Parts: 11 - 20
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~Part: 11~
"No. No few days. No five days. Not even a tonight or a tomorrow."
Spike pursed his lips together and looked away. "Thought you could use some company, luv."
"Well, I don't." Suddenly a sad expression came over her face. "I'm used to being alone."
Spike looked over at Willow and knew what he saw in her. Besides the fire she had within her, there was something else. Spike saw traits of William as he looked at Willow. Spike knew William was a good man. He was a hopeless romantic, full of love and devotion. Her last comment pulled him out of his thoughts. 'I'm used to being alone.' "You don't have to be, Red."
Willow looked at him. "Suddenly you care? The big bad concerned about a human, what would other vampires say?"
"I don't give a damn about what they say. They can sod off as far as I'm concerned."
"Touching..really," she mocked him. "Listen Spike, up until now you've either ignored me or tried to kill me. And now suddenly you want to play a best friend. How convenient since you know that Giles can disable your chip and I'm your ticket to getting it done."
"Red..."
"Tell me, Spike. Tell me that you're here just to be here. Tell me it has nothing to do with the chip and the plan."
Her words hit him hard. He could actually feel himself wince as she said them. On the surface, the words were true. He couldn't deny it. But deep down inside of him, he knew there was something about her. He enjoyed her presence and wanted to protect the chit. "You don't understand, Red."
"I don't understand? That's the second time you've told me that in less than twenty-four hours."
"Because it's true."
"Whatever, Spike. Look, it'll be sundown soon. I'm gonna take a shower. Why don't you go downstairs and watch television?"
Spike watched her climb off the bed and leave the room. <You're just not gonna give me a chance, are you?>
Willow locked the bathroom door and climbed out of her clothes. As she let the hot water run over her body, her mind started to wander. <He couldn't even deny it. I knew it. Sunrise is soon and this will all be over. Why can't he just want to be here?> She turned off the shower and dried herself off, wrapping the towel around her.
He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw her enter the room. He let his eyes travel over her body and felt his jeans become tighter. <Gods below, nothing but a towel.>
"Spike," she squeaked. "You're supposed to be downstairs."
Spike climbed off the bed and stood in front of her. Without a word, he took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. He never let his eyes leave hers. "You're beautiful," he whispered.
And the moment was broken. As Willow heard the words, she pulled back her hand. "Please don't," she pleaded.
"Don't kiss your hand or tell you that you're beautiful?" he asked confused.
"Both," she said in barely a whisper. "You don't mean it."
"Red..."
"NO!" Willow took a deep breath. "Just leave."
Spike looked into her eyes and saw the pain in them. He knew that she believed every word she said. <I'm gonna tear apart everyone that made her think so little of herself.> "I'll be downstairs," he whispered. "Whenever you're ready, my car is out front." He walked out of her bedroom, closing the door behind him.
~Part: 12~
About twenty minutes later, Willow came downstairs dressed in a pair of jeans and a form fitting t-shirt. She pulled on her sneakers, feeling Spike's eyes on her. "Ready?" she asked him.
"As long as you're ready."
"Let's go." When they both got into the car, that was when the silence began. They both sat in the car, staring straight ahead..like it was the most interesting thing in the world. As they pulled up to the Magic Box, Spike turned off the car slowly. "We're here," he told her but she had already opened the car door and climbed out. Quickly he opened his door just as she was passing him. "Willow."
Hearing her real name caused her to stand still. Willow turned around and faced him. "Yeah."
"Look about before."
"Don't worry about it," she told him and started to walk off.
Suddenly Spike grabbed her arm. "I'm not sorry about what I said."
She yanked her arm out of his grasp. "Look, we both know why you were there. Let's just drop it."
Spike knew he was going to lose her. Lose any chance he might have with her. And for some reason that scared the hell out of him. Somewhere in his head he realized that this was something more than just the chip. As he watched her walk off, he took a deep breath. "I'll tell you about my dream, luv." He knew he heard her because her body tensed but she only started to walk faster until she disappeared into the store. "Bugger," he whispered to himself. He made his way up to the store and let himself in.
"Hey Wills," Xander said. "Pizza is on the table. You really didn't have to bring evil dead with you."
Willow ignored the comment as she went over to get some pizza. "Hey Giles, anything new?"
Giles shook his head regrettably. "No, I'm afraid not." He knew she was asking about a way around his plan.
"Well...any new evil?"
"Just basic research."
Willow grabbed a book and went to sit at a table away from Xander and Buffy where she was hoping to concentrate.
Spike grabbed a book and sat down. He heard Buffy throwing remark after remark towards him. With Xander throwing in the occasional quip. "Shut it Slutty." He looked up from his book and found Willow watching him. