Title: Chasing Ecstasy

Author: Nirvana

Rating: R

Category: Romance/Tragedy

Keywords: Love, Reunion, Coming of Age

Summary: AU, SpikeFaye Old wounds are being healed, a daughter comes to understand love, and Spike asks Faye out on a date. Lo and behold, the romance...

Disclaimer: We all know the drill, but I must say it anyway. I do not own Cowboy Bebop or any of the characters, they rightfully belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 6-This Is Love

Faye liked to believe she was able to handle a lot things. The hell that was her childhood forced her to do so. And through her teenage years, she had seen a lot of things, heard a lot of things, and done a lot of things. Naturally, nothing surprised her anymore. Faye prided herself on being calm and collected in most situations. But nothing in the world could have prepared her for the awkwardness she was experiencing at this very moment. It seemed too surreal. She could easily strip for a complete stranger but couldn't even get herself together while sitting in a car with this particular man.

"I want to thank you," Faye murmured more to herself than to Spike. "You went out of your way to help me and I didn't know who else to call..." She trailed off, instantly thinking of Jet. But confronting him would be too messy and too difficult. It would lead to questions and explanations and she couldn't deal with that right now.

Spike spared her glance before turning his attention back to the deserted road. "It's okay." He wanted to say more. After all, Joselyn was his daughter too. Even with their obvious problems, it wouldn't have been right to let Faye look for Joselyn on her own. However, what concerned him more was that they had been looking for their child for well over two hours and there was still no sign of her. Though Spike attempted to stay calm, his imagination was running amok. The worst case scenarios kept coming to mind. He knew Joselyn was a capable and resourceful girl. He had seen it for himself on numerous occasions. But it still didn't stop this father from worrying about his daughter.

Spike noticed Faye trembling slightly. "Don't worry." His voice sounded more confident than he felt. "We'll find her soon." Faye nodded her affirmation.

He would not deny it, Spike was a little curious as to what caused Joselyn to run away. He had his ideas but was not willing to share them with Faye. He didn't need her angry with him again. So the pair remained silent, stopping at every corner, asking strangers about their lost child, and hoping Joselyn was safe and sound.

-

Joselyn took full advantage of the fact that Tobias lived across the street from a neighborhood park. She honestly didn't know why she had come here. She had allowed her feet to take her wherever they desired to go. But now that she was here, it would be rude of her not to at least say hello, right? Even though it happened to be about five-thirty in the morning.

Joselyn found some small pebbles and walked to the front of his house, spotting Tobias' bedroom window. Taking aim, she threw one of the stones and couldn't help but smile when she hit her target. She threw two more pebbles before she saw dark shadows move behind the curtains and glass. The window creaked before hands peeked out, pushing the window open.

Tobias glanced around blindly, hazel eyes still heavy with sleep, a deep frown on his lips. He spotted her before rubbing his eyes, trying to clear his foggy vision. When everything came into focus, the frown disappeared from his face and was replaced with a look of confusion and concern. He sighed tiredly, rubbing at his disheveled hair.

"I'm not going to tell you what time it is because you probably already know," He said, a loud yawn escaping from his mouth. "But is there a reason for this unexpected wake-up call?"

Joselyn smiled sheepishly but nonetheless, was grateful for his patience. She cut to the point. "I ran away from home."

If Tobias was surprised, he hid it well. In fact, he seemed mildly interested. "Ran away from home?" He repeated, leaning against the windowpane. "Care to share?"

"Come down, we can talk at the park."

"And if I say no?"

Joselyn was taken aback for a moment. She honestly hadn't thought he would say no. Then she shrugged nonchalantly. "I wouldn't hold it against you. I mean, I did interrupt your sleep and all."

"Doesn't matter." Tobias yawned again. "I had to get up in half an hour anyway. English papers don't write themselves, you know. I'll be down in five minutes. Wait for me at the park."

-

"Are there any places Joselyn usually goes to?" Spike asked. "Friends?"

Faye kept her gaze on the passing streets and early morning pedestrians. "The only other place she goes to is Jet's. But I know she's not there. He would have called me by now. Other than that, no. Joselyn...for the most part, keeps to herself."

Spike wanted to ask why but decided against it, keeping his thoughts to himself. Another hour had passed and he was starting to get anxious. He had attempted to keep the horrible possibilities away but as each hour came and went, they continued to loom on his conscience. He couldn't help but feel this was his fault in some way. Spike glanced at Faye, finally choosing to be bold and ask the questions he was dying to have answered.

"Faye, what happened?" From the corner of his eye, he saw her body tense considerably. He winced mentally. Bad move. Then he added quickly, "You don't have to tell me. I'm sorry about asking-"

"She knows," Faye answered and Spike knew exactly what she was talking about. So Joselyn knew every possible thing about her mother now. His heart ached for her, for both of them. Would this new information put a permanent strain on their relationship? Would Joselyn have enough compassion to forgive Faye? Spike was pulled away from his thoughts when Faye spoke again. "I was planning on telling her someday. I mean, she's still too young and I was so afraid she wouldn't understand. But when it comes down to it, all of our problems were caused by me."

"That's not true, Faye."

"Stop it, Spike," She reprimanded him gently. "You've even told me about my problems so there's no use in trying to be sympathetic." Faye felt the familiar hot stinging and closed her eyes to fight away the tears. Tears had never helped her before and they weren't going to help her now. "If I could, there are a lot of mistakes I would have changed, things I would have done differently. All for her sake."

"But you can't," Spike replied. "All you can do now is start from right here. Mend your mistakes from the past by making the right choices for the future."

Faye didn't answer immediately but when she did respond, Spike was more than surprised by her words. "Your daughter has more of you than just your eyes." She turned and Spike could feel her gaze on his face. His heart began to speed up. Even though it was faint, she was smiling. "I've done so many things, made so many mistakes, and I've been exposed. Both of you know everything about me. I don't know why but...Joselyn stays. Just like you, she stays."

If it was his luck or his misfortune, Spike would never know. As soon as she'd said that comment, they stopped at an intersection as the light signaled red. He was already looking at her before he realized it, truly believing Faye could hear the hammering of his heart against his chest. And all she's doing is staring, he thought, awed. Part of him wanted to laugh. To his dying day, Spike knew this woman would have a hold on him. The light turned green and the moment was over.

Faye looked away first, focusing her attention on her hands as a revelation came to her. Her mind's eye began to fill with images of a young boy with pretty hazel eyes. "I forgot. There is someone Joselyn spends time with."

-

The neighborhood park was definitely a sight for sore eyes at dawn. Joselyn had never been driven enough to get up at such an early hour to see the sun rise. But now that she was here, she took full advantage of the beautiful visionary as the oranges, reds, pinks, and violets swirled together with the glint of bright yellow that was the sun. She breathed in deeply, exhaling after a few moments. She glanced beside her and smiled to herself as she became more interested in Tobias' facial expression than the sun. His eyes were half-lidded, blinking slowly as a lazy smile settled on his lips. The sun's rays only seemed to enhance his features, bringing out the different shades in his eyes and highlighting the natural colors in his usually dark hair.

