Coming Out


A/N: I'm sorry this update has been so long in the coming! RL got in the way for a while and I got temporary writers' block. Hope you enjoy this latest instalment...


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“I don’t trust her.”

Buffy pulled her top on and turned, stopping with a smile when she realised Spike hadn’t heard what she had just said. Instead he was sprawled on his bed, eyes half-closed and a smile on his face.

“Hmm?” he got out, noticing her attention, “What?”

He looked far too sated and deliciously rumpled and with a smile, she leant over and pressed a kiss to his lips. He caught her by the neck but she slipped out of his grip with a smile.

“I have to get going.”

He rolled his eyes but settled back against the pillows.

“You were saying…”

“I don’t trust her. Sam.”

“G.I. Jane, you mean?” he asked with a smile.
She smiled and bent to look for her shoe.

“I don’t know. There’s something about her I don’t like.”

“Jealous, love?”

She raised her head quickly, narrowed her eyes, and then shook her head.

“No,” she answered honestly, “Even if the way she was looking at Riley was… icky.”

Spike laughed and reached out to take her by the arm, drawing her on to the bed.

“As long as you’re not jealous, then,” he murmured, lips hovering close to hers.

“Stop fishing,” she whispered, before kissing him gently.



She pulled away after only a few moments, knowing she could not let their kiss turn into anything more – as it so easily could.

“I have to go soon. I said I’d drop by the shop before I went to work.”

“Plenty of time,” Spike murmured, trying to lure her back to him.

Fighting temptation, she forced herself to stand once more and bent slightly to slip on her discarded boot.

“What’s wrong with her then?” Spike asked.

“She just makes me antsy.”

“Thought that was my job,” he said with a leer.

She rolled her eyes and bent to pull on her other boot.

“Maybe it’s just because she’s all gung-ho army girl. Reminds me of the Initiative.”

“Got a few issues with them myself.”

She looked up and smiled softly.

“So you see why I don’t like her. Even if she’s all friendly-friendly.”

She paused, considering, and then spoke up brightly.

“Maybe she’s a robot!”

Spike laughed again and caught her hand, drawing her back down to him.

“She’s not a robot,” he whispered, skimming his lips across her jaw.

“She could be,” she mumbled, tilting her head back and losing herself in his embrace.

He laughed against her skin and raised his head, giving her a heated look before diving in and kissing her.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Some time later, she finally reached the Magic Box and was glad that her friends made no comment about her slightly dishevelled appearance. They probably just assumed it was from some demon - which was actually technically true, she thought with a secret little smile. The group – minus Giles, and Dawn, who was at school - were sitting around the large table, sharing the box of doughnuts Xander had provided and taking the chance to catch up with each other.

They all looked up as the bell above the door sounded and she smiled when she spotted Riley. He greeted the group and moved towards them, slipping into an empty chair.

“No Sam?” Buffy couldn’t help but ask.

He looked startled for a moment but then shook his head.

“No, she left first thing this morning.”

“Who’s Sam?” Xander asked, “Oh, wait, Sam Sam? The Sam you used to work with?”

She frowned at Xander’s words, and it grew when she saw Riley fidget uncomfortably. It definitely wasn’t that she was jealous; it was just the same kind of awkwardness anyone would get when confronted with their ex’s current love life. Although, she had to chide herself mentally when she remembered how supportive Riley had been for her.

“So, what did she want?” she asked, turning to Riley.

He paused and sat up a little straighter.

“That’s actually why I came. There’s something I need to tell you.”

There was a pause, everyone watching him with suspense.

“I’m, err, I’m leaving.”

“Leaving?” Buffy echoed.

“The army want me back and it just seems like the right thing to do.”



There was a pause but then Xander was congratulating him – and berating him at the same time.

“I can’t believe you’re going, man.”

“You know, I kinda missed it,” Riley admitted with a smile.

“You better come back and visit,” Willow spoke up with her attempt at a stern look.

“Of course.”

“When are you leaving?” Buffy asked, snapping out of her daze, feeling something like disappointment.

At that moment, Anya came into the room and stopped.

“Who’s leaving?”

“Riley,” Xander explained.

“Does that mean you’re going to miss our wedding?” she asked with a pout, “Because that means table five will have to be completely rearranged.”

“I’ll be here for the wedding,” Riley assured her with her smile.

“Well, good,” she said with a pleased nod, “Oh, that reminds me. Buffy, are you bringing a date?”

Buffy hadn’t been paying that much attention – dwelling on Riley’s departure - and started, turning towards Anya.

“Huh?”

“Do you have a date? For the wedding?”

“Me? Erm…”



She hesitated – and then it hit her: the one person who knew about and supported her relationship was leaving. Riley’s support would be gone and if she ever got the courage to tell her friends, it would be one less fighter in her camp. It left her with little choice – this was her chance.

“Erm, yeah. Yeah, I do.”

Xander and Willow looked mildly surprised and she glanced at Riley, taking heart from his encouraging smile.

“Is it Riley?” Anya asked, looking between the two of them.

“What?! No!” Buffy got out, then quickly apologised to Riley, “No offence.”

“None taken.”

“So who then?” Anya asked impatiently.

“It’s, erm… My date is… It’s Spike.”

She braced herself, but there was no response for a very long time and when she dared to look at her friends, she saw a mixture of shock and confusion.

“Is that a joke?” Xander asked slowly.

“No,” she replied, “I’m… I’m dating Spike.”

She wasn’t sure what they were doing actually constituted dating, but the message was received.

“You’re dating Spike?” Willow repeated, eyes wide with surprise.

“Err, yeah,” she answered, glancing at Riley once more.

“Since when?” Xander spoke up.

“A while now.”



Xander glanced at Riley too and then spoke to him.

“Did you know about this?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh man,” Xander got out, “So that’s why you didn’t think Buffy would want to go on a date with Richard!”

She had been unaware of any such plan and raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” Riley said, glancing at her with a smile, “I was pretty sure she wasn’t interested.”

“You wanted me to go on a date with Richard?” Buffy asked her friend.

“It was an idea,” Xander said with a sheepish grin and a shrug.

“We thought you would make a very attractive couple,” Anya added, “But I’m glad you’ve chosen to have sex with Spike instead.”

“Woah, Ahn!” Xander protested, “Please!”

Shrugging, Anya turned back towards the counter and started to rearrange some of the objects around it. Buffy turned to her friends, watching their faces anxiously as she took a deep, calming breath.

“So, erm… are you okay with this?”

“You’re sure this isn’t some kind of joke?” Xander asked.

“No,” she replied with a nervous laugh, “Not a joke.”

“And you’re not the robot Buffy?”

“No,” she laughed.

There was another long pause – which did nothing to soothe her nerves – and then Willow spoke up.

“So Spike’s your… boyfriend?” she got out.

“I guess so.”



There was yet another silent pause and she shared a tiny smile with Riley before pushing herself to her feet.

“You know, you guys obviously need some time to absorb… and I need to get to work. I’ll talk to you later, ‘kay?”

Xander and Willow both nodded absentmindedly and she smiled, gathering her things. She mouthed a ‘thanks’ at Riley, who nodded and smiled in return, and then she turned to leave, heading quickly out of the shop.

She stepped out into the sunshine and finally let out the breath she had been holding, a wide smile spreading across her face as reality sunk in. She had told her friends about Spike, and there had been no shouting, remonstrations or objections. There had been no congratulations either, but it was the best she had hoped for. She could finally stop hiding.