Spike watched Willow as she cooked, noticing how graceful she could make the
simplest action appear. He pushed his chair back, resting his chin on his
hands on the table, his blue eyes never leaving her. She was wearing his silk
shirt and nothing else. The shirt fell past her knees but the sides were
high, showing off her long legs. He smiled as she reached for something in an
overhead cabinet causing the material to rise in back and flash him with the
briefest glimpse of her round bottom. He felt himself hardening as she
continued to cook, oblivious to her effect on him.
 

"Stop it," she scolded, looking at him finally.
 

"Stop what?" he asked innocently, not raising his head.
 

"Looking at me like that," she said, motioning with her hand as she flushed.
 

"Like what?"
 

"Like I'm dessert and you're ravenous," she said, her hands moving to her
hips, causing the silk to tighten over her chest.
 

"Oh, but pet, I am ravenous," he drawled silkily, his eyes sweeping over her.
 

"And I'm starved," she said, not giving into the heavy lidded desire she saw
in his eyes. Well, not too much.
 

"Finish your lunch then, then I can have dessert," he said with a teasing
smile.
 

"If you'd quit looking at me like that, I would," she said, throwing her
hands in the air, "Argh...you make me so mad sometimes."
 

He laughed softly as she turned and went back to her sandwich. He sat back in
the chair, taking a sip of his blood as he said, "You know, I've been
thinking."
 

"Alert the media. Something rare has happened," she said sarcastically as she
walked towards the refrigerator.
 

"Ha, ha," he said dryly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm serious."
 

She looked at him and gave him a prim look, "So was I."
 

"Fine, I won't share my thoughts with you. Use me for my body and not my
mind," he said dramatically.
 

"OK," she agreed, smiling as she faced him.
 

"Is that how it is?" he asked, giving her an amusing glare.
 

"What were you thinking?" she asked, picking up her plate and moving to sit
down. She took a bite of her food, groaning in pleasure as she ate.
 

"I'm not sure if I like you making those groans about a sandwich," he
mentioned, scowling. "I rather like thinking they're reserved for me and not
ham and cheese too."
 

"Jealous of lunch meat, Spike?" she asked, smiling slightly.
 

He snorted, "I've no need to be jealous of anything."
 

"Right," she rolled her eyes, oddly pleased that he was so possessive of her
noises. "Now tell me what you were thinking."
 

"I think you should wear that tonight, to the auction," he said with a smile.
"I'd be won by the sexiest woman there."
 

"Oh, the auction," she said, looking at her plate intently. "Yeah, that is
tonight, isn't it?"
 

He frowned as he noticed the change in her, "You know that it is."
 

"Guess I forgot, what with all the excitement and such," she said with a weak
smile. "I'm not wearing this shirt tonight. I'm thinking pants and a turtle
neck maybe."
 

"Something low cut and slinky, show off those gorgeous breasts and long
legs," he responded with a small smile, though his eyes were still watching
her.
 

It was her turn to snort, "And the bite mark on my neck along with the bites
and bruises. I think not. Not even I could Buffy away from the stake."
 

"Damn slayer," he cursed, making a face. "Fine, no low cut, but no turtle
neck either. Surprise me."
 

"Oh, I think I'll be doing that," she said softly, finishing her sandwich.
 

Spike stood, "Well, luv. I have a few things to take care of. Will you be OK
until I get back?"
 

"Spike, it's sunny," she pointed out with a frown. What did he have to take
care of?
 

"I know that, pet. I won't be long. Just a few errands to run. Got to get
myself ready for tonight," he said, giving her a smile.
 

"I'll be fine," she said with a smile. "Probably just take a nap. Must be
pretty important errands if you're venturing out in the sun."
 

"That they are," he said, knowing she was dying of curiosity.
 

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" she said, pouting slightly.
 

"Nope. You've got your secrets, I've got mine," he said. He leaned over and
kissed her, a brief but toe curling exchange. Moving towards the living room,
he looked back at her and winked, saying, "Enjoy that nap, pet."
 

GOING ONCE (42/?)
 

Anya leaned back on the sofa, a smile on her pretty face. "I don't think
we'll have to worry about Spike trying to cheat again after this, if it
works."
 

"Willow will kill us, though," Buffy said, chewing on her bottom lip. "Oh
well, he deserves it. Luring her into helping him cheat."
 

"As if he'd need to cheat anyway," Anya said, snorting. "He might be annoying
as hell, but he is gorgeous. He'd have won hands down."
 

"He is pretty sexy, isn't he?" Buffy said, wriggling her eyebrows. Sighing,
she said, "I don't know....maybe we should just let it go. If she doesn't bid
on him, that will catch him off guard enough."
 

