***

Part 1
 

"Have I mentioned lately how much I love vacations?" Buffy asked the
others.
"Not in the last five seconds," Giles replied dryly.
"Well i'm gonna keep on saying it," she informed him cheerfully.
"Will they have proper doughnuts in Italy?" Xander asked worriedly.
"Nooo they'll be made of pasta. What do you think you bloody idiot,"
Spike replied sarcastically.
"How am I supposed to know? They're European, aren't they meant to eat
differently?"
Willow rolled her eyes. She wished they'd all shut up, she'd have
plenty of time to escape them though on this trip. All those places to
visit
and those gorgeous Italian men. She blushed hoping no-one could hear her
thoughts.
The mini-bus arrived at the docks where they were to catch the
cruise ship to Italy. Leaving the mini-bus and the gang still
squabbling,
Willow sighed as she looked up at the ship, sparkling in the moonlight
and then back to the others. "This trip sure is going to be
unforgettable..."
***
Spike followed the others out of the mini-bus. Why the hell he had
agreed to accompany the Slayer and her half-twit friends halfway across
the world, he didn't know. Glancing at Angel, he shook his head. Even
his bloody poof of a sire was coming along. He could never get away from
all of them on a ship like this. Listening to them argue about how much
luggage was a good amount to have brought, he murmured under his breath,
"At least it's going to be unforgettable."

Part 2

Willow sighed as she felt the warm water and bubbles envelope her as she
settled back into the jacuzzi. This was why she had come on holiday.
Everyone had separated once they had got onto the ship, so she had time
to relax before meeting the others for dinner. Breathing in deeply, she
let the water soothe away all the day's tension.
Suddenly a head came soaring through the water following by a lean,
pale white body. Willow screamed.
"Sorry luv, did I scare you?" Spike asked, a huge smile crossing his
face.
"You... you..." she began.
"Idiot, wanker, sexy vampire..." he finished off for her.
Willow blushed but then started to fume again. "What the hell were you
trying to do? This is a jacuzzi not a swimming pool."
"There's a difference?"
**
Spike watched Willow, amused at how when she got annoyed she really
got annoyed. Her face was turning the same colour as her hair. "She's
sweet when she's angry," he thought. All her innocence seems to blow
away.
***
Willow noticed Spike staring at her with a weird, amused smile on
his gorgeous face. Her stomach started to flutter. "Oh, no." She
thought, "Now is not the time to develop a crush on Spike. "A crush?"
She started to panic. "On Spike? I've got to get out of here."
**
"If you're gonna make it to dinner, you two lovebirds had better get a
move on," Cordelia told them as she walked past. Pruned after a massage
and a manicure.
As she finished her sentence, Willow made a half no, half yelp sound and
jumped out of the jacuzzi and ran out of the room.
"Did I say something wrong?" Cordelia asked Spike.

Part 3

Willow stared at the clothes hanging in her cabin's wardrobe. Buffy
insisted she bought new clothes, so she didn't recognize half of them.
Pushing to the back of her mind all thoughts of Spike that threatened to
surface, she grabbed a pale pink dress and shrug that didn't look as
revealing as the others. Grimacing in front of the mirror, she muttered,
"At least today can't get that much worse..." Before leaving the room.
***
The restaurant was dark and lit only by low lights and candles. The
gang where all crowded around a table in the centre of the room. Spike
was sitting at the head, wearing his normal attire of black pants, red
shirt and black leather jacket. Willow gulped and made her way over to
them.
"Hi," she said sitting down.
"Wil-low," Cordy replied in shock, "Have you finally ditched the geek
wardrobe or what?"
"Well-" Willow began.
"I took her shopping," Buffy interrupted.
"You mean, you took her out and spent her money for her," Angel replied
teasingly.
"Did not," Buffy answered, playfully hitting him on the arm.
"You look great Will," Xander said.
"Thanks," Willow replied. Nervously she began twisting her napkin, aware
of Spike's unfaltering gaze.
***
"What does the redhead think she's doing?" Spike wondered to
himself."That dress is so... so flattering." His eyes travelled
downwards. He could smell her arousal. His cock began to harden.
"Spike!" He yelled mentally to himself. "Get some control, you do
anything to that witch and you won't leave this ship alive. But then i'm
not alive anyway..."
***
Buffy noticed the two and smiled inwardly, "Well what do we
have here? Seems that nobody's been telling Auntie Buffy everything,
well i'll have to see about that." Glancing at Angel she saw that he too
had noticed but didn't look in the least bit surprised. Smiling she
turned and whispered in his ear, "Later you're gonna tell all..."

Part 4

Somehow Willow managed to get through the meal. Spike had
stopped staring at her and focused his attention on insulting Xander
and Buffy.
"Anyone wanna go see the nightclub?" Cordy asked the others, "It's meant
to be the best place on the ship. It's got a mystical theme according to
the brochure."
"Sure," the others agreed.
"I'm not sure i'd agree it's the best place on the ship. I'm rather fond
of the jacuzzi myself. What would you say Red?" Spike asked Willow. His
blue eyes shone with a mocking innocence.
"What? Erm... I, I'd probably have to see the nightclub first. Before I
make any decisions that is," Willow said, stuttering a reply.
They left the table, Giles wandering off to find a coffee bar
where he could read his book. Xander and Cordy followed and then Spike
getting closed down by Buffy and Angel. Willow wandered slowly after
them.
***
Spike felt an arm grab him and shove him into the tv lounge as
he walked out of the restaurant. "What the hell..." He yelled.
"Time to 'fess up Spikey. You gonna tell Auntie Buffy what's going on
between you and Willow? Or do I have to force it out of you?" She shoved
his further into the wall.
"Why what you gonna do? Stake me? I don't think Daddy here would be best
pleased." He said taunting her.
"Don't try my PATIENCE!" Buffy replied, hitting him in the stomach with
her free hand.
"What am I going to do?" He wondered. "If I confess anything about
Willow that can in any way be interpreted, to mean that I like her.
Which I do, then... then..." He trailed off, lost in thinking mental
images of how many ways in which he could be killed or tortured.
"SPIKE!" Buffy yelled again.
***
As Willow walked past the room, she heard Buffy yell. About to
walk in and find out what was happening. She stopped, hearing Spike's
voice.
"Why would I? A master vampire, be interested in some little witch like
Willow? I mean come on. She doesn't exactly turn heads where ever she
goes, does she?"
Willow blinked back tears. She knew it had been too good to be
true, all the attention Spike had been giving her was probably out of
pity. The tears now flowing at full speed, she turned on her heel and
sped out of the hall and onto the boat deck. Not seeing the figure
coming the other way, she ran blindly into them.
"Woah," a voice said, "Where's a pretty girl like you going in tears?"

Part 5

Willow stared at the man standing in front of her. His rusty
brown hair shone in the moonlight and his brown eyes reflected worry.
"Wow," she thought. Then remembering Spike's hurtful words she began to
sob again.
"Come on now, don't cry. Whatever it is, it's not worth crying about."
"He... he was sooo hurtful though."
"He probably didn't mean it."
"See, even you're sticking up for him."
"I'm not. Look, come with me and i'll buy you a nice bottle of wine and
you can tell me all about it. How does that sound?"
Willow was about to say no, when she realized. Here was a gorgeous man
offering to listen to her troubles and not make any judgements. She'd
be stupid to turn that down. Putting a watery smile on her face, she
replied, "I'd love to."
***
Spike was annoyed. That stupid bitch had kept him there for
ages, questioning him as if he was some bloody criminal. The only
thought that had kept him from telling the truth was that he would be
able to go find Willow and admit his feelings. Well, maybe not straight
away. He's have some fun first. Whistling happily he went off to search
the ship for Willow.
***
"So i've known him for a couple of years. But we've never been really
close, hell i've never really had a proper conversation with him."
"He was with someone else then."
"I guess you could say he was in a long term relationship. But she's
dead now, went into the sun.. and had really bad burns... Lethal
actually."
"Maybe he was just scared of something new."
Willow snorted, "He's not the kind of guy who gets scared easily. Anyway
he said stuff... about me. Really hurtful things."
"He might not have meant them."
"Oh he did." Willow twirled the glass in her hand and stared miserably
into its murky red depths.
"Well he doesn't deserve you then."
Willow heard a hush go over the room, looking up she saw Spike standing
in the doorway. His look radiated hurt and evil.
"Spike," she murmured.

