Chapter 11
Spike pulled up in the circular drive of the O’Shea mansion and stepped out to jog around to Buffy’s side. Beating the attendant, Spike offered her his arm as she stepped from the vehicle before tossing the keys to the man and guiding her up the steps, into the entrance hall of the house. Buffy swallowed hard at the interior of the house, looking around the huge foyer that merged into a grand ballroom to her left. She had only been in the O’Shea’s home once, when she was dating Angel, and since he had his own apartment, and that was a brief visit. She felt vastly overwhelmed in the manor.
Spike led her through the throngs of people and into the ballroom where banquet tables were lining the space to her left, complete with hors d’oeuvres and champagne. Straight ahead, and about fifty yards away, was the area reserved for dinner. Buffy looked to her right and noticed the open marble floor where couples were already dancing to the live band. The back wall to the right was covered in windows, along with several sets of open French doors, letting in the cool night air. Beyond that, Buffy could barely make out the outlines of a large patio and garden.
“Wow,” said Dawn, coming up behind the two of them. “I thought this was supposed to be an intimate dinner party.”
Giles and Joyce joined them, too, as Spike chuckled. “Try intimate gala.”
“Yes,” said Giles. “The O’Shea’s often spare no expense when it comes to festivities.”
“Buffy!”
Buffy turned at the sound of her name and saw Angel making his way over to her.
“Hi,” she said with a giggle as Angel reached her and lifted her up into a hug. Buffy caught Spike’s glowering look as he planted a kiss on her cheek but decided to ignore it.
“I missed you guys,” Angel continued as he made his way over to greet Joyce and Dawn. “I wanted all of you to meet someone.” Turning, Angel gestured to a pretty, petite blonde woman to join them. “Everyone, this is Darla Mason. Darla, this is Joyce and Dawn Summers, Rupert Giles, Spike, and this is Buffy.”
Darla offered a shy smile to everyone and gave the group a little nod.
“Now, if you all will excuse me, I believe Buffy owes me a dance.”
Buffy shot a slightly nervous look at Spike and realized he wasn’t making eye contact with her, so she tentatively took the arm Angel offered and let him lead her out to the dance floor. Once she was encircled by his arms, Buffy gave him a questioning look.
“I know, I know, it wasn’t the stealthiest move to get you alone, but I wanted to see how you were doing? I haven’t gotten a chance to really talk to you since…it happened.”
Buffy sighed heavily before nodding. “I’m doing okay. I think we’re working through it, and Spike really seems to be making an effort, so we’ll just see where it takes us.”
“He really wasn’t in a right frame of mind, Buff. I know you don’t want to hear one of his friends stick up for him, but he was miserable without you. He never stopped loving you…just tried to drink the pain away, and it led to some less than favorable things. Oz talked to me about it, and we never wanted you to have to see anything. We just felt that you deserved to know.”
“Thank you, Angel. You did the right thing. I mean, it’s not like I’m jumping up and down because of it, but I’m healing. Yeah, I wish that it had never happened, but maybe it was supposed to,” she continued, looking over at Spike, who was staring at her intently. “Maybe we needed it to get where we are now, you know? To not confuse puppy love with true love.”
* * * * *
Spike stood to the side of the dance floor, staring at the couple, wrapped in each other’s arms.
“You really love her, don’t you?”
Spike turned to the side and saw Darla standing next to him, staring at the couple. “Yeah…I really do.”
“She’s been hurt.”
Spike looked at her questioningly as she continued. “You can just tell. The way she looks at you- there’s a lot of pain there, but there’s love, too.” Turning away from the dance floor, Darla gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “Don’t give up.”
Spike stood alone, staring at the woman he loved, and caught the glance she sent his way. He frowned when he saw a dark-haired man cut in on Angel and wrap Buffy in his arms a little too securely for his liking. Spike slowly made his way around the perimeter of the dance floor until he was standing close to the French doors at the back of the room. Satisfied that he was closer to the couple, he kept a wary eye on the man and nearly growled when he saw his hand drift a little bit lower towards the swell of her buttocks.
* * * * *
Buffy let out an irritated sigh as she saw Parker Abrams cut in on Angel. She definitely did not want to dance with him, but she kept an impassive face as he wrapped her tightly in his arms. Buffy strained against him as he continued his somewhat discreet groping and let out a groan as he began talking about himself. After a minute, she felt his hand drift lower and waited for the motive to give him a good swift kick, but unfortunately, the opportunity never came.
“So, Buffy, when are we going to go out again?”
“Hmmm…try never,” she said with a faux bright smile on her face.
“Come on, Buff, I know you felt it. You feel it now, when I’m pressed so close to you.”
“Are you just trying to test my gag reflex, Parker?”
“Don’t play coy, baby. You want it just as much as I do.”
Buffy stood in shock as his lips began to attack hers in a sloppy kiss. After a few seconds of astonishment, Buffy roughly shoved him away, kicking him firmly in the shin as she did so.
“Don’t you ever try that again, Abrams, or you’ll see how much I really do want it!” With another swift kick, Buffy rushed off the dance floor, leaving a bruised Parker behind her.