“Well, it looks like we’ve muddied things up good now.” Spike said softly as he and Buffy sat in the limo as it took them back to their hotel. Buffy was ready to snap at him, before she realized he had placed the blame on both of them, not just her. Which was your problem to begin with, you twit. Calm down and listen for once and this may not have happened.

“Yeah, looks like.” Buffy replied.

“I don’t like this anymore than you do, but if we have to do it, I am willing to give it a sporting chance. Don’t really fancy being thrown out on my ass for my first movie, know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I know. I don’t want to get fired either. Even though it means spending two days with you.”

“Love you too, pet.” Spike said sarcastically. Buffy felt her blood start to boil at his tone even though his words were exciting, but took a few deep breaths. He may have decided to let that punch go earlier, but if I attack him in a limo I doubt it would go as well.

“Look, I think the only way we are going to get through the next two days is if we promise that we will be on our best behavior. I vow that I will try my best to be nice, and not bitchy and to be calm.” Buffy made the first attempt at a clean start.

“Yeah, that’s only fair. I promise that I won’t be a smart-ass or try to make you mad. It’s just that it’s so easy.” He teased her.

“Not good, Spike.” Was her reply.

“Right. No more pissing Buffy off. I’ll be as good as good can be. We can do this Buffy. We’re both grown adults, not five year olds. I won’t pull your hair if you don’t steal my toys, ok?” Spike made his own offer.

“Something tells me I don’t want your toys, Spike.”

“But they are so much fun.” He raised his eyebrow suggestively, sticking the tip of his tongue out at her. Buffy felt her face flush and was grateful when the limo stopped at the hotel.

“Thanks Jeff.” Buffy called up to the driver and hopped out of the car quickly, leaving Spike to trail after her.

They rode up in the elevator together, not making any conversation. When they got to her door he turned to look at her.

“So what fiendish torture do you have in store for me, luv?” Spike was dreading what she would want to do tomorrow. If she had some kind of weird spa/sea-weed/mud pack day set up for them or something as equally as dumb he could make Saturday a living hell for her.

“I’m not sure yet. I have that function tomorrow night, so I guess I would like to get something to wear for it, so how about starting with going to the boutiques? I know shopping probably isn’t your idea of a good time, but-“

“Actually, I wouldn’t mind checking some stuff out. I need to get some things for myself anyway so this is ok. What time are we getting up?” Shopping I can handle, shopping is ok. She can’t try to beat me up if we’re in a crowded store. Maybe she’ll model some lingerie for me or something. Spike thought but in a flash, regretted it. Or not. Buffy plus lingerie equals bad. Burlap sack Buffy, now that’s something…Gah, she’s sexy in that too! Spike pulled his duster around him a little, as if were cold. Ok, getting kicked off the movie, falling off the stage while performing, my Da naked, Buffy naked- AGH!

Buffy was oblivious to Spike’s discomfort however. “Ok, so how about an eight o’clock wake up call? Then we can eat and hit the shops.” At least in the shops I won’t want to kill him as bad. Witnesses to murder aren’t exactly cool. Maybe I’ll let him stop in at a music shop or something, give him some fun tomorrow. Spike with a guitar, strutting around on stage, all hot and sweaty and…. BAD Buffy! But he’d look so good, with his hair curling from the sweat, and maybe he’d do the Elvis pelvis swivel and….GAH! All right, my tenth grade math teacher, cleaning the basement, my mom having sex, me having sex with Spike- oh shit.

“Ok, then. Eight o’clock?” Spike asked, as he backed away towards his own room. Buffy just nodded and escaped to her own rooms.

Both blondes quickly slammed their doors and leaned against them, breathing a sigh of relief. It’s going to be a long two days. They both thought.

* * * * *

*KNOCK* *RING* *KNOCK* *RING* *KNOCK* Buffy pounded on Spike’s door and rang the bell at the same time at eight thirty the next morning. She had been up for an hour now, having showered and dressed, waiting for Spike to get up and come get her for breakfast. She had tried to call his room but only got a busy signal.

“Spike! Get your lazy ass out of bed!” She yelled, not worried about waking the people in the other two suites, as they were empty for the moment. She heard some muffled cursing and thumping from inside. Finally the door swung open to reveal a low-slung, un-buttoned jeans clad Spike. His hair was sticking up everywhere, looking plain sexy, and he was wiping sleep from his eyes.

“Whyouwan?” He muttered, not quite realizing what was happening.

“It’s eight thirty. Breakfast, shopping, not killing each other- remember? I called, were you on the phone?”

“Buffy?” Spike was still half asleep as he tried to focus on her. She pushed her way into his suite and went to the kitchenette where he had a small one-shot coffee maker and complimentary coffee. She started to brew some before turning to the bleary eyed blond who had followed her.

“Go to the shower, by the time you get out I will have caffeine for you.” She put her hands on his chest and attempted to push him towards his room. His hands came up to cover hers, trapping them against his warm planes.

“Good morning.” He whispered down at her. His eyes were finally clear, and staring down at her, seriously.

“Hi.” Buffy managed to get out. She could feel his heart beating under her hand, and it was racing as fast as she could feel hers was. They just stared at each other for a while, not understanding what was going on, but knowing something should be happening.

Spike started to lean down, ever so slightly, as Buffy just stared at him, waiting. Then the doorbell rang. The duo jumped apart, jolting their hearts faster than they were already pounding. Buffy turned back to the one-shot as Spike went to answer the door.

“Sir, I was sent to see if you were alright? You had requested a seven thirty wake up call, but when we attempted to reach you by phone all we got was a busy signal.” A hotel employee was standing at the door.

“Yeah, um, sorry about that. Not quite the morning person.” Spike explained, remembering shoving his phone to the floor when it rang earlier that morning. He grabbed some money off the table by the door to tip the man and sent him on his way.

