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Shanna
shannalynn9064@yahoo.com
Buffy held tight to the door handle, as Anya wove in and out of four lanes of freeway traffic. She closed her eyes and prayed that they would make it to LA in once piece. She then gritted her teeth together as Anya started another rollicking chorus of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall".
"An, hon," Xander said with a sickly smile, "don't you want to sing a different song? You've already sung that one twice now."
"It's tradition. A traditional road trip song. I read it somewhere," she explained slowly, as if to a young child. "You must sing this ridiculous song while driving to a strange destination. It's like eating popcorn at a movie or girls braiding each others hair at a slumber party. Tradition."
"There are lots of road trip traditions, honey. Why don't we try another one. I think you've got the song down pat."
"Well," she glanced at him doubtfully, "what kinds of other traditions?"
"Well, you play a game to see who can see the most license plates from different states."
Buffy glared daggers at Xander for suggesting the hated game, and he quickly dove in with another offering. "Or, we can play Twenty Questions."
"Twenty Questions? How do you play that?"
Buffy banged her head off the window, then gripped the door handle tighter and squealed as Anya cut off another car while whipping into a different lane.
***********************************************
For he's a jolly good vampire!
For he's a jolly good vampire!
For he's a jolly good vampiiiiiiire!
Whose soul can't be taken away.
There was a round of applause as Angel took a deep breath and blew out the candles on the cake Cordy was holding. He actually looked sheepish as he waved his thanks to his friends and comrades and a multitude of people, humans and demons alike, that he had helped since his arrival in LA.
"Thanks for coming everyone. I can't tell you how much it means to me to be celebrating this day finally." He paused for a moment, and Willow thought he was slipping into a brood momentarily, but he looked up smiling. "I can finally live the rest of my days without fear that I'll wind up hurting someone, one of my friends. I have a chance to be happy and don't have to worry about the consequences. That's all anyone can ask for. Willow," he said, his eyes turning her way, "I don't know how to thank you. I'll spend eternity in your debt, Little One. Not that that's a bad place to be." He waggled his eyebrows at her, a devilish glint entering his chocolate brown eyes.
Willow blushed and returned his grin. The last few days had been wonderful. They had truly put his soul to the test. It seemed that every minute not spent preparing for the party or working on a case found her in bed with one or both of her vampires. She wasn't sure, but she thought some of their stamina must have been magically transferred to her because she just couldn't seem to touch them enough. It might be something she would have to research after the party. Right now, though, her eyes were locked with her dark lover's. The heat from them seemed to burn her from the inside out.
She broke eye contact and turned to gather some plates and forks. Cordy had begun to cut the cake. A full sheet cake had been ordered, and an airbrushed angel floating on a cloud decorated the top. Cordy had gone all out for the party. Willow went into auto mode, gathering the plates and a handful of plastic forks. She began handing out the slices to the other guests while her mind raced.
They still hadn't asked her to stay. Did they not want her to remain in LA? Did they just assume that she would? Would Spike return to Sunnydale or stay with Angel? Would she be alone? She was torn between feeling hurt and angry. What did they want from her? Did they want her at all, or was she simply convenient? Her emotions were in an uproar and her tummy in a knot. The time was growing closer, and soon they would know how to reverse the effects of the villnavon's bite. Not everything had been translated yet, but that was the latest scoop Wesley had received from his friend yesterday. They knew she was going to be cured, and still not one word from her two vampires.
She slammed down the plates, and walked away from the table. Her mind was in full babble mode, and she knew she was moving from one tangent to another without fully delving into rational thinking. She couldn't help it. She had gone and fallen in love with not one, but two vampires, and they didn't seem to be willing to even suggest a future with her. Had she been stupid? Had it all been a game? She wasn't thinking straight, she knew. Her emotions and her old insecurities were lunging up from the depths where she had buried them to grip her heart and mind again.
Thoughts filled her head that she had heard throughout her life. She wasn't good enough. She wasn't pretty enough. What the hell was she wearing? What a loser. Who would want her? Tears filled her eyes as she peered out the front door into the night.
