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

“Spike, quit peeking at the cards. That’s cheating!”
“And your point is?”
“You’re bad at it. I can see you cheating! At least make
an effort to hide it.”
Xander looked down at the Memory game on the floor between
them. Spike had 6
matches, Xander only had three.
“Look, you gotta cut me some slack. I’m old, the memory’s
not so good. It just
balances everything out, y’know.” Spike sneaked a look at
another card again.
“That’s it! I’m not playing with you anymore.” Xander got
up in a huff and sat at
the desk to frown at the grinning vampire.
“You give in? Fine, I win.” Spike loved winning, he
chuckled to himself as he
gathered up all the cards and put them away. He stood up to
put it back on Red’s shelf
when a car pulled in the driveway.
“Is it her mom and dad?” Xander noticed the headlights.
“No, they left a message on the machine. Something about
a week long seminar
for work.” He said, distracted. It was definitely Angel’s
car. But why weren’t they
coming inside?
“What’s the hold up?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”
Spike ran to Willow’s bedroom door, flung it open, and
raced down the stairs to
the living room. Xander came in right behind him.

*******

Angel shut off the engine, he could see Spike and Xander
through the large
picture window. “Looks like we have an audience, Willow.”
He reached over to pull her
into his arms. “Will Xander tell-“
”No, he wouldn’t want to upset Buf-everyone.”
“Good.” Angel pulled her halfway onto his lap.
She sat facing him, looking uncertain. “I’ve never made
out with a guy while
people were watching.”
His smile was provocative. “Mmm, so I’m the first?” He
teased. Angel was
looking forward to kissing her, touching her more than he
cared to admit. He just had to
know if the potency of last night’s kiss had all been in
his fevered imagination. “It’s
okay, Willow.” He caught her eyes with his own, seeking a
way to ease her fears. “This
will be fun. Can you imagine Xander’s face? He’s probably
ready to have a seizure.” His
lips nibbled at hers while she pondered this.
She smiled as she imagined her friend’s stunned face, and
finally relaxed against
him and opened her mouth. Angel deepened the kiss. He
groaned against her mouth,
this was no figment of his imagination.

******

Spike and Xander stood by the window, watching intently.
Spike rolled his eyes,
he needed to expend some energy. “I had such a good time
tonight, you big handsome
poof.” Spike mocked, his voice lightened into a high
falsetto.
Xander caught on to Spike’s performance. “Do you like my
hair? I used extra hair
gel–just for you.” He deepened his voice as much as
possible and tried to furrow his
brow.
“Oh, yes. I really like the coat, too–“
”Do you? It’s the only one I’ll wear, see how it billows
around me so nicely?”
Xander took a few steps with his chest thrust out, waving
his arms behind him as if they
were Angel’s coat.
“Ooh. It does. And what a manly sashay you have. Angel,
you make my heart
beat faster.” Spike pressed his hand to his chest.
“Oh, Willow. You’re so beautiful. Almost as pretty as
me. Darn, if only I didn’t
turn into a homicidal maniac after I’ve slept with a
woman.”
“That’s alright. Just yammer away at me until I want to
puke. Then, whip my
hormones into a frenzy by taking off your shirt. I can
never get enough of seeing that
tattoo and those macho biceps of yours.”
“I know. And did you see my bold, black boots? They kind
of say ‘dark and
dangerous’, huh? But enough about me” He paused a beat.
“What do you think about
me?”
“Oh, Angel. I can’t speak when I’m gazing into those
soul-filled dark eyes of
yours. Kiss me, you fool!”
They both collapsed into hysterical laughter. Angel and
Willow entered to see the
Xander and Spike howling on the floor, tears running down
their cheeks. Xander
pounded his hand on the floor.
“Are you two alright?” Angel said. At his serious facial
expression and creased
brow, they both broke into fresh laughter.
As their hilarity subsided, Spike recovered first. “I’m
glad I don’t have to bleedin’
breathe.” He reached over to slap Xander on the back when
the young man sounded like
he was choking.
Angel was not amused. He wasn’t exactly sure what those
two had been talking
about but he was pretty sure that he was the butt of their
little joke. Xander stood up.
He glanced at Angel and then hugged Willow. He mouthed,
“Are you okay?” She
nodded and touched his cheek to reassure him.
“Good. How about if I walk you out, Angel?”
“Who said I was ready to leave?”
“Sorry, mate. All the extra room in her bed is taken.”
Spike said firmly. Xander
and Angel both turned violent eyes on him. “By her teddy
bears.”
“It’s okay, Angel.” Willow said.
“As you wish.” He brushed his lips against hers, shivering
at even that small
contact. “Goodnight, darling.”
Both Xander and Spike were having a hard time controlling
their temper. Angel
smiled sardonically at both of them. “Goodnight, boys.”
He walked out the door and
into the night. A few seconds later, they heard an engine
start.
Xander stood looking at both Willow and Spike. He didn’t
like the idea of leaving
Willow alone with the vampire. But, the idea of Angel
sneaking back over here after he
and Spike had left turned his stomach. Xander also knew he
would never get Willow to
agree to come to his house, not with Anya there. The
ex-vengeance demon was
expecting him home soon. Given his options, Xander picked
Spike. Willow wasn’t
interested in the demon anyway. Angel was the real threat.