This is nice, Joselyn thought. And dare she say...romantic? No, nothing like that. Those kinds of thoughts were far too complicated for her right now. But maybe in a couple of years, it would be more appropriate. But still...there was such a thing as puppy love.

"Something interesting on my face?" Tobias spoke up, not bothering to look away from the rising sun.

Joselyn's smile widened, unable to stop herself from blushing. She had been caught red-handed. "Maybe," She answered.

He chuckled before turning to her. "This is great, Joselyn. It's not everyday you get to see the sun rise. But we've been sitting here for about half an hour and you haven't said a word."

Her smile faded and he was quick to notice. "Do I have to?"

Tobias' face became serious. "No. You can talk when you're ready."

Joselyn's grin returned. "Thank you."

His did as well. "You're welcome." Tobias was purposely indiscreet as he slid himself across the bench, nearing her. "You want to know something about me?" He was grinning so broadly and his eyes were shining so bright from the sun.

Curiosity getting the best of her, Joselyn came close. "What?"

"Look at my face very carefully," He instructed gently. She did as she was told and it wasn't long before Joselyn could feel the warmth of his hand hovering over her own. Tobias hesitated for a second before he grasped her hand, bringing it up to let her fingertips rest against his cheek. "Do you see what I see?"

Joselyn shook her head slowly. She couldn't remember when they had gotten so close, when his smile had become so endearing and his eyes so depthless. For a few seconds, she forgot how to breathe. "What am I looking for?" She asked.

"It may not look like it," Tobias started. "But I'm an old man."

Joselyn flushed deeply, pushing herself away before giving Tobias a slap on the shoulder. "I thought it was something serious!"

"This is serious!" But he was laughing. "I'm an old man. My birthday...is coming up." He glanced at her. "Look at me. In about a week, I'll be the oldest thirteen year old in the world."

"But look at all the things you'll be able to do," Joselyn argued. "You'll probably have a later curfew and..." She trailed off, unable to think of anything else. She smiled. "You'll at least be a teenager."

Tobias' grin faded into a soft smile. "You're right." He looked at his hands. "I've been waiting twelve years for this."

"Are you going to do anything special?" She asked after a moment of comfortable silence. "A party?"

He shook his head. "Nothing like that," He replied. "I'm not really into parties. Usually, my parents spoil me for the day and I'm satisfied with that."

Joselyn suddenly felt very shy. "Can I...spoil you?"

Tobias smirked. "What did you have in mind?"

She stood up and glanced down at him. "I can't tell you that." She grinned. "I want to surprise you."

"Can I guess?"

"No, no guessing." Her gaze went to the sun, slowly but surely, it was ascending farther and farther away from the horizon. "Tobias, thank you."

Tobias got to his feet as well and swept an arm around her shoulders, giving her a squeeze before letting go. "You're welcome. Can I walk you home?"

"I'm still angry with my mother," She responded without thinking.

He didn't know the whole story and was certain Joselyn would never tell him. But like he had said to her, he was all right with that. "Then just tell me you're ready to go home."

-

Faye could slowly feel her resolve leave her. They had combed through every part of the suburbs without finding a single clue as to where Joselyn could be. Even though she knew that boy by face, she couldn't remember his name. Plus, she had no idea where he lived and searching for him would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. As of right now, their searching was completely useless.

Spike had parked his car in an abandoned lot and there they stayed, quiet and lost in their own thoughts while Faye readied herself for her eventual breakdown. Spike noticed her shaking and tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's all right," He reassured her. "Joselyn might have gone home. Why don't we check one more time, okay? If she isn't there, then...I'm afraid we'll have to call the police."

"Police?" Faye echoed before her face paled. Then the awful images came. Police meant investigations, possible kidnapping, suspected rape, and even worst, murder. She closed her eyes, her vision blurring as her breath came in quick, sharp gasps. Her heart wouldn't stop racing. Faintly, she could feel palms and fingers resting against her shoulders. "What if something really happened to her?" Faye's voice sounded choked and she didn't like it. "I could have stopped this. I shouldn't have been so angry with her. I-"

"Faye, look at me," Spike pleaded firmly. "Look at me."

She did as she was told and it was then Faye was suddenly aware of each tear rolling down her cheeks and Spike's fingers wiping the moisture away from her face. He was so close to her now, so close that she could feel the heat coming off his skin despite the cold shivers drifting down her spine, feel his breath hot against her neck, and feel the strange but familiar sensation in the pit of her stomach whenever she gazed into his eyes.

Spike's touch was deliberate and slow and gentle, combing strands of her violet hair away from her face before tucking them behind her ears. He quietly eased away all her worries with each stroke of his warm fingers against her face. Though she tried to resist, Faye couldn't help it. She was leaning into his hands. She abruptly realized this touch.

"Nothing has happened to Joselyn," Spike whispered and his voice was so confident, so sure that she couldn't help but believe him. "She's fine, she's strong like you." His thumb brushed against her quivering lips. "Trust me, Faye." He drew nearer still, coming to rest his forehead against hers. "Do you trust me?"

Faye could feel all her defenses shaking and crumbling and crashing around her. It had taken her nine years to build those walls, nine years to shield her heart, and Spike, the very man she had driven away, learned to distrust, destroyed them in a matter of seconds with sweet, promising words and comforting touches. Faye was eighteen again, remembering several years and a lifetime ago, Spike had been hers and for a moment, they had been happy.

She nodded finally, her hand clasping over Spike's. "Yes, I trust you."

He was a bit hesitant but felt the question forming on his lips before he could stop himself. "Audrey," He pronounced the name carefully, pausing to get his bearings. "I saw Joselyn's initials. You named her Audrey. Why?"

Faye was silent for a long time before she replied. "It had only been seven months, Spike." She smiled wistfully. "I had just moved from Mars, I was starting a new life, and I was about to be a mother. I thought all of that would distract me from what I refused to let myself see: I missed you. I still loved you. And back then, to me, Joselyn was our child."

He cupped her face, keeping her eyes on him. "I don't understand. Why did you leave me, Faye?"

"I...thought you wouldn't want me anymore. I made up lies, told myself that if you didn't need me, then I didn't need you. Spike, you had everything: power, money, Julia. Then there was me, the pregnant teenager. I felt like a whore and I didn't want to be like my mother. I wanted to fend for myself." Faye's grip on Spike's hand became tighter. "When I was younger, I used to wonder about what kind of life I would have had with you. What would have happened if I'd waited for you for one more second, one more hour, one more day?" Her grip on his hand tightened. "Now I know."

Spike watched as Faye's face crumpled beneath the weight of her emotional burden. Understanding and without a word, he held out his arms and she launched herself into his awaiting embrace, heavy sobs racking her frame. She had never cried so hard in her life. And what made it worst was Faye knew she had been her undoing. The what ifs, could haves, and should haves, the unanswerable, had never happened because she had not allowed them to.

