Life and a Little Bit of Luck

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Life and a Little Bit of Luck

"What is luck?"

Everyone dropped their books and turned to look at Anya. They all laughed for a second and then smiled.

"What is luck?" Anya repeated.

"It's just, luck," Willow said.

"That's not a very good answer," Anya pointed out. "I mean, I know what it means to be lucky."

"Xander, do you want to explain that to her?"

"Shut up Spike."

"What is luck?"

"It's a state of mind. If you think you'll be lucky, then you will," Tara said.

"No, it's something you get, like when you find a 50 dollar bill on the ground, you just got some luck," Dawn said.

"It's just, luck," Willow repeated. "That's all it is."

"It's like if you fall in love, and that person loves you, that's luck," Buffy offered.

"Yeah, but luck can be bad too, like if you fall in love, and that person doesn't love you," Xander added.

"No, no, you've all got it wrong," Spike said shaking his head. "Luck is like a virus, it's a positive virus. You catch luck for a little bit, and then you just get good things. But when the virus wears off, you aren't lucky any more," Spike explained.

Everyone stared at him as if he was crazy.

"Okay, ignoring the idiot," Xander continued.

"Thanks mate."

"I told you not to call me that."

"Giles, you are far older than the rest of us, what is luck?" Anya frowned.

"Thank you Anya," Giles sighed. "I don't know exactly what luck is."

"Well, none of them do, so I guess no one knows what luck is. I'll never understand it," Anya sighed.

* * *

Spike looked up at the clock. He hated this time of the day. Xander and Buffy were still at work. Tara, Willow, and Dawn all had school. So he was stuck in the magic shop with Anya and Giles. He never knew what to say to them. Over time Spike had sort of become the handy man for Giles. He was good with the tools. He kept saying he and Xander should go into business, but Xander didn't agree. Giles paid him, and it was nice to have a job. It was nice to have a life. He felt like he finally belonged.

"So, I've been thinking about luck," Anya interrupted his thoughts.

"Not again," Giles sighed.

"No, listen, I've been thinking. Is there away to calculate when you'll be unlucky and lucky?" Anya asked.

"Maybe," Spike shrugged.

"No, but if I said, "wouldn't it be funny if a demon walked through the door?" then would a demon walk through the door?" Anya frowned.

"I hope not," Giles sighed.

"No, I get it, it's Sunnydale logic," Spike nodded. "If you wish for something very, very bad here, then it will happen," Spike explained.

"The hellmouth vibes, I see," Giles nodded. "No one wish for anything bad."

"What's your worst nightmare?" Anya asked Spike.

"Oh that's easy it would be if… Wait! Not saying it, not even thinking it," Spike sighed.

"Good plan, Anya stop this, don't make anything terribly bad happen. We've all just gotten over the shock of the recent eloping, we wouldn't want Angel to come back on a killing spree. Although, I do know who he'd kill," Giles smirked.

"Oy!" Spike growled. "Thanks for cursing me," he snapped.

"Who cursed Spike? I'm your new best friend," Xander said as the door the magic shop opened. He, Willow, and Tara all filled in.

"We were just talking about luck. And how we can create luck or no luck, thanks to the hellmouth," Anya explained.

"How, I'd love to win lots of money," Xander grinned.

"We've only figured out how to create bad luck," Giles sighed.

"See, if I were to say, what my worst nightmare is, then, due to the hellmouth it would come true," Spike nodded.

"And you aren't saying it because?" Xander frowned.

"Xander," Willow warned. "So, how could we create good luck?"

"Wait, what if we get to greedy? Say we figured out how to create good luck, well, then wouldn't we get greedy, and it would all back fire on us," Tara pointed out. "And that's not just from the vibes of the hellmouth."

"She's right, so let's drop this whole subject of luck," Spike nodded.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm with Spike," Giles sighed.

"Hey!" Spike snapped. "Boy, I really wish Buffy was here right now."

"Look who's back!" Buffy cried opening the door.