She didn't see his reflection, but cool firm hands rested on her shoulders. Willow closed her eyes and inhaled. Leather and cigarettes. Spike. She remained stiff for a moment, but then his lips softly kissed her neck, and she leaned back against his chest. Arms wrapped around her waist, and his lips moved softly against her ear as he whispered to her.
"Here, now, Red. Why is it I'm smellin' tears? Somebody here say somethin' to upset you? If it's a demon, I'll rip its head off. If it's human, we can always sic Peaches on 'em. Talk to Spikey, luv. Tell him how to make it all better."
She wouldn't beg. She wouldn't appear weak and needy to them. If they wanted her to stay, they could ask. She wouldn't grovel at their undead feet. So she lied.
"I'm just happy that Angel can finally be. . .happy. I worried about him after he came back from hell, and especially after he came to LA. I'm just glad his soul can't go poof anymore."
"Uh-huh. Riiiiight," Spike said slowly. His tone reflected his disbelief, but he didn't probe deeper. Her heart was pounding against his lips, where he nuzzled her neck. Spike's hands lightly rubbed her stomach through the thin blue blouse decorated with swirls and stars. She had told him she bought it because it reminded her of his eyes. "You and the cheerleader have been runnin' around all day gettin' ready for this shindig. How are you feelin' pet?"
His tongue traced his claim and she moaned softly, feeling a fluttering below her waist. Darn vampire knew just how to touch her to make her feel things she didn't want to. Her eyes drifted closed as his hands teased the undersides of her breasts. Cool lips pressed against hers in a gentle kiss and her eyes flew open to stare into the heated gaze of Angel. Pressed between the two of them, she didn't stand a chance. She felt her anger drain away, but there was still a hollow ache in her heart that she decided to ignore for the moment.
"Your heart is racing Little One. You're flushed. Come upstairs with us," he murmured against her soft lips.
"But the party," she protested.
"The cheerleader can make some excuse for us," Spike rumbled against her ear. His voice sent tremors running through her body. "We don't have to take that long. If we're missed, too fuckin' bad. I need you, Red."
"So do I, Willow," Angel whispered. He moved closer, trapping her between their firm bodies.
She was lost. "OK," she breathed softly.
They swept upstairs with her, leaving a blushing and stammering Wesley behind in their wake trying to field questions regarding their disappearance. Cordy merely shook her head.
"Kids," she grumbled to herself and rolled her eyes.
************************************************
They had just entered the city limits. Buffy looked up into the starry night through the back window and thanked every god and deity she had ever heard Willow and Giles pray to.
"Is it bigger than a bread box," Xander asked.
"Only if a girl's really lucky. . .ooohhh, or if it belongs to a Cyclops or a Chmorga demon," Anya answered.
"Is it animal, mineral or vegetable," Buffy asked, truly uninterested, but willing to play along, just to ensure she didn't have to listen to that stupid beer bottle song again.
"Definitely animal," Anya smiled at her brightly in the rearview mirror.
"Is it human," Xander asked.
"Some are, but not all. Although my favorite one is." The former demon shot a sultry gaze at her boyfriend.
Buffy was getting a bad feeling about this. "Is it a specific part of a person?"
"Yes, a part."
"Hmmmm, is it their heart?" Xander leaned over and rubbed noses with his girlfriend. She giggled and shook her head no.
Buffy closed her eyes and asked slowly, "Does it start with the letter P?"
Anya looked over the backseat, excitement shining in her eyes. "Yes! Yes! It does!" Xander gripped the wheel and turned it so they didn't plow into the car driving alongside them. He waved an apology to the driver of the other car and was flipped the finger in response.
"Oh God," Buffy cried out in disgust.
"What? What's wrong," Xander asked, returning his attention to the game as Anya relieved him of the steering wheel.
"It's a penis, Xander! She's talking about a freaking penis," Buffy moaned. She slapped her hand against her forehead.
Anya met her eyes in the rearview mirror again. "You're really good at this game, Buffy. You guessed so you get to go next!"
She glared at Xander as he turned from the front seat to shoot an apologetic grin at her. Now, she thought, would a bottle of Excedrin Migraine be considered a mineral?
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