“Goodnight, Wills. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
He pulled her into another brotherly hug, giving her a
silent assurance of his love
and support. At the doorway, he paused. “Spike?”
“What?”
“You had me at hello.”

*******

“Care to share the joke?” Willow asked as she and Spike
stood in her bedroom.
“I doubt you’d find it funny, luv.” Spike had just
recovered from yet another
bout of hysterics. “So,” he said casually. “You and the
poof have fun?”
“Yes, ANGEL and I had a lovely time. He took me to this
great little place and
then we talked-“
”I think you did a bit more than ‘talk’ to Peaches.”
“It’s all part of the bet, Spike.” She said with false
innocence. “ You told me I had
to kiss him. It’s not my fault if he enjoyed himself.”
Willow was enjoying paying him
back for the embarrassment he had caused her.
Spike was furious. “It’s not like it’s that hard to get
the poof’s attention. He
hasn’t been with a woman in two years. Hell, he’d probably
shag Xander if the idiot
offered. Where’s that cat of yours? Let’s just say that I
wouldn’t leave the poof alone in a
room with it.”
Willow just stared at Spike. Was he hinting that Angel . .
. eww! She forced her
thoughts to what he had said earlier on. She put her hands
on her hips. “What are you
saying? That I’m not desirable?” She walked over to him
and trailed a hand down his
chest. “I can remember a certain blond vampire who was
VERY interested in me.”
“This isn’t about me! This is about you. Why are you so
hot and bothered over
Soulboy? It’s not like he’s got the goods, Red.” He said
pointedly.
“Maybe ‘the goods’ are overrated. The way he spoke to me.
. . it made me feel.
. .well, I can’t expect you to understand that.” She
walked around Spike and thrust open
the door. “I’ve had enough of you for tonight. Go sleep
in one of the other rooms or go
to Xander’s house. I really don’t care where you go, as
long as you’re not in here.”
“But-“
”Go.”
Spike stalked out of the room and she slammed the door
behind him. He wished
there was some bloody alcohol in the house. He put his
hands in his jeans pocket and
pulled out some money. He smiled to himself, he had
‘liberated’ it from Angel’s coat
the other evening when he’d picked it up to throw it at
him. It was time for a midnight
shopping spree.