Part 6

Willow sighed, she really didn't want to get into an argument
right now and the way in which Spike was charging over to their table
was unnerving her. Sitting straight and staring directly at him, she
prepared herself for what was to come.
***
What the hell did she think she was doing? She was his. Sure he
hadn't claimed her as of yet. But she had no right to be sitting there
next to some rich bloke who was all over her. "I'll teach her who she
belongs to." He muttered under his breath.
***
"Spike, I wish I could say it's nice to see you but it's not.
What are you doing here?" Willow asked unemotionally.
"Looking for YOU," he hissed.
"Really, you're interested in a little witch like me? Should I be
flattered?"
"What? I've chosen you, you belong to me."
"I think it's quite obviously that I belong to nobody. Least of all,
scum like you."
"Don't you dare speak to me like that. Who's your little friend here?
Paid him to sit with you and make me jealous? Or is he paying you for
something else? You stupid whore," Spike sneered.
"Excuse me," Andy interrupted, "But you shouldn't be talking that way to
a nice woman like Willow. Will you please leave her alone you're
upsetting her."
"Am I Red? I could have sworn it's the other way around."
"Shut up, just shut up." Willow yelled tears in her eyes. "If you feel
anything for me at all leave now or i'll tell Buffy to enjoy herself,
throwing you into hell."
Spike relented seeing her tears. "Just remember this is not over," he
choked before running from the room.
***
"I'm sorry we had to leave early." Willow said apologizing to
Andy. "Maybe we could meet up some other time and go for a walk?"
"That would be nice. Goodnight Willow," he replied, kissing her forehead
before disappearing into the night.
Breaking back into fresh sobs, Willow opened her cabin door and threw
herself onto her bed.
***
Andy walked along to his cabin, thoughts of Willow filling his
head. Suddenly a blue clothed arm reached out and grabbed him, pulling
him into the shadows.

Part 7

"What?" Andy asked the woman, rubbing his arm.
"You know just well what. You're job is to break the news to Willow, not
to go after her."
"I wasn't, she was upset. I still don't know why i'm doing this."
"Because you owe me and you'd better well remember that the next time
you go doing things that weren't in the contract."
"Okay, okay."
"Well, what's she like?"
"Sweet, innocent. You'd love her. I'm going now, I need a bloody strong
drink after the shock you gave me.
The woman looked at the stars twinkling in the sky and murmured gently,
"I do love her. She is after all my daughter."
The figure spun around and walked swiftly away, her long red hair
swaying in the breeze.
***
Willow slept in late the next day and it was early in the afternoon
that she eventually got up. After dressing she scoured the ship for the
others and found them all up on deck. Giles was as always, reading a
book. Cordy was impatiently telling Xander to hurry up putting the
suncream on her back, and would he please not get it in her hair too.
Buffy was messing about in the open air swimming pool with Andy.
"Willow, morning. Or should I say good afternoon?" Giles asked,
amusement dancing in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, I just didn't feel like getting up." She replied, settling
down into a deckchair next to him.
"No need to apologize, this is your holiday as much as anyone else's."
"You're pretty relaxed. Not that you aren't normally relaxed but you're
a Watcher and you're tense and stuff... and i'm going to stop digging
myself into a big hole right now."
"I know what you mean. But so far there is no sign of anything strange
or evil. And i'm hoping it'll stay that way."
"WILLOW!" Buffy yelled from the side of the pool.
"Hey, Buffy" she replied as Buffy and Andy climbed out of the pool.
"Will, I want you to meet Andy. Andy this is Willow." Buffy said
introducing them.
"We've met," Willow replied shyly, wondering what the hell Andy thought
of her after last night.
"Yes and I promised you a walk along the boat deck. Shall we, that's if
you don't mind me kidnapping your friend for a while Buffy?" Andy said.
"Go ahead." Buffy answered.
The two made their excuses to the others and strolled off, deep in
conversation.
***
"Who IS he?" Cordy asked Buffy.
"Lets just say he's gorgeous, he's rich from what he told me about
himself, and he's VERY interested in Willow."
"Wonder what he does."
"Whatever it is I bet it's important. But then Will isn't interested."
"Does she have a mental problem?"
"No, but a crush on Spike."