"We might end up making it even worse for Willow afterwards," Anya agreed,
making a face. "I just hate to let him think he bested us."
 

"Me too," Buffy said, a thoughtful look on her face. She was about to speak
when she heard a knock on her door. Getting up, she opened it and was pushed
to the side.
 

"Damn it, damn it, damn it," Spike cursed as he ran towards the slayer's
stairs. "Shut the damn door and those curtains."
 

"Aye, aye, master," Anya said, flipping him off as she got to her feet and
shut the curtains. She looked at Spike in curiosity as he moved to leather
duster from over his head.
 

"So, Fang, what brings you here?" Buffy asked, giving Anya a confused glance
before looking back at Spike.
 

"Do you have anything to drink?" he asked, moving past her and into her
living room. "Something strong."
 

"Sorry, no alcohol in the house," she said, moving to sit on the sofa beside
Anya. "And again I ask, why are you here?"
 

He looked at her, seeing that the ex-demon was there too. "Good, you're here
too. Saves me a trip."
 

"A trip for what?" Anya asked, scowling at him. She hated being confused.
 

"To see you, you bloody cow," he said, sitting in the armchair, his feet
going to the table.
 

"Spike, get the feet off the table," Buffy said, glaring at him. "Why do you
need to see Anya? And why are you here?"
 

"I'm out," he said with a shrug.
 

"Is this some game? We're supposed to guess what you're out of? Judging from
the roots starting to show, I'd guess bleach first," Anya said with a smug
smile as Spike's hand went to his head.
 

"I don't have roots," he denied, his eyes taking on a vulnerable look as he
asked, "Do I?"
 

"No, Spike, you don't," Buffy said with a sigh. Just when she wanted to hate
him, he had to go and do or say something almost sweet. "But if you don't
start talking soon, you might not have any hair left at all."
 

"The bet," he said, shaking his head. "I'm out. You chits win. I lose. It's
over."
 

GOING ONCE (43/?)
 

"You want out?" Buffy looked at Spike with a dumbfounded expression.
 

"To think, after all those years of trying, this is what makes you
speechless," Spike said, laughing.
 

"You can't want out," Anya said, looking at Buffy then back at Spike. "You
don't quit."
 

"Yeah, she's right. You never give up, Spike. What's really happening?" Buffy
asked.
 

Spike shrugged, "Guess I figured it wasn't worth all the trouble. I know I'd
win, so why bother?"
 

"Uh uh," Buffy said, shaking her head. "Not that easy. A bets a bet."
 

"Bloody hell, woman, I don't want to win that badly," he snarled, wondering
why he was there at all. He should have gone with his first impulse: chain
Willow to the bed and fuck her silly until the damn auction was over.
 

"Spike, you love winning," Anya reminded. "You know, gloat and remind us that
we're losers. You live for it."
 

"Maybe I've found something better to live for," he said without thinking,
his eyes snapping as he realized what he had said.
 

Buffy noticed the slip but ignored it, "Spike, you're an important part of
this bet. I know Riley can beat Xander, but without you, they won't do it.
Then she'd think that she'd have won."
 

Anya snorted, seeing what Buffy was doing and playing along, "Listen to her,
Spike. Do you want me to have to deal with that arrogance?"
 

"I couldn't care less, actually," Spike said, not caring about anything
except how sad Willow had looked when he had mentioned the auction. After
thinking about it, he had realized that she didn't like him participating and
that she'd never been fond of the bet. That's why he was here, making a
complete moron out of himself, actually agreeing to let the slayer win. "I
want out."
 

Buffy frowned, seeing that her original ploy wouldn't work and quickly
attacking the one area she was confident that Spike couldn't resist. With a
smile, she said, "Ah, I see."
 

"See what?" Spike asked, eyes narrowing at her tone of voice and the look in
her eyes.
 

"You know that Riley will beat you," Buffy said with a superior smile. "It's
all right, Spike. I understand. You're scared to go up there and get such a
small amount of money in comparison to Riley or even Xander."
 

"You silly bitch," he hissed, his ego getting the best of him. "Do you really
think that lunkhead boy toy of yours would get more than me? Me? And the
moron? That's a laugh."
 

"It's all right, Spike. We understand. You want to give up and let us win,
fine. We won't force you to go up there and be humiliated when you lose,"
Anya said, watching him snarl as she spoke. Torture, those were the days.
 

"The only ones that will be humiliated are those two twits you call lovers,"
he said, getting to his feet. "We'll see who fetches the highest price,
girls. See you both tonight," with that he picked up duster and put it over
his head, running out the front door to Willow's car.
 

"Slayer wins again," Buffy said with a smile as she looked at Anya, "find the
weakness and attack. Works every time."
 

"So he wanted to give up," Anya said, shaking her head. "Me thinks something
happened between him and our Willow."
 

