Buffy hummed to herself as she applied her lip gloss, rubbing her lips together to spread it evenly. Yesterday had gone so…so? There was no real way for her to voice how good it had felt. Afterwards her and Spike had shared another nap on the couch, her waking up first this time, giving her a chance to study his angelic features. He was flawless in her eyes. He hadn’t taken off, or come up with a lame excuse to get away from her. He hadn’t even initiated another kiss until she let him know she wanted one, he was letting her keep the ball in her court.
He’d gone home a few hours later to clean up his place a bit and run some errands, they’d decided to meet up tonight at the Bronze, a sort of ‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours’ deal to introduce one another to their friends.
Willow and Tara where going to be there, as was Xander and Anya. Anya was a new friend to Buffy, having only met each other later in the semester but they’d become close friends, Anya admiring Buffy’s intellect and natural talents, Buffy admiring Anya’s sense of business and her ‘let’s get to the point shall we?’ attitude.
Spike was going to bring a few of his friends, if she remembered correctly it was Angel and Cordelia, Fred, Charles, and Lorne.
She curled one more piece of hair and smiled. Perfect. She’d opted for a long sleeved white shirt and black leather pants and black boots. It was too chilly to show off a lot of skin tonight because of the storm on it’s way in.
Her doorbell rang and she bounded down the steps to let Willow and Tara in, greeting them warmly.
“You…you look beautiful Buffy” Tara said softly and Buffy smiled,
“Compared to you two I look okay, you guys look wonderful”
Tara had worn an earthy colored corset and skirt ensemble and Willow had chosen a knee length green halter dress.
“It’s our 1 month anniversary” Willow gushed happily, “So we’d thought we’d dress to the occasion”
All girls laughed as Buffy handed her keys to Willow and they took off to the Bronze to enjoy some girl time while they could.
The music was loud and Buffy felt the need to dance, Willow and Tara following her after they deposited their things behind the bar for safety. Compliments of the kindly bartender, Rupert Giles. The girls had nearly died when they had found out he had bought the place after their graduating year, during which he had been a librarian. But he had given the place a complete make-over and it was crowded on a nightly basis.
Buffy let the music flow over her and closed her eyes, a soft smile touching her lips while she let her thoughts roam to Spike. She shivered a little when it felt like she was being watched but continued on knowing if someone came up behind her Willow and Tara would give her a heads up.
Angel smiled and patted his friend on the back. “So that’s her?”
“That’s her” Spike said with a grin, his eyes riveted to the gorgeous blonde swaying seductively.
“You were right.”
“About what mate?” Spike asked, not daring to take his eyes off the girl.
“About Dru not being the one for you.”
Spike smiled softly, when Dru and he had broken up it had put a strain on his friendship with Angel because she was his cousin. Angel hadn’t been told by Dru that she’d been caught cheating opting instead only to inform him that Spike had called her ‘naughty’ things and left her. Spike wouldn’t give Angel any details of the breakup so Angel had had no reason not to believe Drusilla, who had never been anything but kind to her older cousin. Angel shuddered at the memory of how she’d came on to him not long after Spike had left her, whispering of pixies and tangled limbs. He’d put things right with his friend immediately, chiding him about not telling anyone how much of a nut his cousin actually was. He smiled to himself, but that was Spike. Losing bits and pieces of himself in the process of helping others past the hard times. Truly, he was happy Spike had left her and hadn’t forgiven her indiscretions. Nobody should have to live with that kind of shadow over them.
Angel spoke softly again, “It’s nice to see you look happy for once.”
Spike cocked his eyebrow and turned to his friend, “All that hair-gel finally turn you into a poofter?”
Angel laughed and punched Spike jokingly in the arm before his eyes narrowed.
“You okay?” Spike asked worried.
Angel only nodded his head towards Buffy, when Spike turned around he saw red.
“Dru” he seethed.
Without a word both men took off down the stairs towards the dancing girl.
Buffy felt someone tap her on the shoulder and turned with a smile, thinking it was a friend.
Startled by the gothic girl with long black tresses and a dress that looked like it came from the 1800’s Buffy said “Can I help you?”
The girl hissed at her.
Buffy frowned, “Are you okay?”
The girl remained silent, beginning to sway softly in front of Buffy,
“Be in me” the strange girl whispered and Buffy couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sorry, don’t swing that way. But look, have a nice night okay?” Buffy said and went to turn back to her friends, stopped short by the girls vice like grip on her arm.
Buffy frowned, not seeing Spike and Angel run up behind her. Willow recognized Spike from the band and put a hand on his arm, stilling him.
“She can take care of herself”
Spike almost growled, “Dru’s dangerous pet.”
Willow smiled and kept him back, “So’s Buffy.”
Spike watched on ready to intervene at a moments notice in case it looked like Buffy might get hurt, and seeing Dru’s crazy friend Faith join the mix made him uneasy.
Willow looked at him, “She’s still okay. There’s some stuff about Buffy you still don’t know.”
“What’s you’re name?” Faith drawled, trying to intimidate the smaller girl.
Buffy smiled, unaffected, “Buffy. Are you with freak-show here?” she asked, tilting her head to nod towards Drusilla.
