Willow curled into a ball on the couch and shivered. It was winter, an
unusually frigid one for Sunnydale, and of course the heater in her
apartment would choose just now to go funky. It was so cold that Willow's
teeth rattled. Her roommate walked into the room carrying the fluffy
comforter from off his bed. "Make room, pet," he said. She reluctantly
shifted, giving him a place to sit down. As soon as he settled she rested
her head on his hard chest. He spread the blanket over both of them and she
sighed contentedly.

"Better, Red?" He asked.

She nodded against his chest, but he could still feel her slight body
trembling against his. Spike reached over to the coffee table and grabbed
the telly remote. He switched it on to the weather channel. Sound filled the
room.

'. unusually cold winter for Southern California. Blizzard coming in,
temperatures expected to drop into the negatives and remain there for quite
a while. Snow accumulation is expected up to two feet in some areas. A
winter weather advisory is in effect for all Southern California towns. Get
inside, turn up those heaters, and grab some hot chocolate- we're in for a
long week.'

Willow groaned as Spike flipped off the TV.

"No worries, luv. If it gets too cold for you, you can always cuddle up next
to me." He shot her a smirk.

She just rolled her eyes and giggled. "Yeah, right, Spike. You wish."

"Oh, you know it," he told her.

She swatted at him playfully, "Spike, stop it. I was relaxing."

He obediently quieted down, closing his eyes and reveling in the feel of his
redhead's warm body pressing against his. He stroked her red hair, listening
as her breaths became deeper and more relaxed.

Willow and Spike had been roommates for about a year now. During her second
year at UC Sunnydale the school had ordered all sophomores to find off
campus apartments to live in. Buffy moved in with Riley, leaving Willow to
find her own roommate. Spike, still boarding at Giles's place, also needed
somewhere to live. Because she was the only one that could stand him and he
could stand only her, they had tentatively decided to become roommates. It
worked out better than anyone had expected, and their relationship became
that of best friends. They did everything together, knew everything about
each other. Spike looked out for her like a big brother would and she
flipped out on anyone that dared insult him.

Spike smiled against Willow's head as he felt her relax completely, falling
into a sleep. He couldn't believe how much had changed over the past year.
He went from hating anything having to do with the slayer to falling in love
with her best friend. Yeah, somewhere along the way he had fallen in love
with his gorgeous redheaded roommate. God help him, he was going soft.

Sighing, he picked up Willow's slight form and carried her to her bedroom.
He set her gently on the bed, covering her with his blanket. She needed it
more than he did. < Look at me. A few years ago, I would have ripped her
entrails out and used them to decorate my Christmas tree. Now, chip or no,
I'm so enraptured with her I'd do anything for her. I dote over her and I
love it. >

He walked out of the room and shut the door softly. He leaned against the
door and sighed once again. Oh, he was so whipped.

********************

Willow watched helpless and in horror as Spike fought back the vampires. He
was outnumbered and outgunned. "Spike, look out!" She screamed. Tears
cascaded down her face as Spike spun just as the vampire behind him grabbed
a stake and slammed it home. Spike reached out to Willow just as he exploded
into ash. Willow screamed.

"Pet, wake up!!" Came a familiar voice from a mist somewhere floating around
her. Her body was shaken by some outside force and she shot upwards,
trembling. Spike's concerned eyes looked down upon her. "Luv, it was just a
dream."

"No, no, no.." she moaned, still caught up in the all too vivid memories of
the nightmare. She clutched onto Spike tightly. "Don't you ever, don't you
ever do that to me again. Don't you ever."

"Do what, Red? What did I do?"

"You left me," she whimpered, tears rolling down her face. "You left me."

"Shhh, shhh." He held onto the girl's body tightly and brushed away her
tears. "Don't cry. It was just a dream. I'm still here."

"Promise, Spike," her voice became hard. "Promise me."

"Promise you what?" He questioned.

"Promise me that you'll never leave me. Please," her voice wavered slightly.

"I promise, pet. I promise I'll never leave you."

"Okay," she whispered, but didn't relinquish her grasp to him. He stayed
with her like that, rocking her gently, until she was lulled back to sleep.

********************

When Willow woke again, she was back in her bed with a hard body draped over
hers. < What the hell? > She wondered, before the memories of the previous
night came flooding back into her mind. < Spike must have fallen asleep in
my room after I threw myself all over him. > She was disgusted with herself.
< What a crybaby. >

"Spike," she shook him gently. "Spike, wake up!" Spike mumbled something in
his sleep. She shook him a little harder. "Spike, you're too heavy," she
whined.

Spike's head shot up. "What? Where am I?"

Willow couldn't resist giggling. "In my room, silly. Remember, my bad
dream?"

"Oh, yeah," Spike remembered, all right.

"Look, Spike, I'm sorry about that. I don't know what was wrong with me. The
dream just really creeped me out, I guess."

"Hey," he stroked her cheek, "no problem, luv. It touches me that you want
to keep me around."

She grinned at him. "Of course I want to keep you around. You can't just
pick up cuddle vampires at K*MART, you know."

"Hey," he protested. "I am no cuddle vampire! I'm the big bad!"

Willow giggled. "Yeah, the big bad cuddle vampire. Oh no!" She feigned fear.
"He's going to cuddle me to death! Eeek!"

"Hey!!!"

She laughed and rolled out of bed, walking to the window. Carefully she
peeked through the shade. She turned to face Spike, eyes lit up. "Let's go
outside!" She exclaimed merrily.

"Um, pet, you seem to be forgetting that I'm a vampire, here."