"I would agree," Buffy said, shaking her head. "Call the boys and get them
over here. We have less than five hours to come up with a plan."
 

GOING ONCE (44/?)
 

"Humiliated my ass," Spike muttered as he entered the house. "I'll show them
humiliated."
 

"Spike, is that you?" Willow asked, rolling her head back against the sofa to
look at him.
 

"Yes," he said as he slid his duster off. He walked into the living room,
still angry over the damn slayer's assumption that he was scared of losing to
her idiot boy toy or to Chubs. That was a laugh.
 

"That didn't take very long," she said with a smile as he walked into the
room. She frowned when she saw the repressed power in him, knew immediately
that he was angry for some reason. "Are you all right? What happened?"
 

"You're mine," he said, his eyes flashing as he looked at her. Stupid
bitches, thinking that he was weak and pathetic enough to not get any money.
He'd show them both. He moved towards Willow, his eyes not leaving her face.
He needed her, needed to remember that he had her.
 

"Spike, you're starting to scare me," she said nervously, having not seen him
this ruthless in over a year.
 

"I need you," he said softly, not wanting to scare her. Not when he had just
found her.
 

"What happened?" she asked quietly, needing to know why he was so angry.
 

"Nothing important," he said, his duster falling to the floor. His shirt
quickly followed as did his boots. "Strip. I need to be inside you now."
 

"No," she said, shaking her head. "Not like this. You're angry, Spike. Why?"
 

"Get undressed," he growled, his jeans falling down his legs, his cock
hardening as he looked at her, the soft scent of her fear like perfume. "Now."
 

"Fuck you," she said, scrambling off the couch. "I'm not going to let you
fuck me because you're angry at something. I won't be used."
 

"Willow, get that cute little ass naked now," he commanded, his demon rising
at her refusal. His cock started to throb as she faced him defiantly, her
eyes clouded with anger and desire.
 

"Go fuck yourself," she said, moving away from him. "I'm not some toy you can
wind up whenever the mood strikes. I thought there was something happening
between us....you won't even talk to me!"
 

"Willow, it's taking every bit of control that I have right now to keep the
demon chained," he warned, his eyes sincere. "You're mine, my mate. You're
right. I am angry right now. As my mate, you will share that anger. You knew
what you were getting into. I'm a demon, baby. Nothing will change that."
 

"What happened?" she asked, backing away from him.
 

"I was challenged, pet," he said simply.
 

"You'd force me, wouldn't you?" she whispered, seeing he had no intentions of
leaving her.
 

"It wouldn't be force, pet," he said with a small smile. "Even now I can
smell the arousal. Once I touched you, you'd be begging me for more. Don't
make me prove it."
 

"Is this what it's going to be like?" she asked, shaking as she began to
unbutton the buttons of the silk shirt. "You want me and I have to give
myself to you?"
 

"No," he said, "but sometimes it will. This damn chip makes it worse, pet.
Messes with my head, makes me...I don't know, fucked up."
 

"Who challenged you?" she asked as the shirt dropped to the floor.
 

"No one important," he said as she started walking towards him. "Just messed
with the insecurities a bit. Pissed the demon off. You soothe it, calm it. I
need you."
 

"Oh, Spike," she whispered, moving into his arms, "next time, try talking."
 

"Not used to that. Used to taking what I want," he mumbled against her neck.
 

"Get used to it," she said with a smile as his hands went under her ass,
lifting her and sliding into her wet warmth. Their mouths met as he carried
her to the sofa, tumbling with her as they kissed.
 

GOING ONCE (45/?)
 

Xander smiled as he hung up the phone. He moved across the room, sitting next
to Anya as he said, "Done."
 

"Great," Buffy smiled, leaning against Riley.
 

"You do know that you two are playing a dangerous game," Riley said in a
serious voice.
 

"What game?" Anya asked, frowning.
 

"Matchmaking," he said as amusement flashed in his eyes.
 

"It's not matchmaking," Buffy defended, "they're already together. We're just
paying Spike back and helping Willow all at the same time."
 

"What if she doesn't look at it as helping?" he asked.
 

"Then we'll blame you two," Anya said with a smile.
 

"Yeah, you both forced us into it. What could we say to our two manly men?
Certainly couldn't tell you no," Buffy continued, laughing as Riley and
Xander exchanged a look.
 

"Maybe we should just leave them to it," Xander suggested, winking at his
friend. "Disappear until after things have settled."
 

"A friend of mine owns a cabin up in the mountains. We could go fishing,"
Riley said, smiling as Buffy glared at them.
 

"There will be no cabins or aftermath, thank you very much," she said
crossly. "Everything will work out perfectly. Hell, I bet they never guess
that we had anything to do with it."
 

"Unless it works out right, then, of course, we'll constantly remind them,"
Anya said, laughing.
 

"It just seems kind of silly," Xander said, shaking his head. "I mean, if he
wanted to quit, why didn't you just let him? Why go to all this trouble?"
 

"It's the principle, Xander. If we'd let him quit, well," Buffy frowned then
smiled, "it wouldn't have been near as much fun as setting his cute ass up."
 

"You think his ass is cute?" Riley questioned with a raised brow.
 

"Well, um, in an evil he's an enemy kind of way," Buffy finished weakly.
 

"You think he'll win, don't you?" Xander asked, laughing. "Go figure. You two
made a bet with a guy that you're pretty sure you'll lose."
 

"No offense, honey. I made the bet to back you up," Anya said sweetly. "It's
just, I mean, he's got *it*, whatever *it* is. While I think you're handsome
and charming, he gives off vibes of confidence and sensuality that take
decades to master."
 

"Yeah, what she said," Buffy echoed.
 

"Besides that, there's that voice and those eyes and those lips and those
cheekbones and those hands and that walk and that ass and," Anya shut her
mouth when she saw Xander glaring at her. "I mean, he's OK looking, if you
like that type."
 

"Good save," Buffy whispered out loud as she felt eyes on her. Looking at
Riley, she defended, "What? I never mentioned his ass."
 

"If you keep talking, you know that you're just going to make it worse, don't
you?" Riley said, smiling slightly.
 

"Why don't we forget about Spike for the time being and think about getting
ready for the auction," Buffy suggested with an overly bright smile.
 

"Xander, when does your Mom expect us?" Anya asked.
 

"She said to meet up with her about eight thirty or so," Xander said,
smiling. "That means that we need to get home and get changed."
 

"Willow was supposed to meet us before the auction to get ready," Buffy
reminded. "I wonder if she'll be too busy to remember."
 

"No, Willow will remember," Anya said with a smile. "She'd never forget her
friends. Sorry, honey, looks like I'm staying here. I'll meet up with you at
the auction. Just remember the plan."
 

"Plan, got it," he said nodding. He smiled as he leaned over and kissed her.
"I do hope you know what you're doing."
 

"Do I ever?" she said, laughing as she kissed him back.
 

"I know, I know," Riley said, holding up his hand. "Remember the plan."
 

"Actually," Buffy smiled, "I was going to ask you to kiss me."
 

Riley smiled as he leaned over and followed her orders.
 

GOING ONCE (46/?)
 

"Mrs. Harris said that it was formal," Anya said, frowning as she looked at
the two dresses. "Which one is the most formal?"
 

Willow looked over her friend's shoulder, smiling, "The gold one. Besides, it
would look great with your hair."
 

"You think?" Anya asked with a smile at her friend. "Fine. The gold one it
is. You don't think it's too short?"
 

"Anya, wear the damn gold dress," Buffy said, laughing as she searched her
closet. "You know you look smashing in it, quit trying to fish for
compliments."
 

"What are you wearing, Wills?" Anya asked, glad that her decision had been
made.
 

"I brought this," Willow said, pulling out a rather plain black dress.
 

"You don't look very good in black," Buffy said, frowning. "I mean, you look
good in anything, but I thought you'd want to look, I dunno, sexy."
 

"Why would I want to look sexy?" Willow asked, sighing. "I'm not going to win
anyone."
 

"So, you're not going to aid and abet the cheater?" Anya asked, studying the
redhead.
 

"Nope. I just want this damn auction to be over and done with," Willow said,
tossing the black dress on the bed. "That's the best I could come up with."
 

"Let me see what I've got," Buffy suggested, looking back into her closet.
 

"No way," Willow protested. "No offense, but all you have are slinky, sexy,
short dresses. Besides, I don't have the bust to fill one."
 

"You have a fine bust, Wills. Quit being so insecure," Buffy scolded as she
looked for the perfect dress.
 

"Not insecure, just honest," Willow said, looking down at her pert but not
overly developed breasts.
 

"What about this?" Buffy asked, showing a red off the shoulder dress that
she'd had for years but never worn. Damn, she really needed to go through her
closet and throw some things away.
 

"I don't think so," Willow said, shaking her head. "I'm fine with the black."
 

"Do you have anything green or maybe a dark blue," Anya asked, nodding.
"Either of those colors would look stunning."
 

"I'm not sure about green, but I think I have a blue dress in back," Buffy
said, pushing more clothes out of the way. "Remind me to add clean the closet
to my list of things to accomplish in the next couple of months."
 

"Putting it right underneath learn to drive a car without wrecking," Willow
said in amusement.
 