“You shouldn’t call strangers name B” she said menacingly.
Buffy laughed in the girls face, not noticing how everyone around them had fanned out and where now forming a circle around the three girls. Not noticing Spike being held back by her red headed friend and Angel.
“Look I don’t want any trouble, I’m here with my friends for a nice night, so please, get out of my face.”
Giles looked over to the dance floor and sighed, feeling sorry for the girls trying to take Buffy on. He’d seen a lot while he worked at the high school, nothing impressing him more than Buffy Summers and her ability to take care of herself. He motioned for the bouncer to come over, “When it’s done, please escort the two brunettes out.”
The bouncer looked at him and smiled, “She at it again?”
Giles nodded with a smile, “Trouble finds her like she’s the mouth to hell”
One swing from the sassy brunette was all it took to break Buffy’s patience and the girl went down out cold with a single punch from the tiny blonde who then spun her attention on Dru, who was cackling insanely.
“Take your friend and leave, this is the last time I tell you I don’t want trouble. I think you need help, you should think about getting it.”
So quick Buffy didn’t have time to blink two nails lashed out and scratched her across the cheek, drawing blood. Buffy winced and grabbed the girls wrist, twisting it so sharply the girl sank to her knees in tears.
“You don’t fucken’ get to touch me” she yelled into the girls face, causing the girl to smile once more.
Buffy was about to get up and walk away when the girls free hand grabbed her neck, squeezing as hard as she could, with a growl Buffy brought her knee up to the girls nose, breaking it with a satisfying crunch. Her threat no longer able to see from the swelling she shook the girls hands off her and yelled, “Giles, there’s been an accident” in a sing-song voice.
Buffy didn’t even see her friends or Spike and his as she walked by them to get ice from the man she’d loved like an uncle. The librarian who had taken in the shy new girl and taught her how to defend herself.
“Well done Buffy…was the broken nose necessary though?” he asked, trying to sound stern.
“Necessary no…” she admitted, “fun, yes.”
She gave him a kiss on the cheek as he handed her a bag of ice for her hand and a clean cloth for the blood on her face and she went off to find her friends.
She saw Willow and some others she didn’t recognize sitting at a table and headed over.
“Here comes the champ ladies and gentlemen” said a lyrical voice. She looked over a saw a tall, skinny man in a neon green suit.
“Lorne I presume?”
“Pleasure to meet you toots” he said, giving her cheek an air kiss.
“This is Cordelia, Fred, Charles and Angel”
The introductions went smoothly, the men congratulating her on her fight, Fred talking about the aero-dynamics of the right hook she’d landed on the Faith girl, and Charles grumbling about how he preferred to be called Gunn.
After a few moments Buffy asked them if they knew where Spike was.
His friends seemed to get quiet after that until Cordelia decided to speak up.
“That girls’ nose you smashed in?”
Buffy nodded,
“That was Angels cousin…” Buffy’s mouth opened into a tiny ‘o’, “and Spike’s ex girlfriend” the pretty girl concluded.
Buffy sat down, “Shit…sorry Angel.” She said looking at him with wide eyes.
Angel grinned, trying to soothe her, “From where I stood it was self-defense, nothing to apologize about. I’m just glad you’re okay”
Buffy gave him a weary smile and tried to make a joke,
“Guess I’m single again huh?” she said with a wry chuckle, trying desperately to calm herself down. “If you’ll excuse me I think I’m gonna’ head home.”
They all nodded silently, feeling bad for the girl but none of them willing to talk for Spike.
She told Willow and Tara to have a nice night, grabbed her bag and said bye to Giles, then she headed out.
The second the door closed behind her the thunder started and she was hit with thick rain drops.
“Perfect end to a perfect fucken’ night” she muttered to herself as she walked along.
Spike showed up at the table in the Bronze moments later and gave everyone a smile, introducing himself.
“So where’s my girl Red?” he asked the girl he knew to be Buffy’s best friend.
Willow looked away and Angel stepped in.
“She took off like 5 minutes ago.”
“Why?” Spike asked with a frown.
“We told her who Dru was and she figured she was single again, the girl looked upset.”
“Well fuck of course she did you wanker, why didn’t you tell her I was fine with what happened?”
Angel raised his hands in defense and the usually quiet Fred spoke up.
“It looked bad Spike, she finds out Dru’s your ex and you’re nowhere to be found…”
Spike rubbed a tired hand over his face, “You’re right. I was just making a call to the police, made a complaint against Dru and Faith for assault.”
Lorne whistled, “Good idea but now I’ve got a better one.”
“What’s that?”
“Go get the girl honey.”
Spike laughed and yelled his goodbyes over his shoulder as he headed out the door.
Spike was heading past the park when he heard the faint sound of swinging and he knew he’d found her.
“S’not safe for little girls to be playing alone after dark” he said approaching her slowly.
She smiled but it looked pained. “I’m sorry.”
“For what kitten?” he asks as he steps behind her to push gently on her back, bringing her a little higher.
“I didn’t know who she was; I didn’t know it was someone you cared about.”
“You’re soaking wet kitten, and I’m getting there too, we should get you home.”
