping on the door causing Carter to wake up from where he was napping on the couch after he had got Spike moved back into his old room. Carter walked over towards the door and opened it to reveal a dripping wet Buffy standing just outside.

“I didn’t know it was raining outside.” Carter stated as he moved to the side to allow Buffy in for the second time that day.

“It just started when I got out of my car. I think it was a sign telling me to turn around and go back home.” Buffy stated while trying to wring out her soaked shirt.

Carter notices the movement and walked her towards the bathroom door. “There are a few towels in there for you to dry off with. I’ll just go get you something less soaked for you to change into.”

“Thank you.” Buffy said before closing the door and pilling off her wet clothing.

A few moments later Buffy was free of her wet clothing and wrapped in an oversized fluffy towel that had been hanging on the towel rack behind the door. Buffy was running a brush she had found through her hair when there was a light knocking sound on the door.

Buffy opened the door all the way and placed the brush back down on the counter.

Carter couldn’t help but to take in the fact that Buffy was only in a towel, which was causing a hardening in his pan“Um.“Um. If you give me your wet clothing I can go put them in the dryer for you.”

Buffy handing Carter the clothes, and tightened the hold she had on the towel after he took them.

“You can find something to wear in my room while I put these in the dryer downstairs.” Carter said as he moved away from the bathroom door.

“Thanks.”

Carter pointed Buffy in the direction of his room and headed for the apartment door grabbing a few quarters on his way out.

Buffy turned on the light to Carter’s room and took a moment to look around. ‘Hasn’t changed much from the last time I was in here.’ Buffy thought as she made her way over to the dresser that she knew he kept his boxers and t-shirts in.

Buffy picked out the smallest white mans shirt that she could fine and a pair of black boxers to wear and placed them on the bed. Buffy pulled on the pair of boxers and rolled them down a few times to help keep them from falling off of her waist and was about to put the shirt on when she heard a noise.

Not giving the thought to the fact that she was topless she turned to face where the noise had come from.

“Spike!” Buffy yelped as she quickly grabbed the shirt and pulled it in front of her.

“What are you doing here?” Spike asked trying to look everywhere but at her.

“I came to talk to Carter.” Buffy stated still holding the shirt in front of her body.

Spike walked into the room and towards Buffy. “Do you usually talk with Carter in his underwear?” Spike asked, as he looked Buffy up and down.

Buffy stepped away from Spike bumping into the bed behind her. “No. When I got here my clothes were soaked from the rain. Carter told me I could wear his until mine were done drying downstairs.”

“Oh.” Spike said as he came to a stop a few inches away from Buffy’s face. “That was nice of him.”

“Spike.” Buffy whispered as he lowered his head towards her capturing her lips with his own in a kiss that started out slow and continued to deepen until both Buffy and Spike had to pull away for some much need air.

“What was that for?” Buffy asked still holding the shirt in front of her.

Spike licked his lips. “Not sure really.”

“Oh.” Buffy stated before dropping the shirt to the floor and wrapping her arms around Spike’s neck pulling him back in for another demanding kiss.

*****

Laundry Room

Once Carter had all of Buffy’s things into the dryer he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Drusilla’s number.

After a few rings she finally pick up.

“Dru, it’s Carter.”

“. . .”

“Buffy just showed up.”

“. . .”

“I don’t know why she came back.”

“. . .”

“No, she doesn’t know that Spike is here.”

“. . .”

“I’m in the laundry room.”

“. . .”

“Buffy get soaked from the rain so I’m putting her things in the dryer for her.”

“. . .”

“I’m letting her wear some of my things.”

“. . .”

“He was asleep when I left.”

“. . .”

“What do you want me to do?”

“. . .”

“I can do that.”

“. . .”

“I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“. . .”

After Dru hung up on her end Carter put the phone back in his pocket and headed back for his apartment.

*****

Apartment- Carter’s Room

Buffy and Spike were so engrossed with each other that they never noticed Carter standing in the doorway of his room.

Spike had himself placed over Buffy’s body on the bed slowly kissing his way down her neck causing her to arch to the feel of him. It had been so long since the two of them had been this close. Sure they had had a few stolen kisses along the way, but none of that compared to how close they were right now.