Part 8

Willow for the first time in 24 hours, was happy. She'd spent
the day with Andy just hanging out and talking about anything and
everything. And now she was having dinner with him and her friends and
she'd been able to avoid Spike since the sun had set. Taking a sip of
wine, she smiled at a joke Xander was telling. "Life was getting
better..."
***
Spike was annoyed. He'd been annoyed since he'd seen Willow with
that prat. And for the first time in ages, he'd hated being a vampire.
He'd been stuck in his cabin all day unable to come out. But the sun had
set and now he would be able to see Willow and apologize. She had to
accept his apology. His life depended on it.
***
Spike had entered the room, that Willow was sure of. She could
see the looks exchanged between her friends. They could be really sweet
at times but she didn't like the way they had avoided talking about him.
Like they were frightened of saying something wrong. But even for all
that she was glad he hadn't been mentioned, she'd needed time to come to
terms with everything.
"Hi Spike," Buffy said, welcoming him with false cheerfulness.
"Hi," Spike said back, equally as false and cheerful.
Willow could feel his gaze on her, "Hi," she replied.
"So what have you all been doing today?" He asked through
clenched teeth, plastering a smile on his face as he listened to
Cordelia and Buffy drone on about their day and how they'd all met Andy.
***
The meal went without hassle except for the odd remark that was
ignored by everyone. Deciding to go show Willow the nightclub that she
had never seen the night before. They all went off in the direction of
the club.
"Willow is it okay if I speak to you?" Spike asked.
Looking at the others, she said softly, "It's ok i'll catch you up in a
minute." Turning her attention back to Spike she replied sharply,
"What?"
"I'm... i'm sorry if I have said anything to upset you luv, but I didn't
mean it."
"Really, you were quite convincing in your conversation with Buffy and
Angel."
"What? You heard that?"
"Every word. And keep the apologies cause i don't want to hear them."
She said walking away.
"I was lying, dammit. Willow... WILLOW. Look at me, I would never mean
anything like that. You're beautiful and intelligent, and I don't
deserve you."
"Well you're right about that."
"Willow," he grabbed hold of her arms. "Don't walk away, I mean it."
"I don't care anymore."
"What, you like that Andy geezer?"
"What if I do?" She replied coldly, green eyes flashing.
"It means nothing, because he'll never be able to make you feel the way
I can make you feel."
"High opinions of yourself you've got-"
Her words were cut off as Spike kissed her roughly.