“So you’ll have that coffee ready for me, luv?” Spike asked hurriedly as he beat a quick path to his room.

“Yes, coffee….um, ready… it will be.” Buffy stammered out, looking at the perfect expanse of back that walked away from her, into his room. She heard the bathroom door shut and breathed out a sigh of relief.

Maybe me killing Spike shouldn’t be my only concern.

Spike leaned back against the bathroom door. Oh shit. This can’t be good. Although, I have always wondered if fighters make the best lovers…

* * * * *

Later in the day, Spike was wondering what would be the best way to yell fire and not get caught. He had been sitting in chairs ALL morning and early afternoon, surrounded by her many purchases, after they had left to shop, watching Buffy try out outfit after outfit. She must have had tried on at least seventy-five different ensembles, pairs of shoes, earrings and she was still going strong while he was ready to drill a hole in his head. He knew they were supposed to spend the time together so they could come to like each other, or at the very least, not have a burning hatred for each other but how was that supposed to be accomplished when she spent all of her time in a dressing room?

That could be a blessing though, because it kept them from talking about what didn’t but almost happened in his hotel suite this morning. She had showed up at his door like a vision, and then they had almost kissed and that may have led to worse things. Or better, and he smirked to himself. Course, nothing would be happening now if Buffy didn’t get her ass out of the damn stores. It was already quarter to three in the afternoon. They had been shopping since ten, as it had taken that long for him to shower, dress and then to eat.

He still wasn’t sure where she was taking him tonight, as he hadn’t had time to ask. He didn’t know if this was her way of avoiding him but if it was, it was damn good. He actually wanted to get to know her better. His opinion of her had sunk a great deal when she had thrown his past in his face almost a month ago, but since then his curiosity had started to get the best of him. Especially since she could get him riled up better than anyone else. Make his blood boil, his toes curl and his cock stand to attention all at the same time, just by throwing an insult, or flipping her hair in that snotty way she did. He knew that he was under her skin, just from the way that she had reacted this morning. Could two people with such a strong dislike for each other be so strongly attracted to each other? Of course. But could that dislike be turned into something more, something warmer, or longer lasting? He would have to get her alone long enough to find out, first. He hoped that tonight would be a good opportunity.

“Spike?” He snapped to attention as she walked out of the dressing room. He had seen her try on a lot of things today, but this was the one. She was on the hunt for the perfect dress for tonight’s function. If it were up to him this would be it. It was a true red, halter style dress that dipped low enough to show the curves of her cleavage, stopped just below the knee and would flare out like a swing-style dress if they were to dance. “What do you think?”

“Uh,” He started, trying to sound cool and collected. He gave up, partly out of frustration and partly out of desire. “Luv, I’m not just saying this because I am bored out of my skull, but this is it. This is the one. You look beautiful.”

Buffy flushed almost as red as the dress and turned back to the dressing room to take it off. “I think it’s the one too.”

Good lord in heaven, FINALLY! His mind screamed. Not only could he not handle looking at her in skimpy little dresses anymore but he was starved, along with being deathly bored. A couple of minutes later Buffy walked out of the dressing room, to the cashier, leaving Spike to follow with the rest of her bags.

* * * * *

Buffy had insisted that they go back to the hotel to eat so that she would not miss time getting ready. When they sat down at a table for two after going through the buffet that was set up, Spike sighed in exhaustion and slumped in his chair. Buffy giggled at his overly dramatic show of letting his head fall to the table and hearing fake snores coming from him.

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad, you big baby.” She pushed at his head lightly.

“I know. It could have been worse. You could have decided you wanted to walk over hot coals today.”

“Yeah, I could have.” Buffy said thoughtfully. “But then you wouldn’t have been able to come with me tonight.”

“Right, so where are we going, pet? You dragged me all over half of LA looking for a damn dress to this thing, don’t I get to know what it is?” Spike started attacking his plate of food ravenously, remembering how hungry he was.

“It’s a charity event to raise money for battered women’s shelters and educational programs for schools about relationship abuse.”

“Great, so we’re going to go look at wife beaters and their victims?” Spike asked, sarcastically. “Should be a fun night.”

“No. There is a silent auction, as well as a bachelor/bachelorette auction. There will be a mini-casino for fun and some karaoke. It’s a fun night to raise money for a serious topic.” Buffy glared at his dismissive tone.

“Nothing like celebrating relationship abuse with a roulette wheel, eh?” Spike tried to make a joke but realized he had failed when he saw Buffy’s look. “What? It’ll be fun. Go raise some money, feel good for the night.”

“Feel good?” Buffy asked incredulously.

“Well, yeah. We did a good deed, helped out. This is just your community service, isn’t it?” Buffy shook her head in confusion.

“Community service?”

“You know, a celebrity takes on a cause to promote their public image, show they they’re well rounded and concerned.” Spike told her.

“I didn’t realize that that was all these functions and organizations were to other people, but I can guarantee that I am taking this very seriously.” Buffy bit out, eyes flashing.

“Sorry, didn’t think it was such a big deal. You don’t have to go all postal on me. We’ll go to your little auction and have a good time, raise some money, help out, ok?” Spike didn’t see what was bothering her so much. “I know that some people are very passionate about their causes, you just didn’t seem like one.”

“Why? Because I’m blonde and ditzy? Do I not seem like I can care about other people? Or is that just your self-projection on to other people?” Buffy was steaming mad now, at the thought that he didn’t see her as ‘passionate’ about anything.

“Hey now, don’t play dirty. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“No, you never do, do you, Spike?”

“Whatever Barbie.” Just then Buffy’s cell phone rang and she snatched it up angrily.

“What?” She snarled.

“Ok, so I take it things aren’t going as they should be?” Wesley asked.