As her crying ceased, as Spike held her, raking his fingers through her hair, Faye found her voice, giving him the apology she should have said years ago. "I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too."

"Why are you apologizing?" She inquired, her eyes watering once more. She already knew the answer. Spike was always so gentle with her. Whether the fault lay with either one of them or both, he was sorry all the same.

Spike turned his head slightly to place a light kiss on her brow, not knowing why but feeling the need to. She slowly pulled away from him to look into his eyes. Spike drank in Faye's appearance, suddenly fearing this would be the last time he would be this intimate with her.

Though weak, she laughed. "I cried all over your shirt." Her emerald orbs were still glistening, a silent threat of another possible onslaught of weeping. The teardrops that had already come and gone left tracks on her pale cheeks while her hair was tousled and tangled and matted.

But she was beautiful.

His voice was quiet too. "It's okay."

-

For one hour, Joselyn quietly prepared herself for her mother's return home. She knew the woman had gone out looking for her and was somewhat relieved to find her not there when Tobias escorted her home. But now that she was here, in her bedroom, huddled tightly under her covers, she truly had no idea what she was going to say to her mother. She felt she had a right to be upset with Faye but as time passed and her anger eased, she was left only with guilt. Joselyn considered herself a usually calm and collected person. She never yelled, never demanded, and never lost her control. But her prior emotional outburst had proven otherwise.

She felt her heart skip a beat when she heard the front door creak open. Then came the light and familiar footfalls of her mother as she closed the door, climbed the stairs, and trekked slowly down the hallway. The girl heard her come to a stop at the fork between the master bedroom and her daughter's. Joselyn knew she was considering, thinking, rationalizing, and then, her bedroom door opened and she could feel Faye's gaze on her.

This is what she had prepared for: the yelling, the screaming, and the inevitable punishment. Joselyn was expecting at least a month, maybe two. Her outburst could be forgiven but the running away was a big no-no by any means. She was expecting no calls, no going to the library, no hanging out with her only friend, and especially no visiting Spike. Joselyn was expecting all those things and more but was not ready when she felt the blankets being pulled away from her and the warmth of her Faye's body against her own. Her mother wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close.

Joselyn was facing away from Faye, staring at the wall, only imaging what her mother's expression was. She wanted to say something, anything to break the heavy silence. But she waited, waited for her mother to answer the questions she didn't have the courage to ask.

"Maybe-" But Faye suddenly falter, pausing to think of her next words or ease the overbearing fear, Joselyn did not know. "Maybe...there was another way. At the time though, I didn't really see it. I kept thinking to myself, 'this is my fault so I need to fix it as soon as possible.' I felt cornered and scared and I eventually caved in.

"During the beginning, I wondered...how did I become such a monster? I couldn't look at myself in the mirror for months. And when I did have to go to work, I always felt sick when some man, a complete stranger, leered at me, touched me, and there was nothing I could do about it because it was part of my job description.

"I wanted to tell Jet. I wanted to tell him so badly, Joselyn. But the man might as well be my father. I wasn't strong enough to ask for help. If I said anything to him, I knew he would still talk to me but I would no longer have his respect. And Edward, losing her love..." Faye trailed off, her voice abandoning her as it was replaced by a soft hitch in her breathing. Joselyn, at that point, knew she was trying to hold back her tears.

"I wanted to wait until you were older," Faye started up again, her voice barely a whisper, her breath blowing on Joselyn's ear. "I was ashamed and...I couldn't tell anyone, especially you. The thought of losing your respect, your trust, and your love...I couldn't bear it." Faye hugged Joselyn tighter. "Don't ever forget, you are everything to me. You are...everything that I have." Joselyn could hear the smile in her voice. "Not only are you my daughter, you are my very best friend.

"I can understand if you choose not to forgive me. But understand I am nowhere near perfect. I've made mistakes like any other human and it wouldn't be fair for you to put me on a pedestal when I haven't even earned it. I just hope you find it in your heart to eventually accept me. Flaws and all."

Joselyn felt her mother shift, lean over and press a kiss to her cheek before climbing out of the bed. The girl rolled over, her eyes on Faye's back as she moved farther and farther away from her. The loss of warmth bothered her and Joselyn suddenly couldn't breathe, realizing she was still a little girl. She still yearned for the comfort only her mother could provide.

"Mom," Faye instantly turned and both mother and daughter stared at each other for the first time.

Joselyn had been right, Faye was trying to hold back her tears. Her emerald eyes were glossy, even brighter from the early morning rays of the sun. The smile tugging at her lips was tired, pained, but somehow loving all the same. The girl felt her hands itching for her mother's embrace but she still held back, her gaze never wavering. She had never seen Faye so exhausted, so defeated and she took in the sight. Joselyn loved her mother for many reasons but loved her even more because, even with flaws, she always tried. She always kept going. All the decisions Faye had made, good and bad, had been for her daughter's benefit alone.

Her mother's forehead creased, her eyebrows knitting together in worry. But her smile stayed strong. "Joselyn," She called gently. "Why are you crying?"

Instinctively, the girl licked her lips and could taste the salt from her tears before the first sob rack her body. She climbed out of the bed and Faye was waiting with open arms as she approached her and clung to her. The familiar feelings of warmth and safety came and Joselyn felt like nothing in the world could touch her.

"I'm sorry," Faye murmured against her neck. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."

-

"So...did you resolve everything with your mother?"

Joselyn stopped scribbling away at her worksheet, seriously contemplating his question. To say that everything was back to normal, or as normal as it could be for them, would be going too far. There was an awkwardness between her and her mother. But there was no anger or animosity. For now, it was nothing that a little time could not take care of. She finally smiled at him, nodding vigorously.

"We just had a misunderstanding. Everything is fine now." Her smile widened. "Thank you for asking."

"Why wouldn't I?" He returned her gesture before moving on to another subject. "The countdown continues. Four-"

"Yes, yes. Four more days until your birthday. I know." Her smile became a teasing smirk. "You've made sure to remind me at least five times everyday, Tobias."

"Any chance of you telling me about my surprise?"

"Not until the day of," Joselyn replied. "And no guessing this time. Do you want to ruin the suspense?"

"Yes," Tobias leaned forward, staring directly at her and effectively keeping her from finishing her work. He knew when people stared, it made her nervous. "Just tell me. I'll make it up to you when your birthday comes around." When Joselyn shook her head, instead of pursuing, he gave up. But not without sending a few mock sulky looks in her direction. Though his sour mood quickly left him as he noticed something. Tobias' hand reached out, tapping just below the length of her hair. "It's growing."

Joselyn briefly glanced at the ends of her hair, nodding in confirmation. It now reached just passed her shoulders. "I was thinking about cutting it. I kind of like it short."

"Oh, that's too bad," Tobias responded. "I like your hair long."

She touched her hair, rethinking her decision. "Really?"