Buffy stopped looking to turn and glare at her friend before looking back the
closet, "Ah, here it is." She pulled out a simple silk dress that was a dark
royal blue. "I knew it was in there somewhere. I wore it to a wedding I
think. Or a funeral. Don't remember. Either way, here it is. Do you like it?"
 

Willow sighed, knowing that neither of her friends would give up until she
was wearing anything but the black dress she had brought. "It looks fine."
 

"Try it on," Buffy said, handing Willow the dress.
 

"OK," Willow took the dress and went to the bathroom, listening as Buffy
started asking Anya which dress she should wear. She pulled on the silk
dress, closing her eyes at the feel of silk against her bare skin. It had to
be silk, she thought crossly. Opening her eyes, she gasped. It had looked
like a pretty normal dress hanging from the hanger. Putting it on, she
discovered that the front dipper slightly over her breasts which appeared
much larger under the tight material. The waist was tight and the skirt fell
straight and tight right past her knees, a slit in the side the only possible
way to move. She looked at the back and saw that most of the material was
missing, dipping low over the swell of her butt. The small spaghetti straps
would make wearing a bra impossible. She turned and studied herself, seeing
that the front was high enough to cover the bites that marked her breasts.
There was no way, though, that the large bite mark on her neck would be
covered. She smiled as she realized that all she needed was a small scarf,
something to wrap around her neck to accessorize the dress and to conceal the
wound.
 

She went to the door and cracked it, asking Buffy if she had a scarf in the
same shade as the dress. The slayer went to her dresser, searching until she
found something just a shade darker. It would work, Willow decided as she
took the scarf and fixed it. Perfect. She had to admit that she looked pretty
darn good. Sexy but sophisticated. She pulled her hair up and then put it
down, trying to figure out what worked best with the dress. It was too short
to do much with it, but she finally decided that it looked better framing her
face. She fluffed it out and applied a light amount of make up before
rejoining her friends.
 
 

Anya looked up and let out a wolf whistle that would have many a man envious,
"Wow, Willow. That's stunning."
 

"Keep the dress," Buffy decided, smiling at her friend. "You look much more
beautiful in it than I ever could."
 

"Did you decide?" Willow asked as Anya moved past her to go to the bathroom
and get dressed. She sat down, pulling out the thigh high stockings she had
selected to go with the black dress. She pulled one on, careful not to snag
it with her fingernails.
 

"I'm thinking the lavender," Buffy said, showing Willow a pretty dress in
pale purple. "Nice touch, the scarf."
 

"Oh, yeah, I thought it could use it," Willow said, blushing slightly.
 

"Covers the bite mark too, huh?" Buffy said, watching as Willow's eyes
widened. "To think, something so fashionable could conceal something so
naughty....."
 

"You know," Willow said softly.
 

"Wills, honey, you're practically glowing. You either got properly shagged or
well," Buffy thought, "you got improperly shagged. Either way leads to a nice
bite mark on that pretty little neck."
 

"And you're fine with it? With me and Spike?" Willow asked hesitantly.
 

"Is there a you and Spike?" Buffy asked seriously, looking at her friend. "I
don't want you hurt, Willow. If your happiness depends on the bleached blonde
blunder, so be it. He's actually a pretty nice guy deep down. Way deep down."
 

"Thanks," Willow said, chewing on her lip. "And I'm not sure if there is an
*us* or not, but there's something."
 

"So," Buffy asked with a grin as she waited for Anya, "which one was it?
Proper or improper?"
 

"Buffy! Goddess, you're so bad," Willow shrieked, laughing as she covered her
face and whispered, "Both."
 

GOING ONCE (47/?)
 

"Hello, Mrs. Harris. It's nice to see you," Willow said as she smiled at her
best friend's mother.
 

"Why, Willow. I wouldn't have known you. You look so grown up and beautiful,"
Mrs. Harris said, looking at the redhead. "Xander mentioned that you would be
here tonight. Thank you for supporting the cause."
 

"It's my pleasure," Willow said, hugging her childhood friend's mother before
looking at her friends. "Buffy, do you know Xander's mother?"
 

"I think we met once," Buffy said, shaking the woman's hand.
 

"I remember it vaguely," Mrs. Harris said, shrugging, "My son stopped
bringing his friends over years ago. I'm afraid that Willow is the only one
that I still remember. And Anya of course, but she's a different sort of
friend, isn't she?"
 

"Do we have assigned seats or do we sit anywhere?" Willow asked, looking
around the ballroom. It wasn't very crowded yet, but women were coming in
every so often.
 

"I reserved a table for you girls near the front after Xander mentioned some
of his friends planning to attend. It has a sign on it if you'd like to sit
down," Mrs. Harris said with a friendly smile.
 