“Is she okay?” she asked, not stopping the swing she was on in the slightest.
“Don’t know, don’t bloody well care either.” Spike grabbed the seat of the swing and forced her to stop, coming around the front to face her and hold the chains, stopping her from starting up again.
She didn’t answer, didn’t even look at him.
“It’s okay if you still care about her, or if you don’t want to see me anymore.”
“Why would you ever think that Buffy?”
“I don’t know. ‘Crazy girl beats the shit out of ex’ isn’t the best headline for the beginning of a relationship.”
He smiled, “Actually our headline would be ‘Crazy girl steals library book from unsuspecting victim” a beat, “There it is” he added when he saw a small smile form on her lips.
“You’re not mad?” she asked quietly.
“Stand up.”
“Why?”
“Just do it pet, please?”
She did as was asked and he moved to sit sideways on the swing, dragging her to sit in front of him, half on top really. They were so close her chest was pressed into him.
“I thought you were fucken’ brilliant”
“Really?” she whispered, using her foot to swing them gently.
“Really” he answered, cupping her cheek making sure to avoid the scratches when she nuzzled into his palm. “I could kill her for marking you” he added with a slight growl, sending a shiver down Buffy’s back as the rain beat down on the two who seemed oblivious to it.
“I don’t know, I kind’a like it…now I have a battle scar” Buffy said with a teasing voice and then her eyes went wide. “Are you hard Spike?”
He cocked his eyebrow and smirked at her. “Bloody right I am, no guy sees a catfight and thinks ‘that’s the ugliest thing I’ve seen. I saw the way you moved pet, saw your speed and grace, honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on.” he admitted with a small chuckle.
She grinned and stood up, “Well we better get home, were gonna’ end up getting sick if we stay out in this”
“Anything you feel like doing or do you need some time alone?”
She bit her lip and thought about it, “I’m kind of worn out, emotionally and physically”
He gave her hand a squeeze, “Think you can fit me in tomorrow then?”
“I didn’t say you weren’t welcome to spend the night, I mean, if you want to its fine by me. I just need a really long bath and a chance to clean up and relax.”
“I’d love to spend the night with you” he said, almost seeming shy about it. The other times hadn’t really been planned, more like a ‘oops, we both fell asleep again’ thing. He noticed the small blush on her cheeks and felt his heart warm.
“You ever ask yourself about the how’s and why’s of life?” he asked her softly as they walked along.
“Sometimes, not lately though. Too much on my mind with school I guess.”
“I find myself thinking why where we both in the library that night and how things would have gone if you hadn’t nicked my book…would I have met you some other way you think?”
Buffy gave it some thought and smiled, “I think so, I mean, I do dabble in clepto-mania and I’m sure that book isn’t the only thing you have that I’d like to get my hands on.”
He cocked his eyebrow and smirked, “Right then, let’s hurry home then shall we?”
She laughed as they took off at full speed, dashing through the streets soaking wet.
The water was doing a wonderful job at relaxing Buffy’s muscles and mood as she lay in the large tub, immersed in her vanilla scented bubbles.
She could hear Spike singing to himself from the first floor, something from Billy Idol, dancing with myself she thought and giggled, wondering if he really was dancing around down there.
A few more minutes passed and there was a knock on the door.
“Come in Spike, I knew it was only a matter of time” she laughed.
The door opened and he poked his head in, still soaking wet from the rain they’d been pelted by and then a wave of guilt flooded through her.
“Shit, you must be freezing, I am SO sorry…”
“S’okay pet, didn’t come here to complain about being wet.”
“Oh?”
“Nope, gotta take a piss kitten.”
Buffy laughed, “So take a piss then, and then go down the hall ‘till you get to the closet at the end and grab a shirt and joggers if you want.”
“You want me to piss in front of you?” he asked, slightly red in the face.
“I don’t see what the problem is, I piss, you piss, as long as it’s not on each other I think its okay.”
“But you’ll see my….you’ll see my bits.”
She arched a brow, “Have you grown an extra penis or something like that since the last time I was up and close with your ‘bits’?”
“NO” he practically shouted.
“Then piss and stop being a baby, if you want I’ll close my eyes, hold my breath, and duck under the water but I am NOT getting out of this tub buddy!”
He stared at her for a moment, head cocked to the side then burst out laughing, soon she was joining in.
“I’m sorry, I’ve just never been so open with a girl sweets, I don’t know…most girls are weird about shit like this.” He said with a shrug of the shoulders as he unzipped his pants.
“I’m not most girls, now you’ve got about 35 seconds before I have to come up for air so step on it.”
With that she dunked her head as far under the water as she could, when she came up, he was gone but the door was open.
“Spike?” she called out.
“Be right back kitten” he yelled from down the hall. A moment later he reappeared in a pair of baggy sweat pants, sans the shirt. Buffy was sure she drooled a bit.
“You forgot to close the door” she faux pouted.
He smirked and walked over to the tub, kneeling down in front of it.
“So sorry princess, I’m a bad rude man.”
She nodded her head in affirmation, doing her best to seem put out but the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth was making it extremely difficult.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!