(Author's Note: After reading your reviews, it occured to me that I am quite stupid. Of course it would be suicide to trust Willow now! Thankfully, Tara thinks of everything... *snicker*
And for those of you that wish to see a kinder, gentler Buffy, the chapter after this one may be a traumatic for you, but I PROMISE it is the turning point where Buffy's feeling start to change. I'm not saying there won't be more Bitchzilla moments for her after that, it is in her character make-up after all, but it will let up. Now if you're still reading this, stop and get to the chapter already!)
Sitting across from Willow in the booth at the Espresso Pump, they presented an admirable united front. Willow sipped her mocha and licked whip cream off her lips, “So, about the sunlight thing…?”
Spike opened his mouth but Tara beat him to it, “Spell. We had a spell cast. In Salem at the Gaia Festival last year.”
Spike stared at her for a few seconds but went with it, “Yeah, er, a coven from Devon offered when they heard about my new diet.”
“Really? That must be a pretty powerful spell.” Willow forgot all about her coffee, “What did they do?”
Spike watched in awe as Tara began describing a complex and very probable sort of spell that could protect a vampire from the sun. Willow asked questions, Tara had answers.
When Willow excused herself to go to the bathroom, Spike turned to the girl at his right, “What's with the lying? I thought you liked this bird.”
“It's not really lying. That's a spell I researched in case we couldn't find the gem. And I do like her, a lot.” Tara took a sip of her hot chocolate, “But that doesn't mean I trust her with our secrets.”
Spike raised his eyebrows, “Good point.”
When Willow got back to the table she seemed excited, “Xander, Anya and I are going to the Bronze tonight. I think Buffy has patrol. So do you two want to come?”
Tara gave her a broad smile and kicked Spike sharply under the table before he could refuse, it wasn't enough to hurt, but it was enough for him to know that she meant business.
“We'd love to come.”
* * *
Spike pouted the entire way. He moaned when Tara made him change his shirt twice. He pretended to have misplaced the car keys, and he even tried to tell her he had contracted a rare form of Blood Fever that was of the twenty-four hour variety and didn't maim it's victims too much.
Tara let it go and made him change his shoes.
They stood in front of the club and Tara fixed his collar again, “Spike, all you have to do is try. Just be open. Don't be snarky. And remember I need this and I'll blame you forever if this doesn't work out. And there will be crying. Do you want me to cry, Spike?”
He looked horrified, “No!”
“Then just TRY to get along, that's all I'm asking.”
Spike's shoulders slumped; it really was the least he could do. It was only for a few hours. He was a master vampire. He had survived being under Angelus' thumb for decades. What was a bunch of young people when compared to that?
Tara deserved this. She put up with him and she wanted this thing with Red to work. All he had to do what get on with her friends. The Slayer wasn't even involved.
And the place served alcohol, he thought, that always helps.
* * *
Inside, Xander was getting his own version of the 'behave or else' speech.
“Don't antagonize him, whatever you do. People get weak and cheat on their diets all the time, remember? Do you want to be his Twinkie?” Willow gave him her resolve face.
Xander stared down at the table, “No.”
“No, what?”
“No, I don't want to be his Twinkie.” Xander swallowed, “How sure are you of this change and all? They didn't mention a soul, did they? I can work with a soul. That way I can still hate him and he'd feel too guilty to kill me.”
“No soul. Just Spike being nice. We want Spike to keep on being nice. So you have to be nice, too. All I'm asking you to do is try, Xander.”
Xander stared back down at the table, after all Willow done for him, it was really the least he could do, wasn't it? He'd put up with years of Angel, nothing and no one could be as bad as Angel.
Spike had punched Angel once, right in front of him and that had been sort of cool. Xander briefly got lost in the daydream that caused.
“Xander are you paying attention?”
He snapped back into reality, “Yes. Yes I am.”
“Good, because here they come.” Willow got up and beamed at the pair weaving through the crowd.
* * *
Tara felt familiar feelings of anxiety start to build and she reached back and took Spike's hand. It was cool and strong like it always was and she felt a bit better.
“Guys, this is Tara, that girl I told you about from my Wicca Group. And you know Spike.” Willow began.
“I don't.” Anya interrupted suddenly.
Willow blinked, Anya had been unusually quiet so far and Willow had begun to forget she was there at all.
Anya got up and held out one hand stiffly, “Anyanka, formally of D'Hoffren. I was a Justice Demon for some time, you've heard of me.”
She said the last bit in statement form instead of raising the syllables to sound questioning.
Spike shook her hand; “Heard of D'Hoffren, Dru had him at a party once in Austria. I don't really know any of his girls. Hear you do good work, though.”
Anya preened under the praise and responded to Spike comments like she'd been waiting for them all her life.
While Anya was talking, Willow and Tara excused themselves to head out to the dance floor. Xander sat back and sipped his Coke; this was actually shaping up to be easier than he thought. He didn't even need to talk to the guy with the way Anya was going on. This whole behaving thing was a breeze.
Unfortunately, even Anya couldn't talk indefinitely and sooner or later; she had to visit the Ladies' Room.
Which left Xander and Spike alone at the table. They sat in silence for a few minutes, each hoping to be rescued by a friend. Then Spike got up, which made Xander jump. They stared at each other.
Spike finally said, “I'm going up for a pint, you want anything?”
Xander did an excellent fish impersonation when asked certain questions, “Yeah, I'll have one of those.”
“Right then.” And Spike was gone.
And it occurred to Xander the exact value of having a friend both older and with loose morals. When Spike placed the beer in front of him, Xander immediate remarked, “So, Willow says you surf now?”
* * *
Buffy strolled into the club, dressed to the nines. She'd finished patrol early, and after rechecking the due date of her English paper, discovered she had some free time. She refused when Willow had asked if she wanted to go two days before.
She smiled at the thought of surprising them and it would even be worth putting up with Anya for a night. She really needed to blow off some steam.
* * *
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