"We're going to be that close?" Willow said, seeing the table that Mrs.
Harris had pointed out. She gulped, wondering if Spike would see that she
didn't have one of the bidding paddles as soon as he walked onto the stage.
She was so worried about tonight, knowing in her heart that he would be angry
at her for not carrying out her part of the bargain. She hesitated, her eyes
looking towards the registering table.
 

"Honey, go sit down," Buffy said, her hands firmly on Willow's back. "No
bidding tonight, remember?"
 

"I know," Willow said weakly, "It's just, what if some poor little old lady
bets on him and he carries through with his threat? Maybe I should bid...."
 

"Go sit down," Anya said, pushing Willow towards the table. "We'll get
something to drink for you and be there in just a second. If I see you going
to register to bid, I'll do something appropriately nasty and evil!"
 

Willow sighed, knowing that Anya was just the type to carry out such a vague
threat. "Fine. I'll sit. Get me something strong to drink or I might not make
it through the night."
 

"Is Willow going to be all right?" Mrs. Harris asked the girls. "She seems
rather upset."
 

"She'll be fine," Buffy assured the older woman. "Now, why don't you show us
where the drinks are and we can finish our discussion along the way."
 

"Of course," Mrs. Harris said, thinking how glad she was that her son had
found such nice, polite friends.
 

GOING ONCE (48/?)
 

Willow sat in the chair, noticing that it was rather comfortable. Good, if
she was going to have to suffer through the evening, at least it would be
without a sore butt. She looked around the ballroom, noticing that it was
decorated in elegance and style. Strange since, in less than an hour, the
stage would be crawling with men parading around like hunks of beef. She'd
expected sleazy music and maybe a disco ball. Instead, she got something out
of a debutante's coming out party. It was all shades of pink and peach,
entirely feminine. Spike would be gagging the entire way down the walkway.
She smiled at that, wondering if he'd get so ill looking around that he'd
simply turn and walk away. She sighed, figuring she wasn't that lucky.
 

Her eyes again strayed to the register table, noticing how many women were
lined up and filling out the small white papers. She knew if she went over
there, Anya and Buffy would kill her. They had taken great pains to remind
her that she would be helping Spike cheat on the bet if she bid on him. They
also reminded her that they couldn't bid on Riley or Xander, so she couldn't
bid on her man, it was only fair after all. To hell with fair. She looked at
each woman, dressed in their elegant cocktail dresses with their nice jewels
dripping from every ear and finger, and imagined red hot pokers going through
whichever ones would bid on her Spike. Being with him, she had realized
something about herself. She was possessive. He was hers, damn it, and she
resisted the urge to stand on the table and let every woman there know it.
 

She looked around the crowd for signs of her friends, finally finding them
near the bar with Xander's Mom. They were talking to Mrs. Harris, Buffy's
hand flying as she spoke. Willow smiled, recognizing her friend's habit when
she was telling a story. She watched as a woman came up to them, half hugging
Mrs. Harris and then smiling at Buffy and Anya. She watched as introductions
were made and the woman moved on. That same cycle repeated a few times, each
time Buffy trying to take up the story where she had left off before being
interrupted again. Finally, a woman in her early 30s came over, brown
shoulder length hair and friendly blue eyes. This time, the woman completely
hugged Mrs. Harris and Willow assumed they were friends. She got bored with
watching them, looking back towards the register desk.
 

She frowned as she looked at her table, noticing that there weren't any
programs. She glanced at the other tables, not noticing any on them either.
Straightening, she started to look around for a program, curious to see the
other men that were being sold off like cattle. She noticed women looking
through what had to be a program, all of them around the register table.
 

"Don't even think about it," Anya teased as she moved to sit on Willow's
right side.
 

"Don't make us get out the chains and tie you to that chair," Buffy added as
she sat down, placing a drink in front of Willow.
 

"It's about time," Willow said, taking a healthy drink. Putting it down, she
scowled at Buffy, "It's water."
 

"Sorry, hon. I'm not going to help you drink yourself into oblivion," Buffy
said, taking a sip of her ginger ale. "I never realized how many people Mrs.
Harris knew. She's not at all what I expected."
 

"She's nice but a bit flighty. Completely opposite Xander's dad. I never
liked him," Willow said, making a face. "They never really seemed to match.
He's an asshole, loud and abusive when he's drunk and a complete introvert
when he's not. They fight a lot. I think that's why she works so much."
 

"Xander hates his Dad but he seems to like his Mom," Anya remarked, having
just recently met her lover's mother. "She's nice but absent minded."
 

"She has a lot of friends," Buffy said, shaking her head and smiling.
 

"Someone is waving at you," Willow said, seeing the brunette woman seated at
a table across the room.
 

"Oh, that's Carrie. Mrs. Harris said she's filthy rich and always spends a
bundle at these events," Anya said, waving back.
 