“They were fine until the bleached wonder put his foot in his mouth again.”

“I’d rather put it in yours, you bint.”

“Fuck off, Spike.”

“Hey, hey. Calm down, ok? You still have your event to go to tonight, and he needs to be on one piece. Just breathe Buffy. How has your day been so far?” Wesley asked, trying to bring her down.

“It was ok. We shopped so we didn’t have to talk much.”

“Well, that’s a start I guess. I’m have to go now, are you going to be all right with him? No fists flying and all that?”

“Yeah,” Buffy said shortly, glaring at Spike, who glared back. “Everything will be fine.” She hung up the phone and stood. “Be ready by seven.” And she walked out, leaving Spike wondering where things went wrong.

At seven o’clock, sharp just as Buffy had said, his doorbell rang. He finished tying his tie as he walked to the door to let her in. When he got there his breath caught in his throat. She was a vision. It had been hard for him to look at her this afternoon when she was only in the dress, but now with her hair done up in big springy curls and her makeup put on softly, she looked amazing. A wrap covered her shoulders as it was halfway into November, and she carried a small black clutch.

Buffy just stared at Spike, wondering how he could go from a cocky, rough looking rocker to the smooth, suave man standing in front of her. She had cooled off since their spat that afternoon, but she was getting hot again, looking at him. He was wearing dark gray pants with pinstripes through the fabric and an amazing blue shirt and tie combination that made his eyes pop out of his face. The blue was that dark electric blue during dusk that a person could only see in the fading seconds before night fell completely.

She snapped out of her trance and asked him: “Are you ready?”

“Yes, just a second.” He walked into his room, smiling slightly at the response he had gotten from her. He put on his suit jacket and put his wallet, cigarettes and lighter in the front pocket.

“There is a car waiting for us down stairs.” Those were the last words she said to him the entire way to the charity event. He knew that things had gone less than well at dinner this afternoon, but he didn’t know what had set her off. He had to get to the bottom of this or else they would never stop fighting.

* * * * *

“Ah, Miss. Summers, so nice to see you. You brought a date this time, so nice!” A woman in a sequined dress greeted Buffy as soon as they arrived at the banquet hall. It was the type of place that business executive had fancy meetings in, in the center of the city.

“Hello, Mrs. Jacobson. It’s nice to see you as well. This is Sp- er, William Giles. You may have heard of his musical group, ‘Band of Buggered’?” Buffy introduced Spike warmly, but Spike heard the sharp way she said his name.

“Mr. Giles,” Mrs. Jacobson had a confused look on her face at the name of the band, but brushed it off. “Very nice to meet you, I believe you are very popular with my daughter. It’s exciting to have you two here. Perhaps we will get some better publicity and more funding for the shelters.”

“I hope so, Mrs. Jacobson. That’s why I’m here. We’ll see you later, ok?” She waved to her as she led Spike away. They walked to the coat check so she could leave her wrap there.

“So you aren’t trying to be more of a celebrity by coming to these things, you use your celebrity for them.” Spike commented.

“If anyone with half a name would lend their time and rep to a good cause there may be far fewer problems in the world now.” Buffy told him, putting her coat check tag into her clutch.

“I suppose. But then it wouldn’t be cool to help those less fortunate.” Spike tried to tease her, but she didn’t take the bait, just looked at him with a slightly sad look in her eyes. What is it about this that makes her look like her dog died?

“So what do you want to do first? The silent auction is already going on, in the next room, and it won’t be till nine that the bachelor/bachelorette auction starts.”

“Well, I’m always up for a spot of gambling, how about craps?” Spike led her over to the long table set up. “How does this work?”

“You have to pay in to get chips, then you play with those. If you win you get a small prize, like an engraved pen or gift certificates for massages, things like that.” Buffy explained, standing back a little as he stepped up to the table.

“Sounds good.” He gave the table manager his money and got chips in return. He waited a couple turns before he made his first bet. He looked for Buffy as the dice were rolled and saw her standing behind him slightly, biting her lip. She had that sad look on her face again and his heart went out to her. He leaned back and grabbed her arm, bringing her closer. He lost his bet, and he placed again, watching the man roll the dice.

“Seven, the man in the blue wins.” The table manager called out. Spike smiled and doubled his bet.

“I think you might be my good luck charm!” He told Buffy. She relaxed a little and watched him play some more. When he took his turn rolling the dice he got her to blow on them, his fingers tingling a little as her cool breath washed over them. Spike played for almost an hour, and Buffy watched, getting more excited as he kept winning. Finally he decided it was time to try a different game.

“Where do you want to go, luv? I’ll spot you some chips.” He had cashed in some of what he had won for a gorgeous engraved ballpoint pen, with the name of the primary donator to the event on it.

“How about blackjack?” Buffy pointed to a table across the room. Spike groaned inwardly. He wasn’t good at that game at all.

“I’ll have to be your good luck charm then, cause I’m not good at it.” Buffy led him over and perched on one of the high chairs.

“Does the lady want dealt in?” The dealer asked her. Spike gave her some chips and she placed her bet. He watched her as she shifted into an impenetrable card-game face. What he had done at the craps table she was doing here with blackjack.

“Remind me to never play poker with you. I think you may be able to wipe the floor with me.” He rumbled into her ear. “Course, depending on what kind of poker we would play, I might make an exception.”

Buffy shivered slightly, which didn’t go unnoticed by him, and she tried to concentrate on the game. She won a couple more hands and cashed in her chips for a free dinner at a great restaurant in LA.

“This is really fun, luv. And I’m helping out. I like that.” Spike said, lightly, hoping to keep things upbeat.

“I’m glad. I was worried that you would be bored.”

