GOING ONCE (27/?)
 

When Willow arrived at her house, it was dark. She had been right. He had
left as soon as he had been able to. What was worse was that her car was also
gone. She had given him his means of escape. She sighed, looking at Buffy and
Anya and smiling a small smile, "Thanks for walking me home. And thanks for
listening to me ramble."
 

"No problem. We're used to hearing you ramble. At least today it was about
something interesting," Anya said with a wink.
 

"Ignore her. Anything you say is interesting," Buffy said, laughing.
 

"Tonight was supposed to be our adventurous date. I have no idea what he had
planned, but I'm sure it was real nice," Willow said, looking at the dark
house again. "I can't believe one kiss ruined it. Well, one kiss that led
into something else, but it started with that kiss. Now it's all gone. I
don't even have his friendship anymore it seems. Ignoring me then leaving."
 

"Willow, stop it. You haven't lost anything. In fact, if you'd get your head
out of your ass long enough to tell him how you really feel, you might just
gain more than you can imagine," Buffy said, annoyed that her friend could be
so smart about some things and so damn stupid about others.
 

"Thank you Anne Landers," Willow said before hugging Buffy then Anya. "You
guys be careful walking back. I think I'll just head inside and crash. Maybe
take a relaxing bath or something."
 

"We'll see you tomorrow. And Willow? It's going to be OK," Buffy said,
smiling before she turned to walk away.
 

Willow sighed again before turning and going to her front door. She entered
the dark house, shutting the door behind her as she walked to the wall that
had the light switch. Her hand was reaching for it when she felt a hand cover
her mouth. She felt someone behind her as a voice whispered in her ear,
"You're late. We said eight."
 

Spike. She stopped struggling as she realized that he was doing it again.
Ignoring everything that had happened between them the previous night to
continue with this damn research. She felt the leather of his glove against
her lips, his body pressed against hers, and she could think of nothing else
except the night before. How could he forget it so easily?
 

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to accompany me on a date
filled with adventure and intrigue. Nod if you accept," he said, fear in his
eyes as he waited for her answers. He wouldn't blame her if she didn't knock
him out and go upstairs, ignore him for what he had done to her the night
before. He had spent all night and most of the day thinking back over it,
dealing with the fact that he had lost control and become an animal. Well,
not as much of an animal as he could have been, but close enough. He'd heard
her trying to talk to him, but he hadn't known what to say. He'd risked their
friendship because of his lust. He hated himself for that.
 

Willow wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to go on like nothing happened, but
she couldn't do that. She'd been forced into realizing that she was in love
with him, that she needed him in her life. Because of that, though, she
couldn't lose his friendship, couldn't lose him. The last twenty-four hours
had been horrible without him. No being able to share her life with him, to
not see his face or hear his voice, to not hear him laugh. She could not
survive another day without him. She knew he waiting for an answer, wondered
what he had planned for a date of adventure and intrigue. Curiosity killed
the cat, she thought as she slowly nodded her head.