1.) Unnoticed
*Was that it, was it the end?* Spike thought hopelessly, sitting at his favorite, demon- friendly bar. He had been replaying her crushing words in his head over and over for hours. Sitting alone, trying to figure what went wrong, and how he could make it right again.
"I'm using you Spike." The unforgettable scene was still fresh in his mind, every detail. On a loop in his mind.
"Using me, huh, well maybe I was just using her." Spike said aloud to no one in particular. His mild laughter, soon took a turn into tears. He allowed himself only a few seconds before going through another mood swing. Anger.
His emotions were changing on him, without warning, making him a very pitiful scene to anyone watching the tragedy.
"Well no more of that, Spike is finished being the Slayer’s whipping boy, to "use" as she pleases." Spike took another sip of his strong drink, and ordered another round. "There was a time when I would have just drained her dry!" His words were becoming slurred. His idiotic rambles went un-noticed.
"After all I've killed two slayers! If it wasn't for this bleedin chip she would have been six feet....." He came to an abrupt halt when he remembered the pain he had went through only a few months ago when she really had died.
The sobbing started all over again. Restarting the cycle of extreme emotions.
Spike wiped his nose and eyes from the tears still on his face, and let out a deep sigh. "No more nancy boy for Spike!” He took another shot of courage, and sat in silence for a few long moments. Trying to work everything out. He just couldn't understand what was wrong.
"What has she done to me?" Spike whispered, resting his tired head in his palms.
"Trouble in paradise?"
Spike lifted his head. He was greeted with a friendly smile by the barmaid on the other side of the counter. She had been wiping the tables nearby, and had no doubt heard everything he had said. Spike couldn't blame her for her curiosity, and he could use someone to talk to besides himself.
His eyes adjusted to the light, making out her slim figure. The name tag was just visible enough for him to make out her name.
"Well, Katie..wasn't too much a tropical retreat." Spike admitted.
"Ah, so the cold, icy shoulder then? Explains why you look so miserable. Sorry hun."
"Well the bint was just using me, or at least that was the bit she gave me before she pranced off to her soddin ex."
Katie frowned. "Harsh." She placed a glass of beer with a tall head in front of him.
Spike nodded, "Yeah, tell that to her, she thinks it was for the best. " He took another taste from the foam.
Katie glanced around the bar, it was almost empty. Closing time was near, and the other guest were tended to.
She took off her name tag, and apron. Pulling up a stool, taking a much needed break off her feet. Sitting across from Spike, her face lit up by the overhanging bulb.
For the first time her back wasn't facing the light. He could make out the features of her face, even in the dimly lit room.
Youth filled her round face, she looked much younger then Spike suspected she was. Her light brown hair was pulled back revealing small hardly even noticeable freckles. Her makeup had faded, showing the few flaws and blemishes in her face.
She was almost plain, her features were very delicate and feminine. Except her eyes, her enchanting silvery blue eyes. Rivaling Spike's own, they were simply captivating.
Her petite body was only made larger in appearance by her thick shoes, which easily gave her a couple inches in height. She was short and slim, it was now understandable why Spike never noticed her before. She was so tiny, and easily overlooked.
Still, even with his love for Buffy fresh in his mind, he couldn't deny she was beautiful. In her own unique way.
"I'm Katie Rice." She spoke softly, expecting his name in return.
"Spike,or William, not much for formalities."
She looked down at her own non alcoholic drink, giggling lightly. *Spike, William the bloody, sitting in my bar, and he is devastated over some chick.*
She had heard of the famous vampire, even read a bit about him, but never expected she would see him.
"You come in here a lot, always something about a girl. Is the one tonight the same one?"
Spike suddenly felt horrible, she had noticed him, even took note of his pain. He had never even noticed the girl, even though he had been in the bar hundreds of times.
"Yeah, one hell of a girl that one is. Power, beauty, and denies all feelings....it's a disastrous mixture." Spike finished his drink.
Katie turned to the freezer, not missing a beat, and threw a bag of blood into the microwave.
"How'd you know?"
"You come in here a lot.." She laughed.
Spike smiled for the first time that evening. This girl was no Buffy, but at least she didn't treat him like a monster.
"So, Mr. William, did this girl... finally end it between you two or something?"
"Yeah... If you can call it that, we weren't really together, no late night calls, or her wearing my class ring or what not. She just wanted to use me...to feel."
Katie thought for a moment, her innocent mind took a few minutes before it caught up.
"Oh...oh ok.." She blushed "So you were just... uh.. friends with benefits?"
"Well, less friends, more with the all night extras."
She thought a few seconds trying to find the right thing to say. "Well they say those kind of relationships aren't really healthy anyway"
Spike nodded, she couldn't determine if he was agreeing with her or not. The subject was starting to get to him a little bit, and the last thing she wanted was for him to have another breakdown.
"Well listen at me prying, sorry, I'm not trying to be super nosey. I just notice things...like you, tonight..." She gave a curious pause.
Spike looked at her, making eye contact for only a second before the microwave timer went off. Katie welcomed the interruption, she was never one for those intense, semi awkward moments.
Spike took the blood from her, and her deliberate touch on his hand went unnoticed.
"Thanks.."
"Oh, well I was just going to put it on your tab, like always."
"No not for the blood and booze... " He left the rest unspoken.
"Your welcome William."
William was a name he often heard, except for earlier that night. When Buffy herself had spoken it.