"Yes. But either way, it looks good on you." He leaned forward again. "And since I gave you such a wonderful compliment, it won't be too much trouble for you to tell me about my surprise." However, one pointed look from Joselyn and Tobias was silenced, falling back into his chair and once again, muttering and sulking to himself.

"Tobias?"

He couldn't help but make his voice sound indignant. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you serious question?" Curiosity roused, he nodded and waited for her to continue. "If you had one day...one more day to live, what would you do?"

Tobias stared at her, stunned a little by her question. "Oh...well...wow."

Joselyn frowned, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," She said. "I shouldn't have asked you such a personal question. It was so out of the blue, you must have not been expecting it. I-"

"First," Tobias cut in. "I'd probably eat the most delicious, biggest, most fattening meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Of course, prepared by my mother because she's the best cook in the world. Maybe read a few chapters from my favorite book, go for a walk, hang out with my friends, listen to music, definitely skip school, and watch the stars." He grinned sheepishly. "Nothing really special and...I kind of do that now. So..." He shrugged. "It can't be helped, I guess."

Joselyn had completely forgotten about her worksheet now. Her mind was wandering. What prompted her to ask such a question and more importantly, could she think of her own answer?

"So what would you did if you had one day to live?" The inevitable inquiry came.

Her head was bowed slightly, her eyes on the window. "I don't know."

"Come on, Jos. Just think about something, it's-"

"I don't know," She said again, putting weight on her words. "Truthfully, honestly, I don't know."

She heard the shuffle of his shoes as walked towards her, stooping down to meet her eyes. "Joselyn." He was serious now. "Are you sure you are all right?"

Joselyn gave him her best smile. "Fine. Couldn't be better."

"Joselyn," Tobias said again, only this time deliberately slow, stressing every syllable. "Are you sure you're all right?"

She reached for his shoulders, holding them firmly in place. "Believe me, I am fine. Why in the world would I lie to you?"

He eased back, eyeing her carefully and Joselyn felt so exposed under his gaze. Suddenly the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Grateful, she gathered her things and headed towards the door of the empty classroom, glancing back at Tobias. She gave him a questioning look and finally, he stood, grabbed his backpack and followed her into the busying hallway. Not usually a big fan of awkward silences, he decided to move on to other things.

"I don't know if you've heard but-"

"I know." Joselyn nodded. "Alessandra is back." She fiddled with her hands, more out of habit than anything else. "I haven't personally spoken with her but I don't mind."

"Are you worried?"

"Why should I be? I'm sure Alessandra learned her lesson. Hopefully, she won't treat another girl like that ever again." She shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe we'll be best friends and look back on this and laugh." Joselyn nudged Tobias in his side, laughing a little at her joke. When he did not return the gesture, she fell silent. "Oh come on, don't be so uptight about it."

"I hope you haven't forgotten what she did to you," Tobias said. To prove his point, his fingers brushed against the underside of her upper left arm, his touch coming in contact with a nasty looking scar. Joselyn flinched, moving away from his fingers and covering the blemish with her own. She remembered, and the terrible experience had shaken her in a way that would stay with her forever. Joselyn couldn't stand to be alone for long periods of time. She had developed a slight paranoia, watchful and distant of people she did not know well. But she didn't need to tell Tobias that, for the past several weeks, he had watched it unfold himself.

Joselyn smiled, forcing herself to pull out of her sully mood. "Stop worrying, Tobias," She chided him half-heartedly. "What am I? A kid?" Before he could deliver a smart retort, she was already walking away from him. "You're going to make me late for class. I'll see you later." She didn't dare turn around.

Tobias watched her retreating form, frowning to himself. Joselyn was too good for her own good. And that, broke his heart.

-

"Spike!" Edward smiled brightly, genuinely pleased to see such an unexpected visitor aboard the Bebop. "What brings you to my humble abode?"

Spike had a stuffed paper bag cradled in his arms. He set it down on the table, smiling back at the girl. "I wanted to come by and visit. I haven't been here in a while and," He pointed to the paper bag, "I bought lunch."

Ed's smile softened. "You didn't have to do that."

He felt something familiar rub up against his ankle and without taking his eyes off Edward, Spike bent down and scooped Ein up, turning him over and giving him a good rub on his tummy and behind his ears. "I wanted to," He replied finally. "So...where's the captain of this ship?"

She stretched herself out on the couch, eyes on the swinging ceiling fan. "With the bonsai." Her smile blossomed into a smirk. "You know how Jet is with those plants of his. He treats them like their his children." She shook her head. "I told the man it was time for him to go out and meet some nice girls but-"

"I refuse to be taking advice on my love life from a sixteen year old!" Jet was suddenly behind Spike, glaring daggers at the innocent looking Edward. If looks could kill...

"Jet, I'm only suggesting for your benefit-"

"Suggesting?" Jet grumbled. "More like pressuring-"

She pretended not to hear him. "-Besides, I've heard Ganymede has a great speed-dating service and-"

"What would you know? I haven't seen you-"

"Actually," Edward interjected smoothly. "I've been on several dates. I have one this Friday."

"What!" Jet was slowly approaching her. "Who? Where? When? Why? How?"

"Stop that," She reprimanded, scowling. "You should have known it was coming. And if it makes you feel better, nothing's really happening. I'm just doing trial and error." Then Edward looked away from him, finding her feet more interesting to stare at. Her next words were gentle. "Anyway, I wouldn't do anything without your approval, Jet."

Jet sulked a little more before turning away from her. He settled his gaze on Spike. "I haven't seen you in a long time."

"Yeah, it's been a while," Spike agreed as he placed Ein down. "How goes the bounty hunting?"

"Better than expected. We actually have money in our pockets."

He chuckled. "I brought lunch. Do you guys care to join me?"

But before Jet could give him an answer, there was a loud crash that sounded to the ends of the ship. They all looked at each other as the crash was quickly followed by colorful language and grumbling.

"Jet!" Faye bellowed. "How many times have I asked you not to leave that stupid laundry basket at the door! I trip over it every time! And then you leave the door to the landing strip open when I tell you not to! Someone could just walk in here and-!" But the rest of what she was about to say died on her lips as she reached the end of the hall and realized Spike was there too. She could already feel herself blushing as she looked away.

She hadn't seen Spike in well over a week since...their reconciliation. At least, that's what she liked to call it. To say that she was embarrassed was an understatement. When she had been angry with him, she could at least stare at Spike and keep her emotions in check. Now, with no grudges and him staring so intently at her, Faye's blush deepened and that was enough said. She cleared her throat to break the silence.

"Hello...everyone," She greeted.

Edward stared curiously at both Spike and Faye. She had witnessed the hostility between them, more times than she liked. Spike or Faye on the Bebop, cursing and muttering the other's name with the 'she said' or 'he said' ordeal to boot. But now, it was different. There was tension, no doubt about it. But she, even though she'd never say it aloud, had already classified it as sexual tension. The moment Spike reappeared in Faye's life, the feeling had been coming off the woman in waves. Now, they were no longer hiding it. But it seemed like all the adults that surrounded her, especially these three, suffered from sexual tension the most. Haven't any of them heard of one night stands?