*******

The sounds of frying and the smell of coffee roused Willow
from a deep sleep.
“Mmmm,” she murmured. It smelled like her Mom was making
breakfast. Her eyes
flew open. Her mom was out of town. As was her dad. So
who was in the kitchen?
“Ouch! Bleedin’ Gas Stoves!” Spike? Spike was cooking?
Willow heard a
metallic clang. She rolled out of bed and pulled on her
fuzzy robe. This could not be
good. She rushed down the stairs to stop him before he
burned her house down. The
sight that greeted her stopped her in mid-scold.
All the curtains had been pulled to block the light from
the normally sunny little
kitchen. On the table were two lit taper candles, two mugs
of coffee, two paper plates
and a vase with dandelions and daisies, obviously plucked
from the lawn. Spike stood
at the stove, an apron tied about his waist, flipping
french toast, a determined look on
his face. “Spike?”
“Wha-bloody hell! Red, you almost made me flip that onto
the floor. You
shouldn’t sneak up on the undead!” He grimaced. “You
weren’t supposed to wake up
until I was finished.”
She hid her smile. She knew she should still be angry at
him, but the sight of him
in an apron, making her breakfast was irresistible. “Can I
help?”
“No. You’re not to lift a finger. However, I couldn’t
find your syrup. Can you
tell me where it is?”
“It’s on the top left shelf.” He removed it and set it
before her. Then he rushed
back to the stove, concerned that the toast would burn.
“You do like french toast, don’t you, luv? I wasn’t quite
sure, but it’s the only
breakfast food I know how to make well. Everytime I try to
make pancakes, I get
fascinated by the bubbles and let the bleedin’ things burn
on one side.”
“Spike–“
”Now, now just sit down, there.” He brought the skillet
over and flipped the
bread onto her plate. Then to her astonishment, he
sprinkled a mix of powdered and
brown sugar over them. “How’s that?”
“I didn’t know you could cook.”
“I learned when I lived with Angelus. Dru and the rest of
them, they didn’t like
to eat. But I was always fascinated with it. We stayed in
a hotel in New Orleans once. I
was about to eat a chef when he offered to teach me how to
make a few things. French
toast. Beignets. That sort of thing. So I let him live.”
He flashed her a grin. “Anyway, I
thought anyone who had spent a whole evening with the great
poof, would be a little
cranky, and I should forgive you for being so rude last
night. And I made you breakfast
to call a truce.”
She gave him a look that said she didn’t quite buy what
was going on. She
decided to let the ‘rude comment’ go. “Or you’re
desperate not to stay with Xander.”
“That hurts, pet. I don’t make breakfast for just anyone,
you know.” He sat
down across from her. “Now, take a bite and tell me what
you think.”
She found to her surprise that it was better than any she
had ever tasted. And
Spike was being unusually charming. “Mmmm,” she said
mumbled as she savored a
bite. She swallowed, then looked at him. “This is so
good!”
Spike gave her an arrogant look that said he had known
that. Then he smiled and
leaned forward. “All’s forgiven, then?”
“Yes.” He was irresistible. They finished in
companionable silence. When the
meal was over, Spike carried the plates to the sink, and
rinsed the syrup off them. Then
he opened the window a crack and lit a cigarette, being
careful to avoid the sunbeams.
As he smoked, he gazed at her thoughtfully. “What are you
thinking?”
“That I could get to like mornings if I keep spending them
with you.” He smiled.
“Care to make another bet?”
She worried her lower lip with her teeth. She had
promised Angel that she
wouldn’t make another bet with Spike. “You don’t have
anything else I want.”
“Umm, I think you’re confusing me with Dark and Dork-ish,
luv. I am perfectly
capable of giving you everything you need. I wouldn’t even
go on a killing spree
afterwards or dig up big rock demons to try to end the
world.” He took one last inhale
and put out the cigarette. His grin was enticing.
“Hmm, I suppose it does take more than a thirty second
event to bring the world
to an end.” That slid the grin right off of his face. She
clapped her hand over her mouth.
“I can’t believe I said that.”
“Take that back!” He growled.
“Make me!” She giggled. Then realizing what she had just
said, she clapped her
hands back over her mouth. This is getting out of hand.
She looked up to see how Spike
had taken the comment. Uh-oh. Willow, I don’t think that
was the right thing to say to a
vampire. His eyes had narrowed, and as they met hers, he
began walking very
deliberately toward her. Run! She nearly knocked her
chair over as she bolted upstairs,
toward her room. He was barely a foot behind her.
She threw open the door and was about to slam it in his
face when he stretched
out an arm to prevent her. He was in full vamp face and
looked decidedly angry. She
punched him on the shoulder. “I’m such a kidder! Ha ha.
Well, my class starts pretty
soon. . .I’d better be getting dressed. . .and, um, going.
So. . .uh. . .thanks for breakfast.”
He ignored her stammering and walked into the room,
backing her up as he did.
“Thirty seconds, you say? Is that what the puppy
considered a long go at it?” His voice
had lowered, his eyes were glowing.
“I was kidding!”
“And I’m not laughing.” He continued walking her back
until her knees hit the
bed and she went down. He went down on top of her. “Do
you feel like laughing?”
“I’ll tell Angel.”
“So what?”
“Hey, I know you can’t bite me.”
“Luv, did I say anything about biting?” He shook his head
and his human
features reappeared. “Now, this is much better.”
Willow was considerably less nervous. She tried to
persuade him to let her go.
“Really, Spike. I have to go to class.”
“Hmmm. . .class. Well, I agree that you are in need of an
education. And I’m an
expert in this particular field.”
Willow shivered, and not in fear. “I have to go!”
“Alright. After we discuss something first.”
“I’m not making another bet with you, Spike. I just can’t.
”
“We won’t make it bet, then.” He took an unneeded breath.
He hoped she went
along with this. “You’re a little confused about your
feelings right now, aren’t you?”
She nodded, impressed with his insight. “Have you thought
about why the poof is so
appealing to you all of a sudden? Have you ever dated
another vampire?”
“Of course not. I was too busy running and screaming-“
”Yes, well. Why not date another vampire? Compare notes.
Y’know shop
around a bit. You should see if your feelings are true.”
“Spike, I’m not dating any of your undead buddies. When I
get taken out to
dinner by a guy, I don’t want to be dinner!”
“I’m talking about me, Red. Dating me. Just three dates.
It’ll help you make an
informed decision. You might have been taken in by the
whole “creature of the night”
thing.”
Willow digested this. She looked at the vampire in front
of her. No, Willow
didn’t have any illusions about vampires. But one thing
that this little venture would
give her was a chance to sort out her feelings for both
vampires. “Alright.”
“That’s it? No refusals?” He had been looking forward to
‘convincing’ her.
“Nope. Gotta go now. Let me up.”
“Hang on then. Let’s think about what one would consider
a date.”
“Ok . . .”
“Let’s say a bloke went out, bought food, and cooked his
lady a meal. Y’know,
candlelight, just the two of them, conversation, banter–“
He wiggled his eyebrows. “An
invigorating chase to the bedroom?”
She ignored the last comment. “So, you’re saying we
already had a date?”
“Not exactly. The date’s not over yet.”
“Oh no? And why is that?”
“I haven’t gotten my goodnight kiss.”
“Spike–“ His mouth covered hers, his hands cradling her
head.
“Patience, luv.” He whispered against her mouth. “Even a
good kiss takes longer
than thirty seconds with me.”

