GOING ONCE (20/?)
 

Willow had no idea where they were going. They had left her house nearly an
hour before and had started walking. She didn't really mind walking with
Spike, enjoying any chance to be with the blonde vampire, but she was
starting to get hungry and a bit tired. That combination would well make her
cranky. Somehow she didn't think that she should be cranky on her first
pseudo date with Spike. He might not want another. And, in a way, the mystery
of their evening was sort of exciting. He had given her details, just telling
her to wear something informal and comfortable. She had to wonder what Spike
would come up with for a simple date. She looked at him and realized that he
must have asked her something while she had been lost in her thoughts. He was
walking beside her, looking at her with a smile of amusement and a look of
expectancy. "Sorry, I didn't hear that last remark."
 

He laughed, moving his hand to take hers, "I said that it is a nice evening
out, isn't it?"
 

Willow gulped at the first touch of his cool hand on hers. Nodding, she said,
"Yeah, it's pleasant."
 

"Good start for the date, do you think?" he asked, trying to sound
interested. All he cared about at the moment was how beautiful she looked in
the pale moonlight and how nice it was to be able to be with someone that
like her.
 

"Walking miles upon miles?" she asked, laughing. "Spike, honey, not many
women would find a long walk enjoyable after paying who knows what for your
company."
 

"You don't like it?" he asked, frowning.
 

"I love it," she said, shaking her head, "but I'm not most women. You know
that I love to walk. This is perfect, for me."
 

The smile that crossed his face was proud and pleased. He held her hand a bit
more tighter as they continued to walk, "Well, I wasn't sure exactly what
simple met. Had me at a bit of a loss, actually. Have I said yet how
beautiful you look?"
 

"What?" she looked at him in surprise as a smile crossed her face, "You think
so? In these old things?"
 

"You always look beautiful," he said matter of factly as he turned the
corner, pulling her along with him. "We're almost there."
 

"Almost where?" she asked, still reeling from his compliment. She caught
herself when she realized that he must be acting. This was just part of his
expected date behavior, much like picking her up at her front door had been.
He didn't really find her beautiful.
 

"Stop it," he warned, seeing the look of doubt on her beautiful face. How
could anyone so perfect have such little confidence?
 

"Stop what?" she asked, looking at him in confusion.
 

He stopped and faced her, "I'm not lying. You are ravishing, even in old
jeans a T-shirt. This date may be a research project, but I am not acting a
part. You're beautiful, deal with it."
 

The smile that came over her face was large, "Yes, sir. Got it sir."
 

"Brat," he muttered, smiling despite himself as he started them walking
again. They continued their conversation as they walked, simply enjoying
being together though neither would admit it out loud. Spike finally saw
their destination ahead and smiled, wondering if his idea of simple was the
same as Willow's. "We're here."
 

Willow looked over, surprised to find that they had walked to the Sun Cinema.
She smiled, looking at him, "A walk and a movie?"
 

"With burgers after," he said, shrugging. "Seemed simple enough to me."
 

"Do you think we can agree on the movie?" she asked skeptically, her eyes
looking over the choices.
 

"As long as I don't have to read it, we're cool," he said.
 

"So I could pick the sappiest, most romantic movie and you wouldn't
complain?" she teased, watching him grimace slightly.
 

"Might not enjoy it, but I won't complain," he promised, knowing that he
would be too busy focused on her sitting beside him in the dark, probably
sharing some buttery popcorn with their hands meeting by accident or not by
accident several times, to actually watch whatever movie they did see.
 

"How about the comedy?" she suggested, knowing that romantic movies with
Spike beside her would just be bad. Very bad.
 

"Sounds lovely, pet," he said, moving forward to get their tickets, his hand
still holding hers.

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