She broke the silence. "Spike brought lunch, Faye. If you would like to join us...?" Edward left the rest of her sentence unsaid, casting the woman a pointed look that screamed, 'you better not say no.'

Faye caught the look and nodded. "Sure, why not."

But to Ed's dismay, the awkwardness continued. Spike and Faye avoided staring at each other, went out of their way to make sure they were as far apart as possible, and directed their conversations to either Jet or herself. Honestly! Joselyn was more mature than both of them. If anything was going to happen between these two, having other people around wasn't going to help. Edward finished her lunch quickly before getting to her feet.

"That was delicious. Thank you, Spike," She said, glancing at her imaginary watch. "Would you look at the time! Joselyn's probably out of school by now."

That snapped Faye out of her stupor. "Joselyn," She mumbled, as if remembering she had a child. "Edward, don't worry-"

"No, no, I don't mind," She insisted. "You haven't finished your lunch yet." She looked at Jet. "Better yet, why don't you come with me?"

Taking the hint, Jet rose. "Thanks," He nodded to Spike before joining Ed at the end of the hallway. "You two take your time." The pair left and Faye was silently begging them not to leave her alone with him.

Inevitably, she dared to glance at Spike and was not surprised to see him staring at her. Nevertheless, it didn't keep her heart from skipping a beat every now and then. She managed a small smile in his direction.

"It's been a while since I've seen you," Faye commented softly. "Ummm..."

"Yeah, busy and all." Spike mentally sighed. That had to be his weakest excuse. Busy doing what? He had no job. Heck, he didn't even have a hobby. "How's Joselyn?"

"Great. She's doing wonderful." Green eyes drifted towards the corridor, knowing Jet and Edward were far away from the Bebop and not coming to rescue her. Ed thought she was sly. Whatever. That girl knew full well Joselyn did not need to be picked up from school for another two hours. For all Faye knew, those two were probably laughing at her. She would have laughed too, if the situation didn't involve her, that is. "What about you? How are you doing, Spike?"

"I'm fine," He nodded, feeling his voice had not convinced him enough.

"That's good to hear." When the silence resumed for another full minute, Faye let out a tired sigh. This 'conversation' was going nowhere and she could no longer stand the tension. It was time for her to leave. She stood up. "Thank you for the lunch, Spike." She winced mentally, realizing she hadn't even bothered to touch her food. "I have a lot of errands to do. Hopefully, I'll see you later." Faye started for the hallway but came to a stop when she felt his fingers on her shoulder. She looked expectantly at him. "Something wrong?"

"I'm not doing anything...on Friday, I mean." Spike fidgeted and stared at the floor, feeling sixteen again. There was no need for him to be nervous, he had experience with this. He knew what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. But for some reason, Faye knew exactly how to break down his confidence without even realizing it. He wondered if he had, to a degree, the same affect on her. Probably not. "I was wondering if you were doing anything on Friday. If you aren't, then both of us aren't doing anything on Friday. We'd be free and doing nothing on Friday." How much stupider could he have sounded?

Faye turned to face him, giving him a suspicious look and if he wasn't mistaken, was that amusement in her eyes?

"Yes, I'm free on Friday," She answered, her voice innocent. "Why do you ask, Spike?"

"Well...you know...Friday. It's the beginning of the weekend and..."

She nodded her head in agreement. "People are usually having a night on the town, hanging out with friends and...lovers."

"Yeah, yeah. And since I'm free on Friday and you're available on Friday, I-"

"Spike?"

"Yes?"

Faye, for the duration of their conversation, had focused her attention on his chest. Looking anywhere else would have made her just as nervous as Spike was now. But she finally stared into his eyes. As she did so, she silently admitted to herself each time she did, it got a little easier and the butterflies in her stomach more bearable. She didn't bother to hide her flushed cheeks.

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

"Yes," Spike responded, adding quickly, "It doesn't have to be anything special. We could just meet up at the park, or a cafe, or anyplace you want."

She smiled slightly. She felt giddy but did well to hide it. "Why don't we go to the park. I can make lunch and we can...talk."

He smiled as well. "Okay."

"Okay." Faye nodded. "Well, I'll be going. Bye, Spike."

Spike, not trusting his voice, managed to wave as she turned to leave. Even though he was a little disappointed to see her depart so soon, he was still on cloud nine. He hadn't been this happy since their first date, the day Spike had taken Faye to Earth. If this date went half as well as that one did, he would be a grateful man.

"I have a date with Faye," Spike whispered to himself. He glanced down when he heard Ein bark happily. His smile became a grin. "YES!"

-

"NO!" Faye covered her face with her hands. "What was I thinking! I was so caught up in the moment and Spike was so shy and I didn't have the heart to turn him down. What am I going to do, Edward?"

The young girl's ember eyes were focused on Jet, who was across the street, purchasing sundaes for them at a local ice cream parlor. There was a long line of waiting customers and he was at the end. Good, this conversation she was about to have with Faye was going to take a while. Now, the only question left was how was she going to approach this subject gently. But Ed quickly scrapped the idea. She was not known for her subtlety. Besides, she liked being blunt.

"I'm glad you said yes," Edward confessed. "Choosing the park was an excellent choice. You want to start off gradually, ease into it and having a date at the public park is the perfect setting."

Emerald eyes glanced at her. "Really?"

"Yes," Edward smiled encouragingly. She suddenly felt like a mother hen, coaching her inexperienced daughter about the dos and don'ts of Dating 101. "When was the last time you were on a date, anyway?"

Faye blushed furiously. "Edward! I haven't even been with a man in nine years! Nine years!" She purposely failed to mention the heated moment she shared with Spike at the nightclub and the intimate moment she had with him in his car.

Her eyes widened. "Wow..." She was a bit speechless. "Wow." No boyfriends? No casual flings? No one night stands? No friends with benefits? She leaned forward, feeling the need to whisper. "Not even a kiss?"

When Faye glared at her, Ed grinned sheepishly, holding up her hands in surrender. At least she could commend her for sheer willpower. That was something, Edward thought with a sly grin, that was not her specialty. She blamed her, if not romantic but passionate, escapades on the hormones. What could she say? She was a teenager.

Ed cleared her throat, getting back to business. "Okay, okay. So what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping your standards high-"

"Edward," Faye cut in glumly. "There's a difference between keeping high standards and just not getting any." You would think she would, especially with her nightly activities. But alas, no. Faye, every night, went home alone. She sighed.

"No mopping!" Ed snapped. "You and I both know you're beautiful and that's the end of that." She settled her attention on the blue sky. "Now, obviously, you and Spike have history." The woman snorted but Edward continued. "And obviously, there's still quite a bit of tension between you two. First and foremost, what you need to do is aim for comfort, Faye. Reestablish the familiarity you used to have with him. Don't do anything else."

"How do I know what's comfortable?"

"You'll know it when you feel it." She paused for a moment before speaking again. "How do you feel about Spike now?"

"I don't know."

