Author: Crimson Vampire Goddess
Rating: R to NC-17
Disclaimer: I, Crimson Vampire Goddess, being of unsound mind and a body of no-one's fricking business, hereby declare that though I play with the story and the characters they, unfortunately, in no way belong to me.

The church bells echoed through the bustling streets the next morning. It was turning out to be a nice day, the birds were happily singing and the sky was clear blue as far as the eye could see.

Willow and a few of her friends were talking and washing their faces and arms in a fountain in the middle of town.

"God, you're bloody filthy this morning; what did you get up to last night?" Fred asked as she watched Harmony scrub off.

"To be honest I really don't want to know." Said Harmony.

"You mean you can't remember?" Asked Cordelia incredulously.

"Not a bloody thing." Replied Harmony and all three girls burst out laughing.

'Blithering idiots.' Willow thought as she watched her friends.

"Willow!" The friends turned to see a girl with long brown hair racing towards them.

"Hey, Dru, we haven't seen you in a while; how have you been?" Asked Willow as the two hugged.

"Yeah, Dru, how have you been; where have you been?" Asked Fred grinning at the blushing girl.

"Well, to answer the first question; I'm great!" Drucilla said excitedly "And as for the second question; I was with my fiancé!" She squealed as she showed everyone her left hand. There was a chorus of gasps and 'wow's as every one saw the three round diamonds set in the fancy gold engagement ring that adorned her finger.

"Lovely ain't it?" Drusilla asked as she pulled back her hand to admire it herself.

"You look good, Dru. Must be nice having a rich man looking after you." Cordelia said, not at all pleased with Drusilla rubbing their noses in her good fortune. She glared at Drusilla for a moment longer before she turned and left.

"She didn't mean nothin' by it, love." Fred said when she noticed Drusilla looking away somewhat ashamed.

"I know." Drusilla sighed as she looked at her friends.

"So, why were you looking for us, other than to tell us you'd gotten engaged; not that that's not enough of a reason because, hey, engagement big thing and…I'm shutting up now." Willow blushed as she ended her babble but whether it was from embarrassment or lack of oxygen no one could tell.

"Oh, I was coming to invite you to dinner tonight. Albert and I would like you to come and have dinner with us." Drusilla said excitedly.

"We would love to but, Dru, we're all in a terrible way for money. The Nickels gang…"Willow began to say but Jenny, the eldest of the friends, interrupted.

"They want our blood. Know what they said their going to do to us?" She said motioning to the other women around the fountain.

"Don't start that now." Harmony said before Jenny said anything else.

"What? What's she saying?" Asked Drusilla concerned.

"They want a pound a week from each of us." Willow said looking at her two friends who nodded in agreement.

"You count yourself lucky, my dear, good and lucky that you got a wealthy man to take care of you." Harmony said nodding towards Drusilla's ring.

"We need four more pounds to pay them, so we can't spare the time." Willow said sadly.

"I'll get you the four pounds from Albert." Drusilla said smiling.

"He might say no, Dru, I can't take the chance." Willow said looking at the others.

"He won't, I know he won't. He's been in France on business. He wrote he sold a lot of his paintings. He's sure to have full pockets and feel generous." Drusilla said enthusiastically.

"To you perhaps but..." Willow started to say.

"I'll ask him meself. I'll get your four pounds I promise, Willow." Drusilla said honestly.

"Oh, alright." Willow said as she rolled her eyes at her persistent friend.