"And that one is Miriam," Buffy said, pointing to an older lady. "Husband
makes millions and she spend thousands for charity. She mentioned something
about finding herself a healthy young stud for the evening."
 

"She'd better keep her beady eyes off my Spike," Willow muttered, glaring at
the stranger.
 

"And that one is Alice," Anya said, pointing out a woman in her forties with
enough make up to supply the entire Freshman class of UC Sunnydale. "Some
lawyer type that is keen on getting some companionship tonight."
 

"You learned all of them in a few minutes?" Willow asked, shaking her head.
 

"Xander's Mom was nice enough to point out the ones to pay attention too,"
Buffy said. "Like that one. The pretty blonde there. That's Stephy and Mrs.
Harris thinks she'll end up taking home two bachelors."
 

"Good grief," Willow said, taking a sip of her water. "Poor Spike."
 

Buffy snorted, "Yeah, poor Spike. They'll eat him up alive."
 

"You don't have to sound so happy about that," Willow said, glaring at her
friend.
 

"He deserves it," Buffy said simply.
 

"I don't think anyone deserves this," Willow said, looking at the women and
finding herself reminded of sharks waiting for a juicy morsel. Maybe she
could find Spike and get out before it started.
 

"You're not going anywhere, toots," Anya said with a smile. "Sit back and
relax. Loverboy doesn't need rescuing, yet."
 

GOING ONCE (49/?)
 

"So, Wills, as we're waiting for the auction to start, why don't you tell us
what you did last night and the night before," Buffy suggested with a smile.
 

"Yeah, she's right. Last thing we heard was the miniature golf game gone Red
Shoe Diaries then a phone call saying you'd be gone. Details, girl," Anya
said, leaning forward.
 

"I'm not giving details," Willow stammered, her face red as she looked at the
large clock over the stage.
 

"We've got nearly half an hour," Buffy said with a smile. "Now, details."
 

"We had our last two dates," Willow said simply.
 

"Adventurous and romantic," Anya ticked off on her fingers. "What did you do?
I mean, besides fucking like crazed bunnies."
 

"Anya!" Willow said, rolling her eyes, "Why do I have two such nosy friends?"
 

"Because you love us and know that life would be as dull as dirt without us,"
Buffy said sweetly.
 

"He took me a small town south of here, Seashell. I'd never heard of it.
Anyway, an old friend of his has this maze thing," Willow explained.
 

"Maurice? Spike knows Maurice?" Anya asked, recognizing Seashell and maze.
"Damn, if Ricey likes him, he has to be a good guy."
 

"You know Maurice?" Willow asked, smiling. "Isn't he great? He was so nice."
 

"I met him a few hundred years ago. Our paths crossed and we became friends.
I've been through that maze, when he first started designing it. I'm sure
it's changed a lot. He adds more to it all the time. I didn't remember just
how close he was. I may have to take Xander down there," Anya said, smiling
fondly as she thought of her old friend.
 

"The maze is great. It has all these flowers and a river and you have to go
through all this stuff to make it to the other side," Willow explained to a
confused Buffy. "He said that it has taken some people days. It's so easy to
get lost in there, or to simply want to stay."
 

"So you went through a maze," Buffy said, smiling softly. "I'd think that was
the adventure. So, what was the romance?"
 

Willow smiled as she said, "Making love beside the river in the sunlight."
 

"You didn't! Willow Rosenberg, what is it with you and doing it outside?"
Buffy asked, giggling as Willow threw a napkin at her. "Wait, in the
sunlight?"
 

Willow nodded as she smiled, "Maurice has his maze sunproofed. Vampires can
be in it during the day and enjoy the sun without poof. I got to see him in
the sun, Buffy. I never imagined having that chance...."
 

"I'm so happy for you, sweetie," Buffy said, squeezing Willow's hand. "He
loves you, you know."
 

"I don't know. It might just be loneliness and lust," Willow said, frowning.
"I can't tell. I mean, he's said things that make think it is love. Even
remembers the date that he realized he wanted me, that he realized that I was
important to him. Is that the same thing as love?"
 

"To him? Yes," Anya said, nodding. She looked around and smiled, "This place
is sure filling up."
 

"Yeah, it's gonna be a full house," Willow remarked sharply, glaring at the
newest women to sit down. "Damn fools should go home and send a check if they
want to help charity."
 

"Now, now...don't be so mean. Just enjoy the night," Buffy said with a smile.
 

"How can you say that? Doesn't it bother you that Riley is going to be looked
over like some hunk of beef?" Willow asked, looking at Anya. "And Xander?
He'll faint if they start fighting over him."
 

"I'm not worried in the slightest," Buffy said honestly.
 

"Neither am I," Anya said, looking over Willow's shoulder and smiling.
 