Spike had removed the shirt he was wearing and tossed it across the room when he had first pushed Buffy down onto the bed. After a few moments he had managed to remove the boxers that Buffy had on. And now the two of them lied together on that bed naked and tangled with one another not caring about a single thing around them.

“Ahem. . .” Came from across the room by the doorway.

“Oh God!” Buffy whispered in a voice so low that she wasn’t even sure she had really said anything as she wrapped the sheet around her body while pushing Spike off of her. “Carter!”

“I’ll just wait in the living room for the two of you.” Carter said while placing Buffy’s newly dried clothes on the dresser, and then backed away from the door trying to keep Buffy from seeing just how hurt he really was.

“Bloody hell.” Spike said running a hand through his hair and climbing out of the bed to put his own clothes back on.

“Is that all you can say?” Buffy asked as she pulled her white tank top over her head and zipped her low-rise jeans.

“What else is there to say?”

“Oh I don’t know, how about something along the lines as how bad you feel about one of your friends walking in on you about to have sex with someone other than your wife in his bed.”

“Not much to say to that.”

“Ugh. Hurry up!” Buffy yelled as she walked out the door.

‘Get timin’ Carter.’ Spike thought as he followed Buffy out of the room.

*****

Living Room

“Carter I am so sorry.” Buffy stated as she walked over towards where Carter was seated.

“Don’t be.” Carter said as he stood up and turned so that his back was facing Buffy.

“Carter. . .” Buffy pleaded.

Carter turned back to face Buffy and now Spike. “I said, Don’t. Be.”

“No need to yell at Buffy for this.”

“I should yell at you then?” Carter questioned.

“You shouldn’t be yelling at anyone Man.” Spike calmly stated.

“I walk into ‘My’ room and see you about to have sex on ‘My’ bed with the woman I’m in love with.” The words ‘in love with’ were out of his mouth before he could stop himself from saying them.

“WHAT!?” Spike yelled.

Carter looked Spike dead in the eyes. “I’m in love with Buffy.”

Spike turned to face Buffy. “Did you know about this?”

Buffy looked between the two men before finally resting her sight on Spike. “Yes.” She stated in a low whisper.

“How long?” Spike asked through a clinched jaw.

“Since over the summer.” Carter added never taking his eyes off of Buffy who couldn’t look at either of the two men.

Spike was over come with the feeling of no longer being able to hold his own weight.

“Spike. . .” Buffy began, but stop as she saw the bleached blonde sink down into the chair he was standing by.

“Have the two of you. . .” Spike asked in a low whisper, regretting the question that had just come out of his mouth.

Buffy gave Carter a pleading look as if asking him to not say anything, but Carter ignored the look and stood up straight before answering Spike’s question. “Yes.”

“Get out.” Spike said never looking up.

“Spike.” Buffy pleaded one more time.

Spike stood up and turned towards Buffy. “Get your stuff, and get out.”

“She doesn’t have to go anywhere. This is my place too.” Carter stated.

Buffy walked over towards the door and grabbed her car keys. “No Carter it’s fine. Spike wants me to get out, than I’ll get out. I have a class with his wife tomorrow anyways.” And with that Buffy was gone, leaving to the two men that loved her behind.
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Chapter 38

Loft Apartment- Tuesday Night

“So what did you find out?” Cordelia asked as she walked into the kitchen where Buffy was standing in front of the stove making pasta.

“I didn’t get a chance to ask him about it.” Buffy said never taking her eyes off the boiling water.

“What do you mean? You were gone until almost three in the morning. How could you have not found out?” Cordelia asked as she took a seat at the small table that was in the kitchen’s corner.

Buffy took the pasta off the stove and drained the water down the sink before placing the cooked pasta into a bowl and setting it in front of Cordelia.

“Other things kinda came up.” Buffy stated as she returned to the table with the marinara sauce.

“What kind of things are we talking about here Buffy?” Cordelia asked as Buffy took a seat across from her.

“What do you think Cordy?”

“You had sex with him?” Cordelia yelled in disbelief.

“No. Carter kind of walked in on us before it got that far.”