“Nah. I’ve got to stay on my toes in case you try to clock me again, how can I be bored?” Spike rubbed his still sore nose and smiled at her.

Buffy winced. “Again, sorry about that. That was so very not cool. Hit you, and then come to a benefit on relationship abuse. What a great representative I am.”

“Hey, I deserved it. I was an ass.” Spike assured her, but it didn’t help alleviate the guilt that she felt.

“No one deserves to be hit.” Buffy told him softly, looking up at him with wide, pained eyes. Spike opened his mouth to try to get her to open up to him but Mrs. Jacobson interrupted him.

“Buffy, the bachelor/bacehlorette auction is starting in a few minutes, you have to come line up!” The woman told her.

“I’ll be right there.” She told her and she ran off to get things ready.

“Wait, you’re in this auction thing? What am I supposed to do?” Spike asked her. “Sit, watch the auction, bid on someone. Everyone comes equipped with a picnic dinner for two, which is the food portion of this benefit. I should have told you sooner, but I was having too much fun.”

“So you’re going to go up there and someone from the audience is going to bid money for… your goodie basket?” Spike swallowed hard, a wave of jealousy shooting through him.

“Pretty much. All those guys are going to be ogling my ‘goodies.’” She laughed, teasing him. “I have to go, ok? It’s not like I’m leaving you for the night anyway, just for dinner and then I’ll be back. Oh, and can you hold my purse while I’m up there? Wes might call, so answer my phone.”

Buffy ran off without giving him a chance to object. He watched the red-clad girl hurry off, noticing a few other guys eye her appreciatively as well.

Look all you want, you sodding poofs, but you won’t be getting into her goodie basket. Spike fumed, then looked down at the purse he was holding and groaned to himself. Who’s the poof now?

* * * * *

Spike shifted uncomfortably in his chair, waiting for Buffy to come on stage to be auctioned off. It had already been a half hour and he was getting antsy. Men and women stepped on and off the stage, being sent off to eat with the highest bidder. I really don’t like this. Bloody hell, this is a benefit for women’s abuse shelters, not a place to auction off innocent girls to potential freaks.

“Sold to the dashing man in the Armani suit!” Mrs. Jacobson was running the auction and pounded her gavel on the podium. “Next up,” she started at the previous auctioned off person left the stage on the arm of his winning bidder. “Is tasty dish of sweet and sexy. Buffy Summers is a 23 year old actress. She has starred in her own TV show, and is currently filming the soon- to- be blockbuster movie, ‘Thief’!”

Buffy appeared on the stage holding a large picnic basket in her arms. The lights from the stage hit her in such a way that her hair looked like spun gold and the red dress made her golden tan shine. She stood with one hand on her hip, as if daring the crowd to pay enough for her.

“Lets open the bidding at seventy-five, who’s to bid that?” Mrs. Jacobson called.

“Seventy-five.” A man on the other side of the room called out, causing Spike to grit his teeth.

“One hundred.” Came another voice from the back.

“One-fifty.” Piped up a third voice.

“Two-fifty.” The first man countered.

“Three.” The man from the back shouted.

“Four.” The second man threw in.

Buffy just stood on the stage with a smile on her face, watching the exchange. “Five hundred.” The first man put in. The second man put his hands up, defeated.

“Five-fifty.” The guy in the back wouldn’t give up.

“Six.”

”Six-fifty.”

“Seven.”

“Seven-fifty.”

“Eight.” The man in the back paused for a second, but didn’t put in another bid, leaving it to the first man across the room. Buffy gave him a wide smile, but he could see through it. She would be nice enough to him but she didn’t really want to hang around with a stranger.

“All right, eight hundred, going-“ Mrs. Jacobson started.

“Fifteen hundred.” Spike called out, loudly. The room fell to a dead silence before bursting into a buzz. Mrs. Jacobson looked to the first man, but he simply shook his head and bowed ever so slightly in submission to Spike.

“Sold, to the very handsome man in the blue.” Mrs. Jacobson announced still in shock, as this was the most an auction had ever got them. Buffy looked just as surprised, standing on stage staring at him. He stood and walked to the stairs of the stage where she would greet him.

“Ready for dinner, luv?” Spike took the picnic basket from her and kissed her hand. “I’m starved.” He grinned wolfishly at her as he led her away from the stage and the other men who had bid on her.

* * * * *

brP> “Is this good?” Buffy asked as she led Spike out to the lobby. She pointed to a corner, protected by some chairs and potted trees and he nodded. They pushed the coffee table out of the circle of chairs and spread the blanket that came with the picnic meal to sit on.

“Lets see what we have here.” Spike smiled at her as he opened the basket after they settled themselves. Buffy hadn’t said anything since he had led her away from the stage and he wondered if she was mad at him.

“Wow, they certainly do put on a spread, don’t they? Caviar, lobster, champagne, Brie, a salad, some gourmet chocolate cake, strawberries, candles…” Spike trailed off, seeing the look on her face. “Wha’?”

“Why did you do that?”

“Why’d I do what?”

“Pay that much money for me?”

“Felt like doing my part. Plus, I wanted to see what was in your goodie basket.” Spike smirked at her, but she didn’t smile back.

“If you want to save this, take the food home, you can. You can share it with someone else.” Buffy offered, not meeting his eyes.

“Why would I do that? I paid for a dinner with you, luv. Plus we have to spend ‘every minute’ together, remember? Director’s orders. And I have to say, I wouldn’t mind getting to know you some more and what better way then by candle light and chocolate cake?” Spike started setting the food out between them and lit the candles with his cigarette lighter. They set off a soft glow in the semi-darkened corner they were in. “Don’t you agree?”

“I suppose.” She replied, in a non-committal way. They started to eat but Spike wouldn’t let her off that easily. He knew that she was trying to avoid talking with him. There was something more there that he wanted to get to the bottom of.