"Spike you did it! You created good luck!" Anya yelled.

"Not this luck thing again," Dawn sighed. "Can we please drop the subject?"

"That's what I keep saying, but does anyone listen? No," Spike snapped.

"Aww, poor Spike," Buffy said, a devilish grin crossed her face.

"Ew," Xander said raising his hand.

"Yes, I'm very helpless," Spike nodded.

"Shut up, please," Willow sighed.

"And weak," Buffy said staring him in the eye.

"I'm begging you," Tara pleaded.

"And your just so, strong," Spike nodded.

"This is very disturbing," Anya sighed.

"Your one to talk," Dawn snorted.

Buffy sat down on Spike's lap. "So, luck, we were talking about luck," she stared at his eyes. He had such interesting eyes.

"You two, that's enough!" Giles snapped interrupting the two.

"Sorry, lad, we'll stop," Spike said. Buffy snickered.

"Lord, and I thought it was bad when Riley was here," Xander sighed.

"Xander!" Buffy yelled.

"Sorry," Xander blushed.

"Now you've jinxed us! It'll be all your fault when he comes out of the jungle," Buffy growled.

"Oh come on that would be really bad…luck," Tara finished.

* * *

"Buffy, I said I was sorry! Come, on, it's not going to happen."

"The last time you said that, Spike came crashing through the windows of Sunnydale High, the last time Dawn said it, we were attacked with a bunch of arrows. Come on, Xander, of course it's going to happen!"

"Willow, shut up! Buffy, why would you even think of it! I mean Riley's the last person you want to see. Probably even after Angel."

"Mate, shut up."

"I told you not to call me that."

"Maybe we should do something to take our minds off this!" Dawn yelled. Everyone turned to look at her. "Come on. Let's do something, or this is all we are going to think about."

"Let's play a game," Anya grinned.

"Let me, guess, Life, "Dawn sighed.

"Yes, you get much cash in that game," Anya nodded.

"Hey, that game has predicted my life," Xander said.

"And I'm an idiot," Spike said staring at him.

"No, it's true! It said that I wouldn't go to college, that I would lose my job, and get another that I stuck with, and it said I'd get married, and it all came true!" Xander cried.

"You're an idiot. A bloody board game cannot predict the rest of your life," Spike snapped.

"Care to make a bet on that?" Xander grinned.

"What?"

"We play Life, if whatever happens in the game, comes true, I win, if it doesn't predict the future, well then, you win, but that's not going to happen," Xander grinned.

"Well, since you're an idiot. I'm going to have to say yes. Let's play the damn game now."

"This should be interesting," Dawn said sitting down as Anya pulled out the game.

"Whatever, I'm not playing," Buffy sighed.

"What!" Dawn cried.

"Buffy," Tara warned. "Sit. You cannot leave me with these scary people."

"So, what do you win if you win?" Willow asked.

"Hmm, that's a good question. I know, I get to beat you up," Spike grinned.

"No, that's lame, make it something fun like, I dunno, you have to make Xander wear a dress to work or something," Dawn giggled.

"I have a problem with that!" Xander yelled.

"Wouldn't you like to see Spike in a dress?" Willow asked.

"I have a problem with that!" Spike yelled. "Buffy, they're being mean."

"As long as it's not one of my dresses they stick you guys in," Buffy sighed.

"See, scary," Tara nodded.

"That goes for me too," Anya nodded.

"Okay, no, come on, start the game," Tara said. "Stop looking at the door. If you think he's coming that badly, he will."

"No, the fact that Xander said it is what bothers me," Buffy sighed.

"You have to spin the thing to see who goes first," Anya explained.

"Why are there only three cars?" Dawn frowned. "There's seven of us."

"Well, I grouped them as me and Anya, Willow and Tara, and Buffy, Spike, and Dawn. Since this is a bet/experiment. I figured let's make it as realistic as possible," Xander grinned.

"Uh, idiot mate, your supposed to play it as a single person. Based on you."