Spike took a sniff of his warm blood, and noticed an odd sent, ; human. The blood was from a pig, and he hadn't really been alert to notice it before. He glanced around the room, no scobbies, just demons. He hightened his scent, it was covered in vanilla perfume. Katie.
"You’re a human?" Spike questioned.
"Yes," she nodded cheerfully.
"Working in a .....demon bar?"
She nodded even more happily. " They really don't have much use for money, and they tip better."
"Your not worried about being eaten, or used in a ritual sacrifice, or what nonsense?"
"Nope." She shook her head like what he was suggesting was absured. And she was, smiling. She was always smiling.
Spike couldn't tell if the girl was off her rocker, or if something was hidden in her upbeat attitude that simply made her unafraid.
"I've been attacked before."
*She is definitely off her rocker.*
"Vampires, blind demons, fuzzy pink demons..." She laughed. "Never been hurt to bad."
"And how is that possible?"
"Lot's of training., I used to be an assassin for a "hush hush" government agency. If they had any trouble they would send me in. I was undetected and never seen as a threat."
"Are you a Slayer?"
"Heaven's no!"
"Good!" Spike gave a heavy sigh of relief.
"I've just had a lot of extensive training, and the monks who raised me did a few, little protection and strength spells."
*Monks! always putting their noses were they don't belong* Spike thought recalling last years trouble with the key.
Spike was shocked,to say the least. He had seen bitty packages that could throw a punch before, but he didn't really believe her story, but in the Hellmouth anything was possible.
Across the bar, another girl signaled to Katie that it was time to close.
"William, I have to close up now." She said, for once loosing her cheery outlook. "It was nice talking to you, sorry about the girl."
"That's fine bird, I know my way out."
Katie watched as he gathered up his jacket and walked out the door.
It was about time she admitted she had a crush on this mystery man.
**************
**************
"What about this one?" Anya said, holding up another brides maid dress.
"That looks.... great,! Anya!" Dawn lied, her voice was high and pitchy. A simple tell for anyone else the young girl was lying, except Anya who took it as a compliment.
Buffy, Willow, and Tara tried to hold in there laughter. As the ex demon admired the lime green gown.
"It's your wedding, whatever makes you happy." Tara said.
"Well, I will only be happy when it's all over with, and I can be Mrs. Xander Harris. Anya Harris," she said dreamily.
Willow rolled her eyes.
"Where is Xander?" Buffy asked.
"He’s off, inviting some of his family to the wedding. He is just now getting around to it." Anya was obviously annoyed at him for putting it off so long.
"I invited my friends weeks ago, D'Hoffryn wanted to know if you would be there Willow. You’re not thinking of taking my old job again are you?"
"Me! No! After the whole my will be done spell, and almost getting everyone killed, of course not!"
"Not to mention Spike and Buffy I'm glad that's all over with" Anya reminded.
"At least you corrected it before they actually did anything." Dawn put in.
Tara took a light swallow, trying not to make her uncomfort known.
"I doubt anything would have really happened, they hate each other so much!" Willow laughed.
Buffy tried to hide her guilt, laughing in agreement.
"Oh, Buffy can you do me a favor."
"Yeah, Anya... of course."
"Would you mind stopping by and asking him if he wouldn't mind stopping by on the big day?"
"Who him? Spike? You want him there...?" Buffy asked in amazement.
"Well, I see him all the time, he is like a Pronoff demon. You don't want it there, but you feel weird if it’s not around. You know what I mean?"
They simply agreed, not wanting her to explain.
*Sure, talk to Spike, just talk.... I can do that....right?* Buffy thought, battling in her head.
It was hard enough as it was to keep away from him. She wanted to go back to him, but she thought staying away was the best thing. For both of them.
After all, what she was doing wasn't right, it wasn't fair to him, But why did she care? Why did it matter what was fair for him, he’s a dead, evil thing....who loved her.
She was going to have to do this, and make sure he knew it was over between them.
Her head was jumbled with confusion, and the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt him.
She had no idea what would be the outcome of their next interaction. Would she go back to him? Could she stop herself?
Only one way to find out.
********
*******
Later that night Buffy convinced herself to make a brief stop by a familiar crypt. Spike's. There hadn't been any demons, and only one vampire that night. She was quite certain there wouldn’t be anymore action for the rest of the evening.
Just one last stop, before she went home. She had been putting it off all night, dreading the outcome of the conversation. The thought of leaving a note had even crossed her mind.
She had not seen him since the night she left him, telling him it could never happen again. She didn't know what had become of him. Understandably, he would be heartbroken, possibly not even wanting to talk to her. That would be the best case scenario.
On the other hand, he could start desperately begging her to take him back. Replenish whatever relationship they did have.
*Why did Anya have to ask me to do this? Why couldn't she just send me on some impossible mission, or ask me to kill some un killable demon...*
Anything would have been better then this, it was almost as if she was being punished. Forced to confront what she had done, but secretly, deep down, she was glad she had an excuse to see him again.
Her feelings were both out of curiosity, and loneliness. She missed him, but her pride told her otherwise. Not allowing any feelings to creep into her conscious mind, she put on a stern face, and pushed open the crypt door.....
~~Previews~~
2) Unforgiving/ Buffy confronts Spike, with an interesting outcome/ Spike does something he never thought he would do/ Katie ask's a surprising question.
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