“Oh my god! What were you thinking? Wait, I know what you were thinking.”

“You know how it was raining last night?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, when I got over to Carter’s I was soaked. Carter offered to put my clothes in the dryer, and while I waited I could wear something of his.”

“Okay, go on.”

“Anyway, I went into the bathroom to dry off and fix my hair. Carter knocked on the door and I gave him my wet clothes, he told me I could find something to wear in his room while he was down stairs.”

“I don’t see how this leads to you almost havsex sex with Spike.”

“I’m almost there. So, I went into his room and got a pair of boxers and a shirt to put on. I had the boxers on when I heard a noise come from over by the door and without thinking about the fact that I didn’t have a shirt on yet I turned around and there was Spike.”

“Okay. Semi-wet Buffy standing in a man’s bedroom in only a pair of boxers and nothing else, and Spike standing in the doorway of that same room. What happened next?”

“Well, one thing lead to another which lead to both Spike and I naked and in Carter’s bed about to have sex when Carter came back up to the apartment and walked in on us.”

“Wow. What happened next?”

“After Spike and I were both dressed again we went into the living room where Carter was. I tried to tell him that I was sorry about what had happened. He got mad and started to yell at Spike about him walking into his room where Spike was about to have sex with the woman he loves.”

“Wait a minute, Carter loves you?”

“Yeah.” Buffy said in a low voice.

“How did Spike take that?”

“Not well. He asked how long Carter had been in love with me.”

“How long?”

“Carter said since over the summer. Then Spike asked if I had known about this, and I told him that I had.”

“What next?”

“He asked if Carter and I had slept together.”
ve yve you?” Cordelia asked wondering why she didn’t already know the answer.

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Cordy, only three people knew about it before today.”

“Who?”

“Carter and me of course, and Deacon.”

“Deacon?” Cordelia questioned.

“The drummer of the band.” Buffy stated.

“Right. How’d he know?”

“He found us together the next morning.”

“What happened after Spike found out about you and Carter?”

“He told me to get out of the apartment.”

“Really?”

“Actually it was more of an order.”

“So, what happens next?”

“I talk with Parker tomorrow, and I do what ever it takes to keep Spike from losing his job here.”

“You’re really going through with this?”

“I have to.”
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Chapter 39

Wednesday Afternoon-The Espresso Pump

“You’re ten minutes late.” Parker stated as Buffy took a seat across from him.

“You’re lucky I came at all.” Buffy said before turning to the waitress. “I’ll have a tall Iced Mocha, with extra wiped cream.”

“That’ll be about five minutes.” The waitress stated.

“Thank you.” Buffy said before turning back to face Parker. “So?”

“So?”

“Don’t play dumb with me Parker. We both know the only reason I’m here is to make this deal.”

“Alright. I hope you’re free Friday night, lets say eight-ish.”

“Friday night at eight is fine. Where at?”

“You’ve heard of The Sunnydale Inn?”

“Isn’t that a little rich for you since your Father cut you off after our breakup?”

“Not at all. You’re the one who’s paying for the room.”

“You son-of-a-bitch.” Buffy stated through her fake smile as the waitress placed her drink in front of her.

“Now, now Buffy. Do you know where the hotel is or not?”

“I know where it is.” Buffy bit back.

“Good. It’s room 214.”

“Fine. Anything else I should know?

“Lets see. You know what day, and what time. You also know where and what room number. No I can’t think of anything else you should know.”

“Good, cause I have a class I need to get ready for.” Buffy stated as she stood up grabbing her bag and her drink getting ready to leave Parker at the table to pay the bill.

“Oh, one more thing.” Parker added.

Buffy turned to face Parker again. “What?”

“You have to stay the whole night.”

Buffy just put her fake smile back on her face and turned to leave. ‘I hope you get so drunk one night that you die in your own vomit you cock sucking ass wipe.’

*****

Drusilla’s House

“Dru, how are things today?” Ethan asked as he walked into the room that his daughter wtandtanding in.

“Fine. Why do you ask?”

“I only ask because today and yesterday you had your T.A. teaching your classes, and now you’re in here.” He said motioning his arms around the pale blue room.

