GOING ONCE (26/?)
 

Willow looked guilty as she studied her hands, "I'm not going to bid on him.
I can't. I don't know how he feels and I'm not brave enough to stand there in
front of all those people and bid on someone that might hate me."
 

Anya's eyes widened as she said, "You were going to win him!"
 

"That sneaky little bastard," Buffy said, her eyes narrowing. "He set us up,
didn't he? Arranged for you win him so he could win the bet?"
 

Willow nodded, looking at them with guilty eyes, "I'm sorry. I didn't want
to. He just threatened to kill the winning bidder if I didn't agree to help
him."
 

"When did he approach you with that plan?" Riley asked, a thoughtful look in
his eyes.
 

"He was waiting for me that first night, right after you made the bet,"
Willow said, sighing. She'd done it now. He'd hate her for letting him lose
the bet.
 

"He had it in mind before he made the bet, I'd wager," Anya said, almost
smiling. Sneaky bastard was right. He'd used it as a ploy to get closer to
Willow.
 

"He threatened you, you say?" Buffy asked, looking at Anya to try to keep
from laughing. Trust Spike to court Willow in a way that unique and entirely
him. She couldn't believe she'd been so blind and not noticed it before. She
could remember the guilty look on Willow's face whenever she and Anya
discussed the auction and the way the redhead hated to discuss it.
 

"Yeah. Said he'd get someone to kill whoever won him if I didn't agree. And
then he used my agreement to get my help with all these details about the
auction. From his clothes to his application to his choice of dates."
 

"That carriage ride in the park!" Riley said, laughing softly. "He had it all
planned, didn't he?"
 

"Anything to win," Willow said with a sigh.
 

"But what was he trying to win?" Buffy asked, studying the redhead.
 

"Don't tell him that you told us," Anya said, speaking up with a smile. "Let
him think you're going to still bid on him. I mean, the auction is in a few
days. Between now and then, let him have the confidence that his plan is
going to work."
 

Buffy nodded, an idea taking shape, "Yeah, Anya's right. I'd rather not give
him time to think of an alternate plan."
 

"I just don't get why he went to so much trouble. I mean, look at him and
then look at me and Riley. It's not like he probably wouldn't have won anyway
without Willow's bid," Xander said, shaking his head.
 

"I'm not saying that he'll win, but he'll do it without Willow's help," Buffy
said. "Can you let him think that everything is still all right? Go through
with the other two dates and what not?"
 

"Shouldn't be too difficult since he's ignoring me," Willow reminded. "Hell,
he'll probably forget last night ever happened. He forgot the first kiss. He
forgot the dressing room. Why not add almost sex to the list?"
 

"Dressing room?" Anya perked up, looking at the now blushing redhead.
"Someone was holding out."
 

"We went to buy him clothes, he got all macho and possessive and I faked an
orgasm loud enough for anyone listening outside to hear," Willow said in a
rush. "That's it. Nothing more."
 

"I'm hearing way too many disturbing things today," Xander whined, covering
his face.
 

"Seriously, Willow, will you be all right? You can stay at my house if you
want," Buffy said, squeezing her best friend's hand.
 

"I'll be fine. It's just, I don't know what's going on. I mean, I heard you
guys. I know you think he wants me and that it could actually be something.
And I know it's probably annoying as hell dealing with me and my
insecurities, but I just don't see how he could want me yet treat me like a
friend."
 

"You want him yet you treat him like a friend," Anya pointed out.
 

"That's different. He's Spike. He has enough self confidence to supply most
of the town," Willow said. "Either way, I'm just going to follow his example
and ignore it. At least until after the auction. Then I can see if he was
just using me to win that damn thing or if you guys might be right."
 

"Leave it to us, Wills. The auction will be over before you know it," Buffy
said. "I just can't believe he was going to give you money to win him."
 

"Not money. His Gold card," Willow said as she sat there thinking. "Has a
limit of like $25,000 or something. Didn't figure the bidding would go higher
than that."
 

"Where the hell does he get that kind of credit limit?" Xander asked. "I
mean, he's dead. How can he have a credit card?"
 

Willow smiled, "I asked that myself. Seems there are people that can fake
birth certificates and social security numbers and such. I decided that I was
probably better off not knowing the details. As for the money, he has
interests in several different things and accounts set up as far back as his
turning. Have no idea why he's always bumming money for Marlboros, but
whatever."
 

"I'll walk you home," Buffy said as she saw Willow getting to her feet. "No
arguments. You're tired and I don't like the idea of you wandering around
Sunnydale with your mind caught up in your problems with Spike."
 

"I was going to say thanks," Willow said with a smile.
 

"Do you think he'll still be locked in his room?" Anya asked, getting to her
feet and stretching.
 

Willow shook her head, "No way. I figure as soon as I left that he was out.
He doesn't really like being closed up like that. Rather like trying to cage
a tiger."
 

"I can see the resemblance," Buffy said with a laugh.
 

"Hey, wait. I'll come too. I could use a nice walk," Anya said, grabbing her
jacket. "Honey, you can have some twinkies."
 

"I think I'll just stay here and watch some TV," Riley said, kissing Buffy.
 

"We'll be back soon," Buffy said, holding the door open for Willow and Anya.