Edward sighed. "That's not a legitimate answer. You know how you feel about him."

Faye played with her fingers. "I...like like him," She responded, feeling like a fool. She hadn't used that phrase since she was ten. She remembered it vividly too. She had accidentally hinted to Jet she liked a boy in her class. It wasn't long before he cornered her and made her confess. From then on, Jet was wary of any poor boy that dared to even glance in her direction. Faye pushed the thoughts aside, returning her concentration back on explaining her vague answer. "Despite the way I acted around him before, I care for Spike very deeply. Always have. I'm just embarrassed. Partially because I've completely forgotten how to talk to guys and because of how badly I treated him. I don't know how he can stand to be around me after what I said and did." She frowned slightly. "But he'll wait for me, not matter how long it takes. I know he loves me."

Edward frowned as well, resisting the urge to ask Faye if she loved Spike in return. She didn't know where their relationship would go from here. Would they take it slow and be friends? Or would they jump right into it and pray for a positive outcome? Personally, she thought it best Spike and Faye initiate a strictly platonic relationship so they could avoid hurt feelings and misunderstandings. But still, anyone with some common sense could see they wanted to be more than friends. It was right there, every time Spike and Faye happened to look at each other for too long.

"This will be our second date," Faye commented, wishing to break the uncomfortable silence. "I don't know what to do, let alone what to say."

"I'll give you a crash course," Ed promised. "Close your eyes."

Her body went rigid, her eyes alert and cautious. Edward was known to be a prankster. "Why?"

"I'm not going to do anything to you. But you're going to do some meditation." When Faye threw her a very quizzical look, she laughed. "Close your eyes." She was hesitant for a few seconds more before she conceded. Her eyes closed and for protection purposes, Faye folded her arms across her chest, preparing herself for Edward's possible tickle attack. However, she wasn't expecting what came next. "Do you remember your first date with Spike?"

Faye nodded tentatively but on second thought, chose to speak up. "Yes."

"Okay, I want you think only about that. Now, where did you go?"

"Earth."

Edward nodded to herself, impressed. That was original. "All right, how did you feel when he touched you or kissed you?" She blushed deeply. "You don't need to answer that, just think about it."

Faye did just that, seeing the memory so clearly in her mind's eye. Not including the birth of Joselyn, that was the happiest day of her life. Everything was perfect, intimate. Almost as if they were the only two people left on Earth. She told him all her secrets, told him about her mother, her father, her childhood, and her teenager years. Everything. And he had been so accepting, had even seemed to love her more for it.

Spike, for the first time, kissed her that day too. She felt him all over, his touch hot against her flesh, his fingertips caressing the underside of her face, his warm hands ghosting over her neck. When Spike kissed her, nothing else mattered but that moment. During those precious seconds, she'd lost herself, willingly drowning within the taste of him. She had fallen deeper and deeper, spinning head over heels, suddenly addicted to him and only wishing for more-

The hand on her shoulder cut off any further thoughts. Faye released a shaky breath before meeting Edward's smiling face.

"Do you remember?" When she nodded, the girl's smile widened. "That's what you're ultimately aiming for. But for right now, on this first date, no intimacy whatsoever. Don't go any farther than holding hands. If you jump in too quickly, it's only going to cause awkwardness for both of you which, I'm sure, you do not want."

"Ed, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, shoot."

Faye frowned. "When did you become so...experienced? I thought I'd be the one telling you about all of this."

Edward grinned. "I only tease Jet about it to get him mad. Truthfully though, I don't have much experience under my belt." Faye's frown deepened. She was clearly not convinced. "Hey, believe what you want. I can only defend myself so much."

"What if this doesn't work?"

"No more pessimism," Ed scolded lightly, watching as Jet made his way toward them, attempting to balance three monstrous sundaes in his hands. "You've been this way for nine years and it's time to stop." She gave Faye a side long glance. "What's wrong with allowing yourself the freedom to be happy?"

Faye smiled. "Thank you, Edward."

She waved her hand dismissively. "Anything for you. But," She smirked, "you can repay me by letting me eat dinner at your house. Your cooking has finally become decent."

Before Faye could respond, Jet placed a sundae in her open hands, gave another to Edward, and set his down on the table. "What were you two talking about?"

"My date on Friday," Edward lied, smirking. "Faye was helping me decide what to wear. I'm having the hardest time choosing between these two cocktail dresses I bought the other day."

"What! When did you go shopping and with who's money! You better cancel that date, Edward!"

Ed and Faye gazed at each other before breaking into hysterical fits of laughter.

-

"You're hiding something from me," Joselyn stated matter-of-factly. "What is it?"

Edward gave her an innocent look. "I have no idea what you're talking about." She continued slicing away at the onions on the chopping board. "What makes you think I would keep secrets from you?"

"Mom's avoiding me," She replied quietly. "Hasty excuses, walking home from school all by myself, and the fact that she's always here. With you." She had finished cutting the bell peppers. She dumped them into a sizzling frying pan before moving on to the mushrooms. "I've already spoken to Uncle Jet about this. He doesn't seem to know what's going on. But I refuse to be kept in the dark."

"Have you ever had fajitas?" Edward inquired conversationally. "I haven't, but Jet says they're really good so-"

"That was a terrible attempt at changing the subject," Joselyn admonished half-heartedly. "Come on, tell me. What's going on with you two?"

She gave in. "I'll tell you. But it's going to cost you."

The girl winced before sighing. Bribing Edward was usually a great feat. "I don't get much allowance but I can give you half of it for the next two weeks."

Ed laughed as she grabbed a spatula and scooped the chopped onions into the pan. She began to stir, adding the necessary seasonings as the smell of cooking vegetables permeated the air of the kitchen. She spared a glance at Joselyn before returning her attention to the task at hand. Edward could not blame Joselyn for being curious, maybe even a little hurt. Having her mother coming and going like that must have bothered her.

"I don't want money," Ed finally answered. "I need a favor."

Joselyn frowned slightly. "What kind of favor?"

"You're going to spy on your mother."

"Spy? Is something wrong?"

Edward couldn't help but grin. "Faye didn't want you to know but she has a date this afternoon. With Spike."

"...What? After all this time?"

"I know, finally." Her grin faded slightly. "But it might not happen." Her ember eyes darted to windows, frowning upon seeing the dark storm clouds. She could hear the heavy rumble of thunder in the distance. "The weather isn't cooperating."

Joselyn followed her gaze and silently agreed. This afternoon's date was going to be cancelled. But what she feared was that it might not be rescheduled. This was her chance. If she missed this opportunity, who knew what would happen.

"I have plan," Joselyn announced, smiling brightly. "We're going to make this date happen. One way or another."

Edward, seeing the mischievous smile on her face, smirked. "Please, pray tell."

"You'll see," She promised. "But we need Uncle Jet's help too."

-

Joselyn arrived at Tobias' house just as the afternoon storm passed, the gray clouds allowing the setting sun to reveal itself. She was jittery with apprehension and excitement. It had taken her weeks to save money to purchase a gift and even longer to think of the perfect gift. She just hoped he liked it.