Part 9

Willow leaned into Spike and the kiss. Emotions soared through her
body, all the feelings pent up inside her now released in a kiss.
"Spike," she murmured, "SPIKE!" Willow pushed him back. But he wouldn't
let go, she pushed him harder.
When he finally moved away, Willow slapped him, How... how..." her
words trailed off as she ran away from him.
"What did I do?" Spike groaned to himself.
***
"Why did he have to do that?" Willow sobbed, falling against the
floor to the door. "After everything. I still love him." She stared at a
single photo lying on her bedside table. It had been taken the year
before around her birthday. They'd all had such a good time, going to
the beach and having a moonlight picnic. The whole gang, together.
***
Buffy knocked against the door. She was annoyed. This was the second
night in a row Willow had failed to turn up at the nightclub. Meaning
she had lost even more quality time with Angel, and she was seriously
pissed off. The door opened slowly to reveal a puffy, mascara run,
red-faced Willow.
"I'll kill him!" Buffy yelled storming off. But as she rounded the
corner, a leg was stuck out belonging a beautiful red-haired woman. "No,
you don't." she muttered. Buffy tripped over the leg, falling in a heap
on the floor, unconscious.
***
Willow didn't know what to do. Buffy had been gone for over an
hour and she hadn't heard a thing. Spike deserved to be killed, but...
but... it was hard to admit but, she loved him. And it was immoral to
sit back and let him be killed. She HAD kissed him back. "Can't let
Buffy do this, can't let Buffy do this," she repeated to herself over
and over again. Before running out of the room going in the opposite
direction Buffy had gone.
***
"No need to go mad!" Spike told himself as he kicked the
furniture in his cabin. "Just a little mistake, plenty of time to put it
right-" He was stopped in mid sentence as Willow burst into his cabin.
"Willow, I'm sorry," he began.
"Your suppost to be dust. What are you doing here? Buffy's not here?"
She said gasping for air.
"Should the stupid bitch be here?"
***
Willow struggled to focus on Spike. Her head throbbed painfully,
grasping the handle of the door she tried to stay upright. "What the.."
she began before fainting and falling to the floor.

Part 10

Willow slept on as Spike watched over her. After she'd fallen
unconscious, he'd taken her back to her cabin, finding Buffy sprawled on
the floor on the way. "What is it with unconscious women lately?" He
wondered. He'd tucked her into her bed and contacted the others. She'd
come in and out of consciousness and had been running up a high fever.
Thankfully now she was asleep.
He tucked a few strands of her wild red hair that had fallen out
of her braid, behind her ears. "Willow, why does everything seem to go
wrong between us?" He asked her softly. Receiving no answer as expected,
he made himself comfortable in the chair next to her bed and watched on.
***
"Where am I," Willow wondered as she observed her surroundings.
She was standing in a field of golden sunflowers. Yellow everywhere and
yet no yellow was the same as the next. The sun was shining and she felt
happy.
Raising her face to the sun, she caught a flash of white
in-between the huge stalks of flowers. "What's that?" She asked herself
curiously. Willow moved forwards brushing past the flowers, there it was
again! Deciding it must be a rabbit or a dog she followed it. It came
again and again. She quickened her pace, trying desperately to find out
what it was.
She came to the end of the field, it opened into woods. She
carried on, the white turned out to be a figure, "Wait!" Willow yelled.
The figure took no notice of her. She ran quicker and quicker. Her heart
felt like it was going to pound of her chest and her legs ached. Just as
she felt like she could not go further, it opened out onto a small
clearing. A small waterfall trickled away. "Why wouldn't you wait?" She
asked the figure. Moving closer, she saw that it was Buffy. "Buffy-" She
began, but she had no further said her name when the figure changed into
Giles. It kept changing again and again and Willow felt the woods
spinning around her. Her ears burned as they chanted repeatedly, "Is
Willow really Willow?"
She started to cry but then the spinning stopped and the woods
went dark. Hours had passed by without her noticing. The figure had it's
back to her. "Why?" She asked, "Why?" The figure turned around. "Spike?"
she whispered in disbelief.
"I love you," he told her, clasping her hands and kissing her on the
forehead. "Please don't forget that."
"Don't go Spike," she begged, "Please don't go."
He let go of her hands as he disappeared into a bright white light,
showing her reflection. She stared back at herself, but it wasn't her. A
woman reflecting herself but with white reptile like skin looked back at
her. "SPIKE!" She yelled.
***
Willow woke up with a start, tears streaming down her face with
the echoing of the chanting, ringing in her ears.
 

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