Summary: Buffy is a rich princess type, brought up by millionaire parents who care more for their reputations than for her. She meets Spike, an artist who's happy to work different jobs just to make a few bucks here and there. Of course, Buffy's parents don't exactly approve of their daughter's budding romance...How far will they go to stop them being together? And how far are Buffy and Spike prepared to go to do just that?
Buffy looked into Spike’s eyes. She knew that the panic in them was only caused because of his love for her. She also knew that the misery shining out of her own eyes was caused by the same thing. Love. It was such a powerful force. For all his money and influence, Buffy was sure Hank would never understand the true strength that such a thing created. Right at that moment Buffy decided to draw from the well of power that possessing such an emotion gave her. The tears however were still streaming down her cheeks as she started to speak.
“Spike, there’s something really important that I need to tell you. And all I ask is that you really listen, don’t go off half-cocked because I’m not exaggerating about how serious this is. It involves other people’s lives, ok?”
Spike’s panic seemed to recede and be replaced by confusion and anxiety. “Sure pet, but you better explain it now.” He reached up and gently wiped away the tears that had settled on her face.
“First of all, my dad knows that we’ve been seeing eachother, and he isn’t happy. He wants us to break up. In fact…”
“Tell the bloody ponce to go and get stuffed! What we do is none of his business.” Spike’s outraged shout only seemed to upset Buffy more and she started crying again. Placing both hands gently on his cheeks she pressed a finger softly to his lips, causing him to calm down immediately.
“I know, but he’s making it his business. He says if we stay together your father will lose his job and this house, and you’ll lose everything too. This is what I need you to believe me about – they’re not idle threats. He’ll really do it.”
“Baby, is this why you’re crying? Because you’re going to break up with me?”
Buffy couldn’t answer him. She looked down and curled up into herself even further.
“Love, don’t do this. ’m sorry I shouted before but I really do believe you and I’ll do whatever you ask me to. Just don’t give up on us. I know there’s a way around it. Please, Buffy.” Spike didn’t care that he was practically begging her, all he knew was that he couldn’t lose her.
Her eyes rose and she nodded. “That’s why I told you, so we could work it out together. All I know is that I’ll just die if anything happens to Giles because of me. I’m sure that rat Snyder is in Hank’s pocket, and he’d be happy to get rid of him in a second.”
“Honey, I know it seems impossible right now. We need more time to figure it out. I’ll do anything, I swear. I meant what I said before Buffy, when you’ve got love, you’ve got everything. If this were just some fling it wouldn’t matter, and I know how young we both are, but I can see myself spending the rest of my life with you.” Spike’s cheeks reddened slightly at the confession but her held her gaze unflinchingly, hoping that she wouldn’t choose now to break his heart.
“Me too Spike. This isn’t just some casual thing, is it?”
“No baby. Look, for the time being we can just keep seeing eachother secretly. Maybe not as often, but it’s the best we can do until we figure things out.”
“Uh, its not that easy. You know how I told you ’bout the annoying ears and eyes inside my house? Well apparently Hank has them everywhere. He knew all about you; your name, your family. He even knew about you sketching in the town square. He didn’t really believe me about studying with Willow all along, he just didn’t care enough to call me on it until now.”
“Why now? Why did it take so long?”
“He’s been working a lot lately, obviously on some big deal, probably with Mr. Finn. It must be coming to a head or something. He was talking about his reputation needing to be spotless, and I’m a part of that reputation.”
“Really? That sounds kind of ridiculous. You’re his daughter, not his business partner.”
“I know, but let me try and explain. It might make a bit more sense. A little while back in Sunnydale there was another family, the Angelus family. Mr. Angelus was just as powerful as Hank; he was the head of a major corporation as well. He had a teenage son, who everyone called Angel. Angel started hanging out on the rough side of town, doing drugs, all that. Eventually, Mr. Angelus’ wife left him, and he pretty much started neglecting his work to try and sort out his son. Hank was always asking, ‘how can he control an empire when he can’t even control his son?’ And that seemed to be the popular opinion, especially amongst the stock holders once the newspapers started reporting on all their comings and goings. I don’t even really know what happened to them but they don’t live here anymore.”
“O-kaay, but its not like you’re doing drugs? You’re just seeing, well… me.”
“And therein lies the problem. Your father, nice as he may be, doesn’t run with the people Hank would wish. And also, you’re not Riley. A fact that apparently bothers Mr. Finn.”
“Riley? That bleedin’ poofter again? What’s he got to do with it?”
“I think Hank wants me to, y’know, see him?” Buffy’s voice ended in a questioning squeak because she wasn’t even really sure herself what her father really wanted and how Riley was involved. All she knew was that Hank wanted the two of them to spend time together. He had also pushed for a relationship between her and Angel a while back, then demanded that she not see him as soon as stories started coming out about their family. Of course Buffy never told him that she had pretty much stopped seeing him after their failed sexual encounter anyway.
“Okay, look. Here’s what we’re going to do for now. I have to tell Giles about it just in case, and who knows, maybe he can help us? We’ll see eachother when we can, and I’ll try and work out a solution. You stay the hell away from that wanker, and if he tries anything you tell me immediately so I can beat the bleedin’ bejeezus out of him. Sound good pet?”
Buffy looked slightly skeptical at the last part but nodded anyway. “Mmm hmm. I guess. But I’m not going home tonight, the bastard can wait for once. I’ll go home tomorrow morning before school and tell him its over.” Buffy didn’t want to tell Spike the real reason she wanted to stay the night with him was because it may be their last night together for a long, long while.
“Sounds good pet, nothin’ I like better than sleeping with you in m’ arms. Uh, ’cos that’s all I can do tonight, baby. You sort of wore me out before.” He smiled sheepishly at her.
“Don’t worry honey, I’m pretty worn out to. I just need you to hold me, ’kay?” Spike grinned and pulled her into his embrace so that her back was pressed firmly to his chest, his strong arms wrapped tightly around her. They stayed joined that way the whole night.
***
Buffy didn’t bother to sit down at the breakfast table, choosing instead to walk past it while shooting daggers at Hank.
“Its over. You won.”
He smirked condescendingly. “I always win Buffy. I thought you would have known that by now. You would have split up eventually anyway; he’s a pauper, you’re a princess. This isn’t a fairytale, its real life. You’ll get used to it.”
“And what, Riley’s the prince? I don’t think so, so don’t expect to see us together anytime soon.”
Hank didn’t bother to reply, turning his attention back to the newspaper instead.
“Oh, and Hank?”
He looked up as Buffy walked out the door.
“Get used to this.” She stuck her middle finger up at him and walked out without a backwards glance, missing Hank’s furious expression as he crumpled the paper in his hands.