"We ran out of pieces," Xander shrugged.

* * *

"Is there a reason we are staring at the board?"

"Personally I need food. I'm starved. I'll pay. I just need food."

"Fine. I'll go make the call for pizza, as long as I don't have to pay," Buffy shrugged.

* * *

She didn't know he was standing in the doorway when she came in. Spike's back was facing him. So was hers. So she sat down, not even noticing that he was there. He smiled. She looked just as beautiful. She looked more warn though. She was tired, and she had lived through something's that no one should. But she was strong and stubborn. So she'd made it through. But she was different, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but something was different. But in Sunnydale things were always different.

What had possessed him to come back to Sunnydale was beyond him. He had just gotten back from the jungle. He should have gone home. But instead, he went to Sunnydale. Something told him he'd be lucky there.

* * *

"Pizza's ordered," she sighed and sat down. "Yes, yes, I know the deal, one cheese, one pineapple, and one half everything and half pepperoni."

"Good girl," Spike grinned.

"Ugh! This game is so boring!" Buffy snapped. "Let's do something fun!"

Spike snickered as she whispered into his ear. She giggled as she pulled back. "What are we, twelve?" he demanded.

"What did you say?" Dawn demanded. "I'm fourteen, I should be able to hear!"

"Uh, Buffy," Willow whispered.

"No, I've got it!" Buffy cried. She turned to whisper something in Spike's ear but Anya cut her off.

"Buffy! Look," Anya said and pointed behind her.

"Hey."

"White bread!" Spike yelled. He and Buffy instantly pulled apart.

"Xander, this is all your fault!"

"Oh!" Anya cried. "I understand bad luck now!"

"That's great," Dawn said rolling her eyes.

"I know what to say!" Anya yelled. "Wow, Buffy, talk about luck!"
* * *

Riley frowned. Xander's fault? What was she babbling about? Buffy was upset, okay, that's true, he had left her. But he was back. And he wanted to try to fix things. He wanted to make the right. But, something was off. Something had changed. "Buffy, I can explain."

"Pizza, I should go, wait for the pizza," Buffy said shaking her head. This was so not happening again. What was this? First Angel had come and tried to ruin things, but that had resulted in marriage. Buffy started to wonder what would happen if Riley tried to separate them? Oh, no, this was not happening again.

"I mean, all I could think of was you, and when the mission was over, I thought about going back home, but, but I had to see you. See if we still had a chance," Riley whispered.

Xander snorted. Then his face brightened. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all. Riley, I have a proposition for you."

"What! No, this is our bet, it's only for special people, he can't be apart of it," Spike snapped.

"Bet? What?" Riley demanded.

"Riley, grab a car, have a seat. We're playing Life. We have some new rules, and a bet to go with," Xander grinned.

"I am so getting out of here," Buffy said and took off out of the room.

* * *

"Not happening! So not happening! I can't believe this. It's so not fair!"

"Buffy?" Dawn asked.

"Dawn," Buffy said. She hugged her sister. "What am I going to do?"

"I remember after Riley left, I sat down with mom, and I asked her, if you'd be okay."

"What? You talked about me behind my back!" Buffy screamed. "Oh, that's not the point of this story is it?"

"And I remember what she told me. She said; "Dawn, Buffy is the slayer. And, and she's a person. And as a person, she's stronger than the slayer. That's why she'll be okay. Her heart maybe broken now, just because she thinks Angel and Riley left because of her. They left because they know, they aren't the ones, and there is someone else in this world for her. And it's not them. And you know what they say about luck, third times a charm." I remember it so vividly because, it made me think about my own life."

"There's that luck word again," Buffy grunted.

"So, I think it'll all be okay. Because, you know you love him, and you know that Riley left for a reason. Don't they say that? Everything happens for a reason?"

"Yeah." Buffy's face brightened. "And it's the first time they've said it about a good thing.

* * *

"Pizza, oh, Buffy, you, goddess!" Willow exclaimed.