“I have to get this room ready for the baby’s arrival.” Drusilla stated as she continued to fold the new baby blankets and clothes that she had bought earlier that week.

“Yes, but shouldn’t you be concentrating on how you are going to get William back?”

“That’s already in motion.”

“You keep saying that, billiilliam is living in another place, and from what you told me last night he is still in contact with the young Ms. Summers.”

Dru turned to face her Father. “Would you like to know how the plan is working?”

“That would be a start.”

“Alright.” Drusilla walked over towards the window seat and sat down. “Come sit.” She said patting the cushion next to her.

After Ethan was seated Drusilla began to talk about the plan. “The main point of the plan is to get ‘My’ Spike back and away from the nasty girl.”

“Yes, I know that much already. What I don’t know is what steps you are taking to make sure that happens.”

“The first part is to make sure that he doesn’t leave me, or think of leaving me again.”

“That’s what the child is for.”

“Yes, but that’s not enough anymore. Buffy has a stronger hold on him then I first thought. I also have to make sure that he no longer wants her.”

“And how are you doing that?” Ethan questioned.

“By making her no longer want him. To remove the temptation that is around Spike. You see, right now Spike is both mad and hurt by what happened between Buffy and Carter. Knowing ‘My’ Spike the way I do though he’ll forgive her for what happened in time. I have to keep that from happening.”

“How’s that?”

“By making Spike do something that Buffy will never be able to forgive him for, ever.”

“This is where Ms. Wilkins comes in?”

“Yes. If what Carter told me is true, Buffy and Faith seem to have an on going hate for one another.”

“And how does this make Ms. Summers no longer want to be with William?” Ethan asked still unsure that his daughter’s plan was actually going to work.

“Spike is going to sleep with Faith to keep her from telling anyone about the affair.”

Ethan looked at Drusilla as if she had lost her mind. “William is going to have sex with this young woman, and you’re okay with this?” Yes.Yes.” Drusilla simply stated.

“By Spike sleeping with Faith, Buffy will never forgive him. Spike will move back in with me and our child, and everything will be the way it was before we moved to this damned country.”

Ethan stood and drew his daughter into a hug. “I really hope this works out for you.”

“It will.” After Ethan left Drusilla turned to look out the window. “It has to.”
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Chapter 40

U.C. Sunnydale Campus

“Mary-Anne, is Professor Winthrop in his office?”

“Yes, who should I tell him is here?” The secretary asked never looking up from the paper work in front of her.

“Ms. Summers.” Buffy stated.

Mary-Anne finally looked up. “Oh! Hello Dear.”

“Hello.”

“What can I do for you?”

“I need to speak with Professor Winthrop.”

“He’s in a rather foul mood today. Maybe you should come back another time Dear.”

“I’d be in a ‘foul’ mood any time that Ms. Summers showed up Mary-Anne.” Spike stated from the doorway of his office.

Buffy turned to face Spike. “I really think that we should talk.”

Spike locked eyes with Buffy. “Let me take a line out of your own vocab. ‘We have nothing to talk about.’”

“Yes we do.” Buffy stated, trying really hard not to yell at Spike with Mary-Anne in the room.

Spike turned to face his secretary. “Mary-Anne, would you be so kind as to show Ms. Summers out, and make sure that she doesn’t come back in the future.”

Mary-Anne rose from her seat. “Yes Professor Winthrop.”

“Damnit Spike, just talk to me.” Buffy pleaded.

“Ms. Summers.” Mary-Anne called.

“Spike.” Buffy yelled as he walked back into his office and closed the door behind him.

Mary-Anne placed one of her hands on Buffy arms and pulled her out of the office and into the hallway. “Ms. Summers, in about ten minutes I will be leaving for my lunch break.”

“Thank you Mary-Anne.” Buffy said full understanding what the secretary was implying.

Mary-Anne walked back into the office where Spike was waiting for her.

“Is she gone?”

“Yes.” Mary-Anne stated as she walked back over towards her desk.

*****

15 Minutes Later

“I thought that you were going to lunch Mary-Anne?” Spike questioned never looking away from the papers that he was reading as he heard the door to his office open and close again.

