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       "Erin...you're fidgeting," Buffy said in exasperation, and Erin rolled her eyes, "Must I do this?"  She asked, and Buffy nodded, "You promised to come with me and Wills, Er...besides, we so need to get you out of the house..."

       Erin sighed, glancing into the mirror.  Her make-up was perfect, despite her nervous twitching.  "Frat parties...I've seen the movies, Buffy...someone...either winds up dead because of some weird, killer that already died six times, or they're like...orgies..."

       Buffy giggled, as she admired her handiwork, and Willow nodded her approval as Erin eyed her masquerade costume warily, "I've been to several such parties, and I've never seen...such...apparel..."

       Buffy glanced at the black cat suit, shrugging, "Hey...at least you drew the cat, I got stuck with the parrot," she rolled her eyes, gesturing at her bright, feathered costume, which still managed to look sexy on her, "Only a bunch of frat guys would come up with such a dumb premise...come as a pet..."

       Willow adjusted her puppy costume, then helped Erin put on her cat ears, then fluffed out her red hair, which she was leaving down for the evening.  

       Erin sighed again as she tied her mask around her face, the black satin covering only the upper part of her face, leaving her green eyes to peek out, a fine, black line drawn from each one to make her eyes appear more catlike.

       "Tell me again why I'm doing this?"

       "Um...because I bribed you with two nights of no slaying and a week of no bugging you about why you haven't found yourself a man yet?"  Buffy supplied, "Speaking of which..."

       Erin groaned, "Please...don't...not interested in...a man at the moment," she lied, feeling terrible about it.  She wished she could confide in Willow and Buffy, but she knew they wouldn't understand.  

       Buffy sighed, "Right...deal's a deal...but once the week is up, I'm so going to pester you..."

       "I figured as much," Erin sighed as Xander knocked on the door, peeking his head in, his painted scales glinting in the dorm room lights.  Well...at least I don't have to be a gold fish.

       He gaped at Erin, who had since donned the black cat suit, the fabric clinging to every curve intimately, "Meow...chalk one knocked-dead male up for Erin," Buffy said, and Willow giggled.  "She's bound to find someone tonight," Willow said surely, and Erin sighed, "Oh, lord..."

       Erin smiled, watching as her friends mingled with the others who attended their college, apparently friends with everyone.  The masks everyone wore didn't seem to deter identification.  She was pretty sure that she was the only one at the party that no one knew, but she wasn't uncomfortable with the fact.  Anonymity was her middle name.

       Well...actually...it's Aloria...but who knows that, anyway?  

       Buffy plopped down next to her, unashamedly ogling Riley Finn, who Erin was pretty sure was either a hair ball, or a hamster, she wasn't quite sure which.  "What's the prob, Er?  I just saw you turn down, like the tenth guy who asked you to dance."

       "I don't feel like dancing much," Erin replied, smiling at her concerned friend, "I like to just watch, anyway."

       "Try participating a bit.  Maybe you'll meet someone nice."

       "Why don't you participate and stop eyeing Riley like he's a piece of eye-candy and talk to him?"

       Buffy blushed, "Um...being a little obvious there, aren't I?"  

       "Yes, sorry to say...but you look about three seconds away from running over there and frenching him to death."

       "OH," Buffy blushed even deeper, "That was bad, Erin...but nice visual...thanks...that won't make me stutter like an idiot when I try to talk to him."

       "Go talk to him," Erin prodded her, but Buffy smiled deviously, "Dance with someone, and I'll talk to him."

       "Blackmail!  Buffy Summers!  What would your mother say?"

       "Hey...this whole thing was her idea," Buffy grinned as Erin finally gave in, "One dance, and then I'm allowed to sit for the rest of the night, all right?"

       "Deal," They shook hands just as a guy dressed as a chiuahah asked her to dance, and Erin gave her a desperate look, but Buffy only grinned and dragged her to her feet, "A deal's a deal."

       As per request, Erin danced with the chiauhah, or is he rat? Appalled when he tried to grind up against her.  As soon as the song ended, she said thanks and tried to make her escape.