*******

Spike whistled as he headed down the stairs to finish the
dishes. Everything
seemed to be going well. Willow was a little late to
class, and his plans were right on
schedule. Peaches didn’t have a shot. Spike was so lost
in his plotting that when the
phone rang he didn’t think twice about answering it.
He picked up the powdered sugar bag as he reached for the
phone. He was just
about to say “Allo”, when some of the sugar got lodged in
his throat. Instead of
speaking, all he could manage was a strangled cough.
“Willow, is that you?” Came the
voice from the other line.
Bloody hell—the slayer! He coughed again and affected a
falsetto. “Buffy?”
“Willow?” Buffy sounded confused. “You sound funny. Are
you coming down
with something?”
“Ohh, umm, yes. I am very sick.” Spike rolled his eyes
and gave a nasty cough. It
sounded like he was hocking up a lung. That ought to gross
her out! “Haven’t been to the
dorm in awhile.”
“Um, I know. Wills, have you seen a doctor? That sounds
kinda serious. And I
know you haven’t been at the dorm, that’s why I called. I
was worried about you. “ She
continued. “Well, listen. I have an idea. If you don’t
feel well, why don’t I come over
and entertain you? I’ll pick up some videos, some Nyquil,
some ice cream, some clothes
for you, and keep you company tonight.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea!” Spike started to
panic. “I might get you sick
and that would be really bad, you being the Chosen One and
all. . .”
“Nonsense. Supernatural consititution, remember?” Buffy
continued speaking
over the muffled protests. “I’ll be over after I have
dinner with Riley, ‘kay? See you
then!” And she hung up.
Bloody. Everlasting. Hell.
 

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