“She did.”

“What are you doing here?” Spike asked as still looking down at the papers having no need to look up at who was in his office.

“We need to talk.” Buffy stated.

Spike stood up from his chair and walked around his desk and towards the door that Buffy was still standing by. “Like hell we do.” He yelled as he placed a hand on the doorknob.

“Don’t bother, it’s locked from the outside.”

Spike removed his hand from the knob and turned towards Buffy. “Then unlock it.”

“Can’t.” Buffy simply stated with a small smile on her face.

“Why not?” He yelled.

“What part of ‘locked from the outside’ didn’t you understand? Was it the ‘locked’ or the ‘outside’ part?” Buffy questioned with a rather sarcastic tone to her voice.

“How are you planning on getting out then?” Spike asked with an equally sarcastic tone, thinking that he had stumped her in some way.

Buffy smiled at Spike. “Mary-Anne will be back to unlock the door for me in about an hour. But until then, you and I can talk about a few things.”

“Why do you want to talk so badly?”

“Because you need to know all the facts.”

“I already do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“What more is there to know about this? You slept with Carter; he’s in love with you. You always run to him when something goes wrong.”

“If I always run to him it’s only because that he’s always been there for me in the past.”

“Are you saying that I wasn’t?”

“No. Not when it matter the most.”

“Dru. . .” Spike whispered.

Buffy turned away from Spike. “That was the night I slept with him. It hasn’t happened after that night, we’re just friends. He knows that.”

Spike turned Buffy around. “He loves you.”

“But I don’t love him.”

“Do you love Riley?”

Buffy looked at Spike in totally shock. “What does he have to do with any of this?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know, or you don’t want to tell me?”

“Honestly? I don’t want to tell you.”

“Buffy.”

“I have feelings for him, very strong feelings.”

“Do. You. Love. Him?”

“It doesn’t matter if I do or don’t. Faith wants him back, and in order to keep our affair out of the public life Faith is going to get what exactly what she wants.”

“What if I talk Faith out of wanting Riley back?”

“What!?”

“Hear me out first.” Spike pleaded with Buffy.

“No!” Buffy yelled back. “You can’t talk your way out of anything. There’s only one way that you get what you want.”

“And what’s that?” Spike questioned already knowing what she was going to say.

“Your sex appeal.” Buffy stated.

“That’s not true.” Spike said, even though he knew that it really was.

“Really? Did you want me?”

“Stio.” o.”

Buffy ignored the last comment and continued on with her path of words. “And you used your sex appeal to get me.”

Spike nodded his head. “S’pose I did. That so wrong?”

“No, I just don’t want you to use it on Faith.”

“Buffy. . .” Spike said as he reached for her.

“I’ll give up Riley.” Buffy stated as she walked into Spike’s opened arms.

“It’s not that easy.”

“I’ll make it that easy then.”

“I still have to do this.”

Buffy pulled herself free of Spike. “What about ‘we’ll find another way’?”

“This is the only way.” Spike said as Buffy turned away from him. “Buffy…” He pulled her to face him. “This is the only way.”

Buffy looked up towards Spike. “I know this has to be done. I just wish that it wasn’t Faith.”

“We’ll get through this.” Spike stated as he ran his hand through her long hair.

“You don’t know that.”

“I have to believe it.”

Buffy pulled away from Spike again. “Okay, we get through this. You still go back to Drusilla when all is said an done.”

“She’s my wife.”

“And the soon-to-be mother of your child.”

“What do you want from me?” Spike asked as he ran a hand through his own hair.

Buffy turned away from Spike and headed towards the door.thinthing. . .” She stopped and turned back to face Spike. “And everything. That’s the problem.”

Spike walked back towards Buffy. “Luv. . .”

“What time is it?” Buffy asked out of the blue.

“What!?”

“I have a class later.”

“Oh.” Spike looked down at his watch. “It’s a quarter past two.”

“I’ve got to go.” Buffy stated as she walked back towards the door.

“You can’t, Mary-Anne isn’t back yet.”

Buffy opened the door and turned back towards Spike. “It was never really locked.”
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