"How can you not be? It's eating me up inside," Willow said.
 

"Hey honey," Xander said, kissing Anya briefly before sitting down beside
her. "This place is a zoo."
 

"It's wild. I thought some woman was gonna corner us outside," Riley added
after brushing his lips against Buffy's.
 

"Riley? Xander?" Willow said, looking at them both from their places beside
her friends.
 

"You Willow. Me Xander," Xander said with a goofy smile as he whispered
loudly to Anya, "Has she been drinking?"
 

"I've not been drinking," Willow said, growling at them.
 

"And we see the first sign of her relationship with Spike," Riley said sadly,
shaking his head. "Growling today, swearing tomorrow."
 

"It will be swearing today if you don't tell me why you two are sitting out
here," Willow said, glaring at them.
 

"Where else would we sit?" Xander asked, looking around. "These women are
scary. I feel so vulnerable."
 

"I'll protect you, honey," Anya said, patting his arm.
 

"I mean, why aren't you backstage," Willow said, glaring at her old friend.
"You know, with the other bachelors!"
 

"Why would we be?" Riley asked, stealing some of the peanuts from the bowl in
front of Buffy.
 

"You're trying to drive me insane, aren't you?" Willow asked.
 

"Willow, honey, backstage is for the participants," Xander explained with a
smile.
 

"Exactly. You and Riley," Willow said. "Spike's back there. You two should be
too."
 

"Uh uh," Xander said, shaking his head.
 

"Uh uh?" Willow repeated, looking from Xander to Riley then to Anya and
Buffy. "Why uh uh?"
 

Buffy smiled softly, taking Willow's hand and saying, "Honey, they're here as
our guests. You see, they dropped out of the auction this afternoon."
 

GOING ONCE (50/?)
 

"Dropped out?" Willow looked at Buffy with wide eyes. "But, the bet."
 

"Easy. Anya and I lost," Buffy said with an innocent smile.
 

"Then, Spike doesn't have to do this," Willow said, eyes narrowing as she
looked at her best friend. "He doesn't know, does he?"
 

"Of course not," Buffy said, laughing. "He's a big boy, Willow. Let him deal
with it. They won't hurt him....too bad."
 

"You're evil," Willow said, looking at a smiling Anya. "And you are too."
 

"Hey, he's the one that got the entire bet started in the first place. True
it was as a way to get closer to you, but still, he enjoyed watching me and
Buffy fight," Anya pointed out. "So he's not some innocent bystander in all
of this. Xander had to go to the gym and work out, so I'd say he's suffered."
 

"I quit eating twinkies for a week," Xander added, making a puppy dog face
that made Willow have to cover a giggle. "That was my own private hell."
 

"I had to run nearly five miles a day," Riley said, making a face. "I hate
running."
 

"I also made him work out for two hours a day for over a week," Buffy said
sheepishly. "See? We made our men suffer because of our pride. Now, your man
needs to suffer a bit because of his own pride."
 

"He's not going to like this," Willow said, shaking her head. "He's probably
about ready to kill something right now since he has to have noticed that
Xander and Riley aren't back there."
 

"He can't kill, so don't worry so much," Buffy said. "After all this is
finished, I'm sure he won't be upset at all."
 

Willow snorted, "Not bloody likely. He's wearing leather, Buffy. He loathes
leather. He only wore it tonight because I told him that women find leather
and silk sexy. He's going to kill you guys then torture me. I know it."
 

"Leather?" Anya perked up, a smile crossing her pretty face. "You got Blondie
into leather? Is it tight leather?"
 

"And silk?" Buffy added, getting a dreamy smile on her face. She sighed,
"leather and silk....there's no way he would have lost."
 

"Why am I thinking that staking Spike might not be such a bad idea after
all?" Riley asked Xander as he watched both of their girlfriends practically
drool at their mental image of the blonde vampire in leather and silk.
 

"I've been saying that all along. Does anyone listen to me? Nooo," Xander
said, shaking his head. He saw Willow look at him and hastened to add, "but
that's a good thing because staking Spike would be bad. A very bad bad thing.
Yep, not on the list of good things at all."
 

"Shh, it's starting," Buffy said, seeing Mrs. Harris walk onto the stage as
the lights dimmed. She looked at Willow and smiled, "It's gonna be all right,
honey. Just trust me."
 

Willow sighed, knowing that Spike was going to be very angry about this turn
of events. If he didn't hate her before, he would after this damn auction was
over. There was no way that he'd believe she was unaware of Buffy's plan. Not
when he found out she had spilled the beans to her friends and declared that
she wasn't going to bid on him. Nope, after tonight, any chance she had with
him at all would be gone. She closed her eyes, blocking out Mrs. Harris
introduction of some fireman, praying that the evening would end soon.

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