"Nope," she said, and grabbed the curtains, throwing them back. Spike, in
his haste to escape the rays of sunlight, got himself tangled in the covers
and tumbled to the floor. It took him a minute to realize that he wasn't
burning. He looked out to see the overcast sky and the chunks of snow
falling from it. "Wow," he exclaimed.

Willow was too busy cracking up in the corner at the hilarious display in
front of her to say or do anything.

He shot her an evil eye. "Get ready, witch, cause you're going down!"

********************

Half an hour later both Willow and Spike were bundled up and trudging
through the walkway to the back yard. Willow rounded the corner, giggling.
"Snow angels, first," she exclaimed happily. "Okay?" she was expecting an
immediate veto from Spike, but received no answer. She turned, and Spike was
not there. "Spike? Where are you?" No answer. She retraced the footprints
left in the snow. "Spike?" She didn't register what was happening until it
was too late. Spike pulled the back of her shirt out and dumped a handful of
snow down her bare back. She screamed and launched herself at him, fists
flying. "THAT WAS COLD, SPIKE!" Both the witch and the vampire tumbled to
the snow, Willow's fists flying and Spike trying desperately to block the
blows while laughing hysterically. "Ooooh, you!" Threatened Willow. She
grabbed a handful of snow and mushed it against his face. He continued to
laugh, annoying her.

Willow sat on top of his chest, pouting. "That wasn't fair."

Spike shrugged. "Yeah, well, who says cuddle monsters fight fair?" When she
was least expecting it, Spike flipped them both over, so she was lying in
the snow and he was resting above her. "Now," said Spike, "I've got you
where I want you."

Willow grinned crookedly. "I'm sure."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Admit I'm not *too* cuddly and I'll let you up."

"Nope," Willow shook her head. "You're the cuddliest vamp I've ever met.
Cuddlier than Angel, even."

Spike's eyes widened in shock, and he lifted a hand to his heart. "That
hurt, pet. That really hurt. For that, you get-this!" He began to tickle her
mercilessly. Willow shrieked and bucked under him, but was not able to
escape. He continued to tickle her until she began to struggle for breath.
Then he let up.

"Well, pet, I think you have something to say."

"No," she refused adamantly.

"Okay, I've got forever."

Willow struggled weakly, and it was then that Spike noticed that something
was wrong. "Willow, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm kind of.. cold.." she murmured quietly.

Spike looked at her face in concern. It was beginning to take on a slightly
blue tinge. Immediately he rolled off her and picked her up. "Spike," she
said quietly, "what are you doing?"

"Taking you inside," he told her.

"Don't. wanna." her voice drifted and he increased his pace. He opened the
door of the apartment and was immediately hit with a blast of cold air.

"Shit, this isn't gonna work," he murmured. He carried the body of the small
girl up to the bathroom, where he laid her gently on the carpet. She made no
sounds save for her chattering teeth. Quickly he removed her jacket and
shoes. Then he considered only a moment before removing her socks,
sweatpants, and sweatshirt, leaving her in only a black bra and underwear
set. "Sorry pet," he muttered, "but you can bite my head off for this one
later." Again he picked her up and placed her in the large bathtub. He began
to run the hot water over her. He let the tub fill to the top. Willow's eyes
drifted open. "Spike, what happened?" She asked.

"You gave me quite a scare, pet." He told her. "I think you just got a
little too cold."

"Oh," she nodded. "Oh."

"Do you think you'll be okay by yourself for just a moment? I'm going to
prepare your bed for you."

She nodded and he left to pile all the blankets he could find in the
apartment on her bed. He was back in a flash, like he promised. "You feeling
better, luv?" He asked.

She nodded. "Nice and warm now. Thanks."

"Sure." He grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack. "Time to get out, now." He
lifted her dripping body from the tub, trying not to stare at the scantily
clad woman  before him. He wrapped her in the towel quickly and carried her
to the bedroom where he set her on the bed. He tossed her a pair of his
sweats and turned around. "Take off the wet stuff and put on the sweats,
Red," he told her.

He listened to the sounds of her undressing and tried not to let his body
take over as he imagined what she looked like under the sopping wet black
satin.

"Okay," Willow called softly from the bed, "I'm decent."

Spike turned. "Under the blankets, luv," He helped her crawl under the
numerous comforters. "Nice and warm?" He questioned.

"Warmer if you were here with me," she said, patting the space next to her.

"Is that an invitation?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yes, you stupid blond vampire."

He grinned. "You must be feeling better, you're already insulting me."

"I'm waiting," she shook her head impatiently.

He stripped out of his snow covered duster quickly, then his wet sweats,
leaving him in a pair of black boxers.

He slipped under the blankets and allowed Willow to cuddle up next to him.
He gently kissed her forehead. "Willow, I need to talk to you about
something."

"What?" She asked quietly.

"I got really scared today. I don't ever want to lose you, pet." He held her
tightly.

"I don't ever want to lose you," she responded.

"But there's more," Spike said hesitantly. "I think.. I think after living
with you this year.. I love you, pet."

"I love you too, Spike."

"No, Luv, I mean like love. I love you."

"Oh. You mean you want to be my cuddle vamp?" Willow questioned.

Spike had to smile at her innocent Willowism. "Yeah, I want to be your
cuddle vamp."

"That's good, cuz I've wanted you to be my cuddle vamp for a long, long
time."

"Really?" Spike perked up, overjoyed.

"Yeah, really. Ummm. Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I love you."

"And I think that I love you."

********************

End!

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