Joselyn wanted to stay with him, at least get a good conversation in. But it seemed everything was happening on this particular day. Like Edward had predicted, due to the weather, Spike and Faye's afternoon date was cancelled. But with the help of Ed and Jet, they were able to come up with a last minute plan that was guaranteed to work. Joselyn wanted to make sure it was successful. The last thing she needed to witness was another fallout between her parents.

She gingerly raised her hand and knocked on the door of the grand house, feeling her heart race even more. Faintly, she could hear music coming from inside. Tobias had mentioned he would probably spend the evening with his family. If that was the case, Joselyn decided she'd drop off her presents, say a quick hello, and depart. She did have things to do and could not linger. But when no answer came, she knocked a little louder. Finally, the front door swung open, Tobias facing her.

"Joselyn." He glanced over his shoulder. "This is a bad time. Can I talk to you later?"

Even though she wouldn't admit it to herself, Joselyn felt a little slighted by his greeting. She smiled through it. "I'll be quick. I just wanted to drop off your birthday presents. Happy thirteenth!" She held up the wrapped boxes but was surprised when he refused to accept them.

That's when Joselyn noticed the heavy bass from a stereo system, the refreshments, and the crowds of young preteens and teenagers in the entryway and living room. Some were dancing to the music, others were socializing in small groups or pairs. She attempted to keep up a happy facade but it failed her miserably. She bowed her head away from Tobias, not wanting him to see her face. She understood now. A party. A party she had not been invited to.

"Joselyn, I can explain. I-"

"It's okay!" She smiled. "I completely understand. You wanted to hang out with friends your own age. I mean, look at us. You're almost four years older than me." She placed the presents in his hands. "I need to get going anyway."

Before Tobias could defend himself, the door opened further. Both looked up to see a very familiar blond haired, blue eyed girl, smiling sweetly.

"Toby! I've been looking all over for you. We're about to play spin the bottle!" Alessandra exclaimed. She noticed they were not alone. She turned to face Joselyn and her smile widened. "Joselyn, it's been a while. I haven't seen you in school at all."

Joselyn gave the girl a smile that didn't really reach her eyes. Ever since Alessandra's return, she had made it a point to stay far, far away from her at all costs. Alessandra would probably never know how much she affected her, the apprehension she felt when she was alone for too long, the way she shivered every time she passed an alleyway, reminding her of the horrible day. Without realizing it, Joselyn touched the nasty scar on her arm and frowned, suddenly annoyed because it would never heal properly. She snapped out of her thoughts once she realized Alessandra was still talking to her.

"...I decided to throw my birthday boy here a surprise party." Tobias shot Alessandra a heated glare and she merely giggled. "Come on, don't give me that look, Toby. I couldn't resist and your parents and brother were so willing to help me plan this for you." Her blue eyes met Joselyn's. "You know, I would have invited you and all. But I didn't have your phone number and I had no idea where you lived-"

"That's all right. I'm busy tonight anyway." Joselyn glanced at Tobias and nodded. "I'll see you on Monday. You too, Alessandra."

Joselyn turned away from the pair, not waiting for a response from Tobias as she started to speed walk. She had done nothing wrong. Absolutely nothing wrong! So why was she so embarrassed? Why did it feel like she was intruding on them? Joselyn let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding and decided to let it go. She wouldn't let this get to her, even though she felt like she was being robbed of her only friend.

"Joselyn!"

She didn't bother to turn to see who it was, already knowing. Tobias had caught up to her with quick, long strides. He stared down at her but noticed she was avoiding his gaze. He couldn't help but smile slightly.

"Don't be mad with me," He begged quietly.

"Who said I was mad?" Joselyn inquired, glancing down at her feet. Anywhere but at him. "I'm not mad."

"I'm sorry." He touched her shoulder. "Alessandra lied to my parents and told them I wanted a party. I had no idea it was going to happen until it was too late." Tobias paused, hoping Joselyn would respond. When she didn't, he changed the subject. "How did you know I like to draw? I don't remember telling you."

She finally looked up, the gifts she had brought to him in his hands. A sketching kit and new headphones for his CD player. Forgetting about her sulky mood, she smiled sheepishly. "I don't know. When I first saw you...you seemed like an artist to me. I guess it was just luck." Her eyes were hopeful. "Do you like them?"

Joselyn's answer was his arms enveloping her in a warm hug. She bit down on her lip to keep from sighing out loud, remembering the last time he held her like this. Beaten, bleeding, and close to unconsciousness, Tobias embraced her for what seemed like forever before carrying her badly injured body home to her mother. From that day on, he came to visit her everyday and Joselyn believed that was when their friendship really took off. She briefly wondered why they hadn't met each other earlier in life.

Tobias pulled away from her, grinning broadly. "I love them. Thank you." His arm snaked around her shoulders. "I'll make sure to repay the favor when your birthday comes around."

Joselyn frowned momentarily. "That won't be for a while. My birthday isn't until November."

"That's okay. It gives me more time to think about the perfect gift for you."

She smiled, regretting the fact she had to leave. "I have to go."

"Let me walk you home."

"What about your party? What about...Alessandra?"

Tobias' smile vanished, his features becoming serious. "What about her?"

She looked away from him, blushing slightly. "If you insist," She replied. "But I'm not going home."

"Oh? Where?"

"My mother has a date tonight and I'm going to go spy." When Tobias gave her a questioning look, she smiled again. "I'll explain on the way. Let's go."

-

"What happened to your date? Aren't you still going?"

Edward turned to the woman beside her, grinning. "Don't worry about that, Faye. I have plenty of time. Besides, I want you to check out this coffeehouse with me. I hear the live performances are amazing."

"I don't know. I left Joselyn-"

"Don't worry about her. You know that girl can take care of herself on the Bebop."

Faye was frowning but nodded in agreement. "I guess you're right."

She took in her surroundings and realized they were in the northeast part of Ganymede, dubbed the 'light district.' Even though it was about eight o'clock at night, the bright colors from the flashing neon signs made this area of the city continuously active all day and all night. It didn't matter, people from all groups and all walks of life came here with the sole purpose of being entertained.

Edward rounded another corner and Faye followed close behind, not wanting to get lost in the hordes of people. They walked for another two blocks before Edward came to a stop at a small but cozy looking cafe. Faye peered inside through the glass, taking note of the two-seater tables, the loveseat couches located in the far corners, the live band on stage, and the bartenders serving hot and cold coffee beverages to customers. It was nice.

"I came across this place a couple of months ago and I've become a frequent visitor," Ed commented.

"Are the prices reasonable?"

"Very reasonable." She nodded, looking inside as well. "I think that might be a new band. I've never seen them here before."