Buffy ate her food slowly, hoping to savor every mouthful, as well as delay him from asking her questions. She had been feeling nervous ever since their spat this afternoon. This event and charity was important to her and she had wanted him to know just how important it was, but she wasn’t sure he would understand now. He had thought she was using this opportunity to increase her celebrity, which couldn’t have been farther from the truth. She was letting a complete stranger into her world and he didn’t even know it. She knew he was going to try to find out as much about her as possible but she wasn’t sure if she was ready. She knew that it would come out sooner or later and she should talk about it, work through it, but she didn’t know if she was ready yet.

“So,” Spike started, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Who is Buffy Summers?”

“Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius?” She offered.

“Ah, a January baby… but not what I was thinking. I was hoping to find some skeletons in your closet.” He watched her carefully and noticed her blink at that comment.

“Nope, skeleton free here.” Buffy smiled and reached for a strawberry. “These are good berries, aren’t they?”

“The best. So how does a fist swinging, astrologically confused, hot tempered girl like yourself get into show business?” He watched Buffy eat her strawberry and sigh before she answered.

“Well, I was always into performing. You know, singing, dancing, and being in plays- stuff like that. I got a couple commercials when I was a kid, which went towards my college fund. Mom and Dad knew I wanted to have my name in lights, but they weren’t pushy stage parents, or stupid. High school came and went and I had a couple bit parts on TV shows and a few more commercials but nothing big. I went off to university, not expecting anything to come of my attempts. I joined the drama club and somehow landed myself the lead role in a play that a student was producing. The guy who directed ‘Demon Hunter’ was there and offered me an audition. The rest is history.”

“Short and sweet. How about-“

“What about you?” Buffy cut him off. She knew that they had to start getting along, and that entailed getting to know each other but she was worried about it. She was already attracted to him and that was after feeling intense dislike towards him. What if she got to know him and started to like him more? She hadn’t had the best luck with men and soon he would know that since he was so intent on pushing to know her every corner and cranny of herself. She didn’t know if she was ready to let someone in to that area of her life yet though. Of course, it had one been since today that they’d been able to have a civil conversation without fighting or beating each other up, so maybe she was worrying for nothing. Also there was her goal to be an independent woman from now on. On one hand her mind told her she didn’t need a man to do anything in life, Angel had proved that. But her heart, and loins, were screaming he’s hot, he’s talking to you - DON’T blow it! He was right; Angel was a bastard with nasty gelled hair. Forget him and move on!

“Nah, ah, pet. I’m not done with you yet.” Buffy leaned back against a chair and resigned herself to the fact that he wouldn’t let her away that easy. He grinned at her. “Ok then. What’s your middle name?”

“Anne.”

“Any brothers or sisters?”

“A younger sister named Dawn.”

“Favorite color?”

“Blue.” Buffy bit the inside of her cheek on that one because she saw him open his eyes just a little wider, letting her see his gorgeous eyes better.

“First kiss’s name?”

“Brett.”

“How old were you?”

“Seven.”

“Started young, didn’t you?”

“Probably no younger than you.”

“Nah, I was a nerd when I was younger.” He plowed on before she could say anything. “Favorite movie?”

“Anything from the Molly Ringwald oeuvre.”

“Ever been to Disney World?”

“Nope, Disney Land though.”

“Why is this charity so important to you?”

Buffy froze at this question, then took a deep breath. “So now we’re getting into it, eh?”

“I just want to know you more Buffy. I want to know why you hold this charity so dear to you, why you have looked so sad tonight, why I almost became your punching bag over a comment this afternoon.”

“Ok. Um, well I just want to start out by saying that I have never used this charity to help me. I could never exploit helpless people that way.”

“I know, luv, you explained that to me.” He had a feeling he knew what she would tell him but it would mean more to him if she told him.

“I got involved with this charity four years ago. I wanted to help raise money for battered women and make sure that they had a place to go, to escape from the hell they were in.” Buffy sighed, looking at Spike. He nodded at her, encouraging her. “During my freshman year of university I was overwhelmed. The campus was huge, I had large classes, the profs were tough and hard and I hated my roommate. My friends had all gone to different places except for one, Willow, my manager, but she had her own thing going on. So I was on my own.

“I met this guy. Parker Abrhams. He was a sophomore; funny, cute and he wanted to help me out. I had heard all about the guys at university, how they were faster and wanted fast women so I wasn’t about to let him get into my pants that easily. He asked me out for coffee one day and I set him straight to make sure his intentions were honorable. He laughed at me. He said that he thought I was pretty and just wanted to get to know me. Plus he remembered what it was like to be a freshman and alone on the campus, felt like he should lend a hand to someone in need. So I relaxed and we went out. We dated for a couple of months and I got more and more wrapped up in him. Finally, the big night came.

“It was- well,” Buffy started to blush not knowing how much to explain or how. Spike reached over the food to pat her hand.

“You don’t have to do this, luv.”

“No, I feel I sort of owe you an explanation as to my behavior today. It’s not fair to you to drag you here and expect you to be a mind reader.” She started again. “It wasn’t my first time so I knew what to expect but it wasn’t the best thing I had ever had. I figured there was room for improvement as we had just gotten together. After that night things changed. For the worse. He was still nice to me, sweet even. But he had these moments of horrible possessiveness and rage. He would scream at me for small things, like not having called him at the right time. This went on for about a week before I said something back. Then he gave me something to talk about.”

“He hit you?” Spike ground out.

“Right across the cheek. Had a nice bruise there. But it shut me up. Things were fine for another week. We had sex again, and it was no better for me, but he seemed to enjoy it a lot. I tried to talk to him about it, perhaps slowing down with the sex. He shook me that time, getting smart to not leaving visible bruises. He shook me so hard that I had whiplash and he slammed me into the desk and cracked my tailbone.”