"Playing Susie Homemaker now?" Xander demanded as she handed him a plate. "So, the slayer's gone?"

"I hope not," Spike grumbled. Riley shot a look at him. "Bloody hell! Why do I keep landing on this space?" he snapped hoping to take the attention off himself.

"I can't believe you guys actually think that game can predict the future," Buffy sighed.

"Oh, no, I'm just watching for the amusement," Tara nodded.

"Gah! Mate, you've rigged this, haven't you?"

"I told you not to call me that."

Buffy giggled and handed Riley a plate with her left hand, forgetting about her rings. "What is this?" he demanded grabbing her hand.

"Nothing," Buffy cried, jerking her hand back. "Nothing at all."

"So, uh, anyway, the game is going as planned. Spike owns his own business though. Ha! I'm starting to wonder how accurate my prediction was. But, I'm married, and uh, Riley isn't so, good start," Xander babbled.

"Your married!" Riley cried.

"I thought you had to get married, in the game, in the game," Buffy said.

"New rules," Spike nodded.

"Your married! To someone in this room!" Riley snapped. "Xander! I thought you and Anya-"

"We're married. It's Buffy and Spike you're thinking of," Anya explained.

"Anya!" Willow hissed.

"Oops. I mean, yes, Buffy and Xander, they're married," Anya added quickly.

"To Spike! I'd rather see you married to Angel than Spike!"

"Hey! Don't bring that bad haired wanker into this!" Spike growled.

"And your mother, she, she's approved of this?"

"Hey! My mom liked him better than you!" Dawn cried, leaping into Spike's defense.

"Dawn, stay out of this," Riley ordered.

"Don't tell me what to do!"

"My mother's dead!" Buffy snapped, stopping the conversation. "She's dead Riley." The room went silent. No matter how many times she seemed to say that, it didn't become any easier. She felt a twang of pain stab her heart. She involuntarily stepped back.

"Are you okay?" Spike asked, he gently placed his hand on her arm.

"Buffy, I'm sorry, I never, I didn't, how could I know?"

"You couldn't, but now you do," Buffy spat. "You just left for the jungle. Yes, I made a mistake, but I tried. G-d knows I tried! It just wasn't meant to be! And I got over it! I hurt so much. I lost you, and then I lost mom, and then I almost lost Dawn, and that was it. So I lost myself. And who brought me back? Who never gave up? Who never stopped loving me?"

"It was just a crush Buffy, just a small crush, you married your crush," Riley said. "He's evil, he doesn't even have a soul, he's not even alive."

"Hey! I have been producing plenty of children in that life game! Have you seen it? Xander rigged it!" Spike hissed.

"That being the more disturbing part of the game," Willow nodded. Tara and Anya giggled.

"He is," Buffy snapped. "Look, do you think I'm dumb enough to marry a vampire? I know how hard it is to be with a guy who won't grow old, or stop looking good."

"You're talking, about me, right?" Spike asked; his voice had worry. "Cause that poofter, never looked good."

"Buffy, he's a demon," Riley protested. "I'm human."

Buffy sighed. She pulled out a bottle of holy water from her pocket. "Observe," she ordered. She took Spikes arm and dragged him forward. Riley had an amused look on his face. Buffy uncapped the bottle and flung the water at his face. Spike sighed and rolled his eyes.

"That was uncalled for! Now I'm going to smell funny for the rest of the night," he grunted.

"Buffy, that was great!" Xander cried. "Spike," he started laughing.

"Okay, now I'm afraid I must kill you," Spike snapped and started over towards Xander.

"How, how, how is that possible?" Riley demanded.

"It was a gift, from me to him. I died, and he brought me back, when he brought me back, well, Willow, care to take this?"

"We like to call it a side effect. Spike "accidentally" performed the ritual, and when Buffy woke up, he happened to get some of the slayer in her, the human slayer, thus, starting his heart ticking, and killing of the demon," Willow explained. "That's, it right?"

