Here and Now

Sorry, but I just don't like it in stories when Buffy and Spike hook up so easily. It wasn't like that on the show, and I believe in challenges. So, there it is. I hope you all continue reading and reviewing.


Buffy fled down the stairs as fast as she could. Fuck! That never happened before! How could she possibly make a guy lose an erection? What the hell was wrong with her? All that little scene did was bring up past uglies of how she wasn't good enough. Stupid Parker. Stupid bleached idiot. Maybe Lilah was wrong. Maybe that Spike guy really *was* gay.

When she got to the table, she was introduced to some chick named Anya and the infamous Giles.e, we, what a stellar guest list* she thought ruefully. Where the hell was Faith? She desperately needed to get her mind off of her current misfortune.

"Hey, did anything happen between you and the hottie?" Cordelia whispered to her.

"Nuh uh. I never kiss and tell." She whispered back before taking a large gulp of her drink. As the raspberry Smirnoff burned her throat, she began to feel much, much better. Just then, thorbeorbell rang once again. By then, Lilah had dropped the facade of false cheerfulness, muttered an "oh, hell" and went to answer the door. As Lilah left, Spike entered. He tried to glance at Buffy, but she quickly turned her head and took another large gulp of her vodka, ignoring Cordelia's subtle protest of slowing down a bit.

"Spike, dear lord are you sick?" His father questioned.

"Yea, you look really flushed. If you are sick, could please sit further away, ya know, from me?" Anya asked.

"I'm fine, really. Just, a little warm is all." He responded noncommittally. Angel, Wes and Xander eyed him warily. They knew that something utterly terrible had happened in the last ten minutes.

Just then, the duo following behind Lilah interrupted them from their concerned thoughts.

"Everyone, this is Robin Wood and- " Lilah started.

"Harris, is that you? Hey, it's me, Faith!" She exclaimed. Xander felt the sudden urge to pass out just then. Instead he looked at his loving wife and smiled tryingly at her confused expression.

**********

Xander was completely thunderstruck. Just the thought of sitting there with his first love, his wife, his Willow while his first screw was right across from them, Xander felt his body break out into one of those anxiety sweats while his right eye twitched every time he heard her name. He hoped no one would notice.

"Wow Xander, Red. You two got hitched, huh?" Faith asked casually as she glanced at Willow's ring.

"Yep. Right after high school. We have a son, Jesse." Willow replied.

"Well congrats and all that. Really. But how'd you manage to make him commit? I've got a lotta trouble with this one over here." Faith said as she smiled happily at Robin.

"Well, ya know guys. They're like VCRs. They just flash zero till ya program em'." Willow said thoughtfully, getting a chuckle out of all of the females.

***************

Soon after, everyone more or less broke off into their own private conversations.

"Well, Wes. Do you like it?" Giles asked enthusiastically as Wes eyed the glass ball.

"Is it some type of orb?" Wes asked cautiously.

"Bloody hell. It's a new age paperweight. I thought a businessman like yourself would appreciate it." Giles said irritably.

"Yes. We put much thought behind this gift. We got a great deal from Thesula Inc. They specialize in stuff like this." Anya added.

"I do appreciate it. Very much. Thank you." Wes said with a trying smile. *God, only a couple of hours left of unbelievable, social torment.* Wes thought.

****************

"Hey, you're awfully quiet. Uh, Angel right?" Cordy asked.

"Oh, uh, just not much for the talking." Angel said, not really looking at her.

"Yeah. I noticed. You're treating everyone like we've all got a bad case of BO" She said jokingly.

"No, no. I just... I'm not much of a people person lately. It's nothing personal." Angel replied, finally looking at her.

"Bad break up?" She asked, genuinely curious.

"No, not- my wife died." He surprisingly blurted out.

"Oh, god. I'm so sorry. I didn't-"

"It's okay. It was some time ago. It's just... I miss her, ya know?"

"Yeah. Not personally, but I understand where you're coming from. A few years back, I lost a close friend of mine, Doyle. The pain never completely goes away."

"I suppose it will one day. Itjustjust that, all of the little things around you are like a constant reminder."

"I don't mean to be um, coming on too strongly or anything. But I was wondering if you liked to go out sometime? It's just, you seem like an interesting person to get to know." Angel thought about it, but wasn't really sure it'd be worth the trouble. But, if she passed "the test," then he figured why not.

"Well sure. How bout we go out to the park or something? You could meet my son." He said, watching her reaction closely. She looked a little shocked, but not disgusted or put off in the least.

"Sure! That sounds nice. What's his name?"

"Connor. His name is Connor." Angel was truly stunned. Usually when he mentioned his son, a woman would go running for the hills, which he didn't mind. But maybe this Cordelia was different.

***************

"Hey Xander. How's it hangin'?" Faith asked coyly, eyeing his crotch. She waited until he was alone by the cooler.

"Hah!" He replied with a surprised yelp. "Long time, no see. Not that I want to see, ya know, 'things' again." He said, using his hands for emphasis.

"Hey, chill." I take it Wills doesn't know bout our one time tryst, huh?" She said with a grin.

"No. No she doesn't know. In fact, I was actually planning on her knowing in, oh say... Never."

"Yeah. I get it. It's not like I'd bring something like that up anyway at random. Besides, my man is here. I promise to not be scandalous. Well, with you anyway." She said as she looked fondly at Robin, who was currently talking animatedly with Willow about schools or something.

"Thanks. But, it was nice seeing you again. Even better with the clothes." He said with a small smile.

"You too, Harris. See ya around."

**************

Spike watched as Lilah and Buffy talked on, and he found himself mesmerized by the feisty blond. He felt like such a wanker earlier, and finally he couldn't take it anymore. He just had to talk to her again.

"Uh, Lilah, Buffy. Look, um, I was wonderin' if we could go out on what some people would call a 'date,' but I'd just like to think of as two people going out to eat dinner with conversation, that's not too personal in a well lit environment and shaking hands the most, possible contact. What do you think." Spike asked, totally nervous and (gasps) fidgety. Well, you can take the ponce out of his nancy boy clothing, but...

"Gee... eating, talking, and shaking hands. Sorry, but I'm already involved with Lilah." Buffy said jokingly. Lilah just looked back and forth between the two.

"Well, Buffy, darling, it's totally alright with me if you see other people." Lilah joined in. Spike pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to stave off an intense migraine.

"S'okay. I understand." He said as he began to back away.

"Wait, Spike. I was just kidding around. I'd like to go out with you and do that whole 'talking' thing of which you speak." Buffy said with a warm smile. She was curious about him and wanted to see what made him tick. Or maybe it was just the alcohol working on her brain. She usually wasn't one of giving second chances.


TBC