       She immediately ran up against a black wall, and jumped in surprise when she was assaulted with a familiar scent.  "Spike!"  She hissed, and he grinned, his blue eyes flashing beneath his mask, "Dance, luv?"

       "Are you trying to get us killed?"  She glanced at his costume, frowning.  He was wearing a pair of black leather pants and a black T-shirt, and had donned a pair of black, leather gloves with the fingers missing, "What are you supposed to be?"

       He tore his eyes away from her cleavage, peeking enticingly from the top of her cat suit, which he found to deliciously sexy, something he'd never see his Erin wear in a million years, and guessed correctly that Buffy had dressed her up.  He held up his fist, "Black panther, pet."

       She frowned, wondering why he was saluting and he sighed, dropping his arm, "Looks I have to date my jokes for you, pet...haven't you reached the eighties yet in your history books?"

       "Not yet," she shook her head, adjusting her black ears, and he arched an eyebrow, "How about that dance, kitten?"  He asked as he pulled her against him without waiting for an answer, falling into dance position as a song started up on the speakers.

       She smiled, fitting perfectly against him, "I guess one won't hurt..."

*When the visions around you,

Was standing here all along*

       Spike smiled as he rested his cheek against the top of Erin's head, the hand around her waist slowly tracing invisible circles on her back.

       He reveled in her touch, enjoying the feel of her warm face against his chest, warming long-cold skin as they danced.

*And I will take you in my arms

This I promise you*

       Buffy grinned as she danced with Riley, watching as Erin danced with some guy in a black outfit, unable to figure out what he was supposed to be.  She was surprised when Erin had accepted his dance invitation, and was even more surprised to see the way she was intimately pressing against, a small smile on her face, her eyes closed.

       Damn...poor Xander...he's got to be steaming...

*I’ve loved you forever

Forever has now begun*

       Erin nestled easily against Spike, enjoying the ministrations of his hand on her back, feeling herself flush a bit.  He chuckled, and she looked up at him, "What?"

       "The whelp's jealous," Spike muttered softly, pulling her against him even more, his lips brushing against her ear, making her shiver pleasantly as she looked towards Fishy Xander, who was glaring at Spike without trying to conceal it.

       She shook her head slightly before returning to his chest, "He knows there is nothing...do you?"

       Spike chuckled again, "Accusing me of jealously, pet?  After watching that guy try to hump your leg before?"

       Erin flushed, "Just...hush up..."

*’Just close your eyes each lovin’ day

I just wouldn’t be living at all*

     Now, why won't she dance with me like that?  Xander thought enviously, his eyes narrowed as he watched Erin and the other man dance together, looking entirely too cozy for Xander's well-being.

       He caught Willow and Oz's sympathetic gazes, and shrugged carelessly, trying to pry his own fingers off the beer bottle he was currently throttling, pretending that the long neck was the guy's.  He glanced at his watch, glad to see it was almost midnight, and he could see who he was when everyone unmasked.

And I will take you in my arms

This I promise you

       Spike glanced towards a wall clock and sighed, pulling away from Erin a bit.  She looked up at him curiously, and he caught her chin in his hand, smiling, "Just like old times, huh?"

       She smiled, accepting his chaste kiss, and when he tried to move away, she refused to let go of his hand.  He frowned at her curiously, then was pleasantly surprised when she stood on her tiptoes and initiated the second kiss.  

       He cupped the back of her head as it deepened, relishing the taste of her hot mouth before pulling away again very reluncantly, "I have to go, pet, unless you want your friends to know..."

       She let go of him, and he offered her another smile just as the lights went off.  "All right people!  Time to unmask!"  Someone shouted, and when the lights came back on, Spike was gone.

*Every word I say is true

This I promise you*

       All of the Scoobies exchanged a bewildered look before pouncing on Erin, demanding to know who the mysterious man was.

       Erin only shrugged, smiling secretively as she touched her lips, "Not a clue..."

*This I promise you*

Part 5: Discovery

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