"Oh, it was very well said," Anya nodded.

"Yes, good terms," Dawn agreed.

"Nice transitions," Tara added.

"Your mocking me, not nice," Willow warned. "Spike, you can't kill him, it's against the law."

"So, what, he's human, he's got a soul trust upon him, does that make him good? Buffy, you know I'm good. I just want, I just want us to have a second chance."

"I would be exhibit A," Dawn said stepping up. "Spike was good before he became him. He risked his life for me. He fell off of a building for me. He almost got his hand chopped off for me. I think that merits something."

"Aww, thanks Dawn," Spike said. "I'm bloody blushing now."

"So, you went and got married, how sweet," Riley growled.

"I just got it!" Buffy cried. "I figured it out! Why Riley is here, why Angel came, I've got it!"

"Oh, I know too. They have no lives," Spike said.

"At last, we agree on something."

"Thanks mate."

"I told you not to call me that."

"No, no, no! Besides that," Buffy yelled.

"I have a life!" Riley snapped.

"That's it! It's not luck that brought them, here it's life! We all knew, I had to say good-bye forever, to the last two major heartbreaks. Then I could be free! Then I could finally have my whole heart where I want it, with Spike," Buffy cried. She twirled around happily. "That's it! It's all apart of life! Saying good-bye!"

"So, your saying some bloody board game can't figure out life?"

"Well, maybe, thanks to the hellmouth, but I doubt it, since Xander's been rigging the game," Willow snorted.

"I have not!" Xander protested.

"You are so obvious!" Tara snapped. "I think Spike should win by default."

"I didn't rig the stuff about him having four little girls! That was just far to disturbing! That all happened by accident!" Xander cried.

"What!" Buffy snapped turning to face Xander.

"Heh, not all of it was rigged," Xander admitted. "Just the stuff that'd help me win. Not the business and the kids. I found that far to scary."

"Really?" Buffy giggled. She exchanged glances with Spike who started to grin.

"Ew! I'm going to bed!" Dawn snapped.

"This has been a strange night," Riley said shaking his head. "Maybe it's all a dream, and when I wake up, I'll be back in my bed, in my college dorm!"

"No, see," Spike pinched Xander then Riley.

"Ouch! You're supposed to pinch yourself stupid!" Xander growled.

"Sorry mate!"

"I told you not to call me that."

"Buffy, you're the thought that I had when I was in the jungle. I won't ever be able to give you up," Riley said.

"I know. She's irresistible," Spike grinned and started to hum.

"Riley. It was nice, and it was important. Because if I hadn't dated you, I would have never gotten around to seeing Spike. So thank you."

"You're welcome," Riley snapped rolling his eyes.

"You'll meet someone. And then you'll be happy. It happens to everyone. In the end, it'll all work out. Riley. It happened, isn't that important?"

"Where has she said that before?" Xander whispered and snorted.

"Good-bye Buffy," Riley took her hand and shook it. "It was nice."

"Yeah. Nice." Buffy nodded. "Maybe we'll see you around."

"Hope not," Spike grinned.

"Good-bye everyone," Riley said. And he left the house without another word. The sun was coming up. And he had a lot of time to forget Sunnydale.

* * *

"Well, that was…fun."

"Shut up Spike."

"Well, what am I supposed to say?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "That wasn't normal."

"Oh, give me a break, nothing here is ever normal. It's the hellmouth," Spike reminded her.

"Don't remind me," Buffy sighed. "I just, wish, I could have a normal life," she sighed.

"If you'd had a normal life, you'd have never met Xander or Giles or Willow or Anya or Tara, and you wouldn't have Dawn," Spike pointed out.

"Shut up, did I ask you to be insightful? And helpful?"

"Yes."

"So, no more ex-boyfriends, I promise," Buffy nodded.

"Oh, yes, but we'll still have luck discussions, and worlds to save, and demons to fight, and who knows what else?"

"How terribly normal."

"But hey," Spike grinned. "What's so great about normal?"

The End