“What were you telling people when they asked what was wrong?” Spike asked, incredulous. No matter how many times he heard these stories they never failed to amaze him how submissive the women were. Buffy’s story really shocked him because she had to be the least submissive person he knew.

“You know what? I don’t even remember. They were stupid, transparent things that any moron could see through, even me. But I didn’t. Parker had my eyes veiled with his ‘love’. People don’t even realize that it’s not the love that keeps them there. It’s like being brainwashed. He was all I had, all I knew, and everything I couldn’t live without. He could have told me to do anything and I would have done it. It’s not the physical abuse that hurts- it’s the mental and emotional, never knowing what he’ll do next.” Buffy smiled sadly. “That happens to a lot of girls.”

“How much longer did it go on for?” Spike wanted to hear the whole thing, wanted to know how tortured he needed the bastard when he killed him. He felt hatred for any abuser, but the fact that it was Buffy made his anger ten times worse and he didn’t even know why.

“Another month but he only hit me one more time. Third time’s the charm, you know? He shoved me against the back of his door, head first and cracked the mirror, which cut my forehead. Then he tried to have sex with me, while I was bleeding. I kicked him between his legs as hard as I could and ran. Maybe it was seeing my own blood, or seeing me looking back at myself in the mirror or that he almost tried to rape me, but something snapped in me. I ran back to residence and locked myself in my room for three days. I even kicked my roommate out. Willow had to get an RA to unlock the door. The bruises had faded some by then, and the gash on my head had started to heal, but I was a mess. I hadn’t eaten, slept, bathed. My grades were slipping, I was on the edge of a breakdown…” Buffy trailed off with tears in her eyes. Spike didn’t say anything, only waited for her to go on.

“He tried to get me back. He called, left letters, emailed me, even tried to talk to Willow about me. I didn’t want to go to the police because it was my word against his and I didn’t have proof. The chicken’s way out, I guess, but it’s hard. No one knows how hard it is. I was moved out of my room, into a single near Willow. I started going to counseling provided by the university and I had the residence ban Parker from it.”

“That’s why you freaked out when I grabbed your arm by the pool?” Spike asked, softly. “And why you were Xena-esque when we ran into each other in the hallways?”

“One of the reasons. I also thought you were a psychotic asshole.” Buffy smiled.

“Well, as long as I was only insane.” He smiled back at her, both relieved and disheartened by her story. “I’m sorry you had to bring me here.”

“Why?”

“I was such a bastard about it. I know it’s hard for you to tell me this. But I appreciate it. It certainly changes the opinion I had of you that you were an air-head bitch.” He told her teasingly. “ I admire you for wanting to stand up for what happened to you, for using it to help others.”

“If I can get even one girl out of a bad relationship, I’ll feel wonderful.” Buffy said truthfully.

“But you already have.” He replied, taking her hand. Buffy cocked her head at him. “You got yourself out.”

* * * * *

“Things aren’t going to be weird now, are they?” Spike asked her as they rode the elevator to the floor together.

“Why would they?” Buffy asked him.

“I don’t know. Things got heavy, I feel kind of responsible, you told me stuff… I just don’t want there to be any bad feelings or regret or anything.”

“This sounds like a really bad morning after speech.” Buffy joked as they stepped off the lift together.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I do. Things aren’t going to be weird. At least not on my part. I was glad you came. It smashed a few misconceptions you had, and it helped me through a little victim’s guilt I still carry around. Talking about it helps. You listened, and that’s more than you’ll ever know. Plus we had a nice conversation without wanting to torture each other. We may even be on our way to being *gasp* friends.” She laughed at him as they reached her door.

“So tomorrow is my big day, eh?” Spike leaned against the wall, watching her as she took her card-key out of her clutch.

“Yup. Hope you have something good planned.”

“Tomorrow night my band is playing at a club in town, so we have to go meet up with the guys in the afternoon to get ready. Other than that I don’t know. Any suggestions?”

“Anything that doesn’t involve me revealing some deep, dark secrets.”

“Uh, oh. I guess this means I’m up to bat, eh, luv?”

“Yes it does. I’m going to find out who William Giles really is.” She laughed as he scrunched his nose up at that name. “But not until tomorrow.”

“I guess this is goodnight?”

“I think so. God only knows what you’ll come up with us for tomorrow so I need my beauty sleep. Tonight was fun though. I liked talking with you.”

“And I with you, luv. This is a good start. Tomorrow will be better.” He took her hand and kissed the back, sending shivers up Buffy’s body. “Until then.”

“Goodnight.” Buffy opened her door and ducked in her room, watching him in the hallway, staring back at her as she closed the door.

“Wha’?” Buffy mumbled into the phone.

“Do I have to come make coffee for you this morning, luv?” Spike’s voice rumbled over the line at her. Buffy sat straight up in bed and looked at the clock.

“What time is it?” She asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“It’s only eight. I just wanted to start the day off on the right foot.”

“Waking me up this early in the morning is not the best way to get me to like you, just so you know.” Buffy got out of bed and stretched, holding the phone between her ear and shoulder.

“I’ll remember that then.” He chuckled at her, the sound sending shivers down to her toes. He could read her the phone book and sound sexy. No wonder he was so popular with the ladies.

“What do you have planned for today? Something fiendishly torturous?”

“Actually, I don’t have anything really pressing to do before this afternoon, like I said last night, so I was thinking we could just hang out by the pool, maybe go over lines? It’ll be the closest thing we get to resting for the next week before we have to go back to work.”

“Sounds good to me. But I need breakfast first, and then I need an hour’s wait.”

“Ah, a rule follower, are you? C’mon, be bad for once.”

“Like you?”

