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Chapter Thirty-seven

Douglass felt like she was on display in some freak show. If it wasn't
Lindsey staring at her intently it was one of the others, she saw them
whispering and every time she'd get near they'd stop. They were casting
pitiful glances her way and waiting for her to go somewhere else to start
talking again, only Buffy wasn't paying any attention to her, at least she
could give the girl that much.

What she had seen of the slayer hadn't impressed her. Buffy whined and pouted
more than any other person Douglass had ever met, she complained that she
wasn't allowed to watch the soul anchoring ceremony, pitched a fit would have
more accurately described it. Then she proceeded to sit and mope on the couch
next to the bound and gagged Lilah who was holding up pretty well considering
that Cordelia had almost swiped her shoes and that her stomach growled with
hunger.

Spike came over and sat down next to Douglass holding a mug of warm blood in
one hand and putting his free arm around the blonde witch's shoulder. He was
going to see why she was being so damn quiet when she wrinkled her nose.
"Spike, is that blood bad or something?"

Spike sniffed the blood and shock his head no. "Nothing wrong with it, pet.
Angel just picked up a new supply today." Douglass's face paled as she put a
hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom, when the door slammed behind her
Cordelia exclaimed to Gunn and Aria. "See! First she's tired all the time and
now she's blowing chunks. I'm telling you she's knocked up, Lorne wouldn't
let her drink alcohol saying that it wasn't good for her." Gunn hushed her by
placing his hand over her mouth.

"Okay, let's say that you're right and she is pregnant, that'd mean that
lawyer boy over there is the father." Gunn whispered.

"Okay ducks, what's wrong with Douglass? She's never squeamish around my
meals." Spike walked over to the group demanding answers.

"She's pregnant." Cordelia whispered back.

"SHE'S WHAT?" Spike roared. Aria slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Little louder man, I don't think they heard you in China." Gunn hissed.

"We're not sure if she is. I don't even think she has any clue." Aria talked
in a soothing tone hoping that Spike would gain enough sense to quiet down.

Lindsey was growing frustrated, he knew something was wrong and it concerned
Douglass. He had seen her running to the bathroom at breakneck speed, that
and her friends were talking behind her back in concerned tones about her.

"So who are you again?" Lindsey looked over at Buffy, shocked to have someone
speaking to him.

"Lindsey...McDonald." He watched her eyes for any recognition and when he saw
none he knew she had never been told about him.

"So what do you do?" The blonde asked, seeing the uncomfortable look in his
eyes she went on further. "Fighter, magic, watcher, werewolf, demon? You know
the basics."

"None of the above." Shifting under her gaze he was sorry that she started
talking to him.

"Oh you're dating one of the girls huh? Let me guess... Willow."

"No, isn't she seeing-"

"No one. Willow is seeing no one, right sweetheart?" Douglass was standing
behind him squeezing his shoulder to shut up, that he was about to go down a
path he did not want to travel. "Actually it's me that he's stuck with."
Smiling falsely at the slayer Douglass grabbed Lindsey's hand and started to
pull him up from the chair. "And if you'll excuse us I need to steal him away
for a moment." Practically dragging Lindsey to the stairs she forgot to let
go of his hand as she led him down to the second floor.

Lindsey remained silent enjoying the feel of her tiny hand in his, he allowed
her to pull him into the practice room and waited silently for her to speak.
"Buffy is Angel's ex-"

"I know."

"She can't know about Angel and Willow because as it stands there is no real
Angel and Willow to talk about...yet. Once those two open their eyes and see
what's in front of them then there will be an official Angel and Willow.
Slayer bitch will ruin all that, so please will you keep your mouth shut?"

"Yes."

"Thank you." Douglass went to turn around but Lindsey stopped her from
leaving.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I had no idea that Max was going to go to that
extreme to get the book."

Douglass didn't know what to say, looking into his eyes she could see the
truth. That he was sorry and that was all fine and well, but what about the
last time they were together? Hadn't he made it crystal clear just how he
felt about her? "Thanks Lindsey I needed to hear that." Offering him a smile
she again tried to leave but he stopped her again.

"About that morning..."

"Which one?" Her eyes daring him to continue.

"The money...the taxi..."

"Oh, the morning you treated me like a whore?"

Lindsey winced as her words hit him. "Yes that one. I was confused and having
you wake up next to me was too much."

"Don't worry, I just seem to bring out the best in men." Douglass glared and
turned from Lindsey.

"That's not it. I freaked. I work...worked for a law firm that would use and
distort anything good in my life for their own gain. Why do you think I
pushed my family away?"

"Because you're a bastard?"

Lindsey sighed in frustration. "That's not something we didn't already know.
Will you please just give me a chance to explain?"

"Explain what Lindsey? It's not like we were fated lovers to begin with, you
could hardly stand to be around me which is another well known fact. If it
hadn't been for Lilah and that stupid aphrodisiac none of that would have
happened."

Lindsey looked at her in disbelief. "Do you honestly believe that? That
somewhere down the line we wouldn't have gotten together?"

Douglass blushed but stood her ground. She was damned if she was going to
spend another month rationalizing what had happened between herself and
Lindsey. "Yes. I believe. There was no absolutely no attraction between us
before that night."

"You little liar." Lindsey said softly and took a step closer to Douglass who
lifted her chin in challenge. "Because I for one was having dreams of you on
a nightly basis and I know I caught you several times staring at me with
those hungry eyes of yours."

"Hungry eyes? Have you been reading romance novels too? Trust me Lindsey, if
there was any particular look in my eyes it was disgust." Lindsey smiled
slightly at her words because the look in her eyes at that moment gave her
away. She wanted him still without the effects of any damn drug.

"Tell me this, if I hadn't thrown money at you and told you to get out of my
life where would we be now?"

Douglass started to gnaw on her lower lip, she had thought of that several
times herself, if Lindsey hadn't been such and asshole that morning what
would have happened? They'd be together right now, she would have tried to
explain her attraction to the man they hated and despised to her friends and
hope for the best. But that's not how things played out, they were here now
after a month of pain and confusion and she was damned if she'd give in that
easily.

"We probably still be pretending, pretty badly might I add, at being
girlfriend and boyfriend. All things considered things? Probably worked out
for the best." Taking a step back from Lindsey she was ready to retreat from
the conversation and his steady stare.

"I don't buy it."

'Them are fighting words.' Douglass stalked forward a few feet until she was
toe to toe with her opponent. "So Lindsey, you tell me. Where would we be
right now if you hadn't been such a jackass?"

Lindsey gave her a cocky grin. "Why don't I show you?" Douglass saw the gleam
in his eyes and knew he wasn't going to fight fair, so she did the one thing
she had never done before, she was backing down from a fight. But Lindsey was
too quick, snaking one arm around her waist he prevented her from backing
away, with his other hand he touched her face so tenderly that Douglass
couldn't help the slight tremble that went through her body. His thumb traced
over her bottom lip and Douglass took an involuntary step closer to him,
slowly he lowered he head to hers until they were inches away. He felt her
take another step closer to him until her body was firmly pressed against
his. "Still feel nothing?"

Douglass's mind snapped back and she tried to step away but Lindsey pressed
his lips to hers before she could escape. She fought for just a moment until
she melted against his body in defeat. A smile tugged on Lindsey's lips,
whether she knew it or not she was going to be his.