Faye was about to ask another question but Edward turned away from her, waving to someone in the distance. Curious, she followed her gaze and felt her heart stop when she saw Jet and Spike coming their way. For some reason, Faye suddenly wanted the ground to swallow her. She was embarrassed, not to mention not properly dressed. When Edward had dragged her out of her house, she hadn't bothered with jewelry, make-up and getting dressed. She'd chosen something simple to wear for the day: a sundress that brought out her eyes with matching flip-flops. Faye glanced at her reflection and hastily brushed back a few strands from her messy ponytail. One of these days, she'd have to go cut her hair. A bob was so much easier.

"Jet! Spike! What a surprise! What are you two doing here?" Edward grinned knowingly at Jet and he returned it with his own.

"We were in the neighborhood and I wanted to show Spike this coffeehouse. What about you?"

"Same! I guess since we're all here, why don't we go inside and find some seats?"

They nodded to each other, not bothering to ask whether Faye or Spike were in agreement before stepping inside. The pair remaining behind stared at one another for a moment and to Faye's surprise, Spike came close, whispering in her ear with heated breath.

"This was planned," He meet her gaze.

She felt her knees buckle slightly but quickly pulled herself together. "I know."

Fortunately or unfortunately, Spike moved away from her, smiling. "We might as well take advantage of it." He held the door open for her. "After you."

Faye smiled as well before entering the coffeehouse, taking in the delicious and comforting aroma of brewing coffee. She spotted Edward and Jet towards the front and walked the short distance, seating herself across from Jet. Spike soon followed and the four tried to make do with the little space they had at the cramped table. After much shifting and fidgeting, Edward quickly got to her feet, grinning at the trio.

"I lost track of time," She announced. "I need to go get ready for my date."

She didn't miss Jet's frown. "You didn't cancel that date like I told you to?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because that Jason guy-"

"His name is Trey."

"Whatever. The point is I don't like him, Edward. He gives off bad vibes."

She rolled her eyes, blatantly ignoring the rest of Jet's tirade. "Spike, Faye. Have fun." Ed headed for the door and Jet, with a quick goodbye, went after her, their bickering fading as they moved farther away.

Faye sighed. "Those two..." But she trailed off, realizing quite suddenly that she loved them.

"Well, I guess it's just the two of us."

She nearly jumped, completely forgetting Spike was still with her. That meant...she was alone. With him. So close. Hmm...was this a date?

As if reading her thoughts, Spike replied, "Only if you want it to be."

"Then it is," Faye decided. "To make up for this afternoon." After a moment, she laughed nervously. "It's been years since I've been on a date." She paused, realizing her mistake before mentally slapping herself. Why did she say that! And to him of all people! Edward had instructed her on what to say and what to do and Faye had prepared herself accordingly. She was more than ready to awe Spike with her sophistication and maturity. But now that she was here with him, she seemed to forget everything. Faye tried to cover up her confession with another laugh. "I didn't mean years but-"

"I haven't been on a date in a couple of years too."

"Really?" When Spike nodded, they both smiled. With her hand, Faye beckoned him to come a little closer. He did so, and of course, the telltale symptoms came over her: the constant flutter in her stomach and her fast beating heart. But this time, she felt giddy and...unexplainably happy. Her smile brightened as another admission fell from her lips. "I don't know what to say next. Maybe you can talk me through it."

His laugh was deep and pleasantly familiar, his eyes gleaming in the dim lighting. "We'll start off simple," He replied. "How was your day?"

-

Joselyn was more than certain if someone had come up to her, told her that her bickering parents would finally be on a date and enjoying themselves, she would have laughed in their face. Deep down in her heart, part of her believed this moment would never come. She had worked so hard, thought of every possible way to get them together, and now, here they were. All because she had run away from home for a couple of hours.

"I should do it more often," She mumbled to herself.

"Did you say something?" Tobias was standing beside her.

She shook her head. "No, nothing."

He followed her gaze, his eyes landing on the couple in the middle of the coffeehouse. He recognized Joselyn's mother. Who wouldn't? The resemblance between them was uncanny. But his attention stayed on the man sitting beside her. Even though it took a little longer, gradually, Tobias was able to see the physical similarities between him and Joselyn. He smiled, understanding.

"Your parents," He stated and that was enough.

"Yeah. My parents...together." Joselyn stepped closer, pressing a hand against the glass, hoping that this was not a dream. Even though she knew she didn't want to let her imagination run away with her, even though she knew this was their first date, she couldn't help but think of bubbly champagne, wedding dresses, and honeymoons. After all, she was a hopeless romantic.

Joselyn froze when she felt Tobias' hand reach out a wipe away a stray tear from her face. She was surprised, she hadn't realized she'd been crying. She turned to him, feeling the need to explain herself.

"They haven't been getting along for a long time," She started, excitement buzzing through her body and in her words. "Everything I tried didn't work. Now, here they are and I'm so happy." Then Joselyn felt her vision blur and her eyes flutter closed, wanting to hold back the assailing of tears. But the moisture seeped through her lashes before streaming down her cheeks. She couldn't remember ever being this happy.

Tobias' smile became grin. "Look."

She followed his gaze to see her father standing, extending his hand out to her mother, the words "dance with me," coming from his lips. Joselyn watched as Faye took his hand before he escorted her to the dance floor. She placed her hands on Spike's shoulders and his settled on her waist. They were close but shared enough distance to avoid discomfort. However, it wasn't long before Faye wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing Spike closer to lean her head against his shoulder.

"When I was younger, I saw my parents having a really bad argument," Tobias started quietly. "At the time, I couldn't understand it. I thought to myself, 'they're a happy couple so why are they fighting?'" He paused for moment and couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed by what he was saying. He had never told this story to anyone but felt it was something Joselyn needed to hear. "My mother eventually told me that love is sort of like endurance and acceptance. Couples fight all the time. But what makes them stronger is wanting to stay together and work it out." He smiled. "The way your parents are looking at each other is exactly what I mean. They probably know everything about the other, all their good qualities and all their faults. But they accept that. Maybe even love each other more for it. And that, Joselyn, is love."

Joselyn felt a half sob, half laugh escape from her lips as she found his hand and squeezed it, smiling to herself when Tobias squeezed back. As she watched her parents dance so close together, as she memorized the feel of Tobias' hand holding hers, everything seemed to click. And then Joselyn knew what love meant. It was fragile. It was consuming. It carried less beauty but more safety yet was still beautiful in its own right. And for her to accept and understand love at her age, for her to be able to witness her very own parents let go and give into it, took her breath away.

Author's Notes: Chapter six is complete! Finally, we are winding down to end! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about how people will feel about this chapter. I had Spike and Faye fighting for so long, I momentarily forgot how I was going to write the romantic parts for this chapter. I hope it wasn't rushed, that was the last thing I wanted for this chapter. Again, thank you all for your patience. I know I don't update as quickly as I should. But writing these long chapters is starting to take its toll on me. After this story, I will be cutting back, for my sake and for yours. For the remainder of Chasing Ecstasy, it will probably be two more chapters and a short epilogue. So, thanks for reading, comments are appreciated because I know this story would be nowhere without all of your support. Until next the chapter, much love!