“What can I tell you baby? I’ve always been bad.” She could hear his smirk at that and grinned at that.

“I’m sure you have been. Give me a few minutes to throw my suit on and brush my teeth.”

“Alright then. I’ll go downstairs and snag us a table then, unless you want me to wait.”

“I’ll be fine Spike.”

“I just don’t want you to run into any more dashing young men with arrestingly good looks on your way down.”

“I don’t think I’ve run into any to begin with.” Buffy replied innocently. He growled at her, causing her to giggle.

“I’ll be waiting for you. Hurry, pet.”

Buffy laughed again as she hung up the phone. He wasn’t as bad as she had built him up to be and she was happy at that. He was annoyingly persistent and could be very frustrating, but after last night she was much more open to him and his ways. She supposed that it had been easier to talk to him because she didn’t know him well. Yet, anyway. She hoped to change that today. She owed him that much after accusing him of being a whoreing loadie.

She didn’t bother to shower or wash her hair since they would be getting into the pool soon, so she just ran a brush through her tangled curls left over from the night before and threw shorts and a tee over her bathing suit. She grabbed her towel, cell phone and card key after she brushed her teeth and left the room.

* * * * *

“You know, for someone so tiny you sure do eat a lot.” Spike commented as Buffy brought her plate to the table.

“I’m still a growing girl. And I have to keep up my strength to join in on your escapades of the day, don’t I?” Buffy shot back, digging into her scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast, waffles, croissant and juice.

“Could be. To be perfectly honest with you, pet, today might be painfully boring.”

“What? A day with the legendary Spike Giles boring? How could that be?” Buffy asked.

“It’d just like being on set, luv. All that work for five minutes of film. Not to mention that the legends usually come out of one wild night and some loud mouths that like to stretch the truth.”

“So, is that where the drug stories come from?” Buffy asked quietly, praying not to start a fight. Spike just looked at her, not flinching or shying away from her questioning.

“No, a lot of that stuff is true.”

“So you are on drugs?” Buffy’s brow furrowed.

“Not hardly.” Spike snorted. “I have been clean for about four years now. But the image still hounds me, probably will till my dying day. When you’re a big, bad rock star you have to have some kind of flaw. Apparently I’m still doing lines in between sets and trading groupies for drugs. You should know how it works by now, or you will soon, at least.”

“Seriously?” Buffy gaped at him. “That’s terrible. I guess I’ve never been attacked to know what it’s like. I am so sorry.”

“For what? You only believed what is out there for everyone to know. Its that image that you just can’t shake. Or like that saying: ‘Once a cheater, always a cheater.’ Once an addict, always an addict.”

“That’s terrible. And I helped to perpetuate the stereotype. I feel awful. I said nasty things to you and that isn’t right.” Buffy felt absolutely horrid when she remembered what she’d said to him by the pool a month earlier.

“Don’t. You realize your mistake, and that’s cool. I admit, I had misconceptions about you too, so it’s not like I’m innocent in this either. We’ve called a truce, putting to rest all of the past indiscretions we had, right?” Spike didn’t want her to feel bad for believing what she found on him. She had apologized and had given him another chance. She’d shared one of her closest secrets with him last night, this was nothing compared to that. He wanted to do right by this girl, he realized.

“Yes, we have a truce. But I’m sorry for what I said and thought and for what I believed. I should have asked you about it, and that’s what matters. From now on, there will be honesty if we want to ask each other something, alright?” The tightness in Buffy’s chest lifted some when Spike nodded and offered his hand to seal the deal. She knew how bad it felt to have someone judge her before they even took the chance to get to know her, so why had she been so adamant in doing it to him? You’re attracted to him, and that scares you. You don’t want to let anyone near you again for fear of getting hurt. That is why you struck out at him. Her mind taunted at her, dredging up her third year psych classes to use against herself.

“Sounds good to me, pet. Now eat up. We have a private pool party to attend.”

* * * * *

“Crap. I didn’t bring my script. Do you mind if I run upstairs and grab mine?” Buffy asked as they walked out of the dining room. Spike had on a simple tee shirt and black swim trunks with flip-flops. He threw his towel over his shoulder and held up his copy of the script.

“Got one right here. We should know tomorrow’s lines well enough that we don’t need it anyway.”

“You’re right. Ok then.”

This early in the morning on a Saturday there weren’t any other people by the pool, so they could practice their lines in quiet, not having to worry about bothering others.

Spike stripped off his shirt right away, causing Buffy’s mouth to go dry, and jumped in the pool after throwing his stuff on a lounge chair. Buffy just stood and looked at him, still holding her things in her hands. He surfaced, slicking his blonde hair back, and looked at her.

“You’re not just going to stand there all day, are you? What better place to practice lines than in a pool?” Buffy snapped out of her stupor and set her things down on the chair next to his. She felt his eyes on her as she peeled her shirt off, followed by the shorts. She had chosen to wear a modest two piece, black bathing suit so as not to get embarrassed if something were to slip or move. She wasn’t much of an exhibitionist anyway when it came to wearing skimpy clothing. The way Spike was looking at her when she turned around however made her feel as is she was naked. She quickly climbed into the pool using the stairs.

“Alright, I’m in. Lets get it on.” Her cheeks reddened as he grinned devilishly at her.

“If you say so, luv.” He started to swim towards her, but Buffy ducked under the water and swam away from his approaching form, moving for the deeper end of the pool. She broke the water there with a splash and flung her long hair back, sending a wave of droplets towards the wall behind her. Spike felt his lower half harden as he watched her, the words ‘siren’ and ‘mermaid’ coming to mind. He was very grateful that he was underwater at that moment.

“Lets run lines.” Buffy called, treading water about ten feet away from him. He frowned at her.

“Now, luv, if we’re going to do this we might as well do it right. Come down here and we’ll start. I won’t bite. Unless you ask.” He added as an afterthought, which earned a shake of her head, but she swam to him nevertheless.

“No funny business, buster.” She sat on the bottom few stairs in the pool, which let her upper shoulders be visible, but nothing else. She could feel her nipples harden as he swam closer to her to start rehearsing and was thankful that they were under water.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He smirked at her.

* * * * *

“You don’t seem to get this, do you? There won’t be any money to give you unless we find my partner. And we can’t do that unless you stop being a big baby and drive the damn car.”

“I can’t drive the car, and you know it. I’m a wanted car thief, in case you’ve forgotten.”

“And I’m the one with the gun! Who’s got who by the balls now?” Buffy practically spat at Spike, her eyes flashing at him. Being in character and arguing got her almost as hot and bothered as being herself and arguing with Spike. Course, she would never admit that to him.

“I don’t care! Shoot me, it’s not like I don’t have dirt on you when the cops come to get me!” Spike yelled back, glad that no one had shown up to swim yet, as they would think they were having a very weird conversation.

“Whatever.” Buffy was supposed to walk away then, but her sitting position on the stairs made that difficult. Nevertheless Spike reached out and grabbed her arm as his character was supposed to.

“I’m not letting you get off that easily.” Spike floated closer, coming within centimeters of her face. Buffy looked up at him, a little shocked, but curious. Her lips parted and her tongue wet them. Then she clued in to what was going on.

“Spike? What are you doing?”

“Running lines with you.”

“This isn’t a line.”

“No, but we have to do this tomorrow anyway. We might as well practice so that we know what we’re doing.”

“I think I know how to kiss a guy, Spike. I have had boyfriends, as you recall.”

“Yeah, but have any of them really kissed you? Made your toes curl and your blood boil? Made you want to scream so loudly from want and need that you’d wake up the neighbors and then kiss you past caring about it?” He edged even closer so he was almost talking against her mouth.

“This isn’t in the script.” Buffy whispered at him, her breath quickening, waiting for that mind-blowing kiss he promised.

“But this is.” He closed his eyes and pressed his lips against hers. The sensation was so intense he saw colors behind his eyelids. Her lips were so soft, and her breath so hot. He urged her lips apart a little more and touched his tongue to her bottom lip, waiting for what she would do next.

Buffy fell into the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. She hadn’t even bothered to resist in the least, wanting this and knowing it would have happened inevitably anyway. There was too much spark between them to be ignored. Being so close to him, in the water, running lines and arguing in character had ignited the spark, she felt it and now it burned brightly between them. She felt his tongue on her lip and pushed her tongue past her lips to meet his. He groaned and deepened the kiss, wanting his tongue to be inside her hot mouth. His hands tangled in her damp hair, angling her head just the right way so he could reach all of her mouth perfectly.

“Spike.” Buffy moaned as he pulled his mouth away and looked at her through bright but lust-filled eyes. He closed in on her again, this time aiming for her neck. The look in his eyes made Buffy’s widen and her mind start to turn again. This was wrong. They were costars and couldn’t get involved like this. Too many things could go wrong.

Just as Buffy was waffling between letting him keep kissing her neck and rubbing her hip, and pushing him away, her cell phone rang, snapping them both out of their reverie. Buffy did push him away then and rushed out of the pool to answer the savior that was her phone.

“Hello?” She answered, out of breath from his kisses. She turned her back so she wouldn’t have to look at him in the pool, his eyes still eager to continue. “Wes! How are you?”

Spike flopped back in the water and let himself be submerged for a few moments before rising and slicking his hair back. He willed his body to calm down, but it didn’t look like things were going to anytime soon. He had let things get way out of control. He may want to get to know her better and feel strongly attracted to her, but he wasn’t going to ruin his chances with her by trying to get into her pants right away. Or in this case, her bathing suit.

“Things are going great!” He heard Buffy say, too brightly. “No, I haven’t killed him… I swear, he’s fine... Wes, do you have any faith in me? … Just a second.” Buffy turned and leaned down to give him the phone without looking at him, but he got a perfect view of her cleavage, which only negated his wishes to relax his body.

“Wes? …Hey buddy … Yes, things are going good … We had a great time at the event last night …Well things got a little heated,” Spike looked at Buffy at that, but she only flushed and refused to face him. “But it’s all under control now. Unless she gives me another reason to take her on … no, seriously, things are great. This was a good way to solve our problems. I honestly do like Buffy.”

Buffy started to gather her things. She hadn’t realized they had been in the pool for a couple of hours and it was now almost noon. If they were to go meet with his band this afternoon she had to go get ready. And calm down my raging hormones, she thought, still feeling his lips on hers and wishing she could have just one more… NO! He’s sexy as hell but getting involved with a co-star is beyond wrong. I WILL be strong. But as soon she watched him emerge from the pool, she knew that was better said than done. The water ran off him, from his head down. His hair was smoothed back, but the natural curl in it was threatening to be unleashed; the water sluiced down his chest, paving the way over his sculpted pecs, around his hard nipples and down his amazing abdomen, before the rivulets disappeared into his black drunks. Her gaze travelled down his lean-muscled legs. Even his feet are sexy, she mused.

“Yes, I expect we’ll have a very good day, Wes … Talk to you later.” Spike hung up the phone, never taking his eyes off her. He handed her the phone and stepped even closer to her. “I think today has already started out great.”

“You know, we’ve run enough lines for now, and it’s getting late so I have to go get showered and ready and stuff, ok? Bye.” Buffy said as she rushed around him, and out the door to the pool. Spike stood in the same spot, rock hard from watching her hightail it away from him from the rear.

“Yes, I think I’m going to have one good day,” he said to himself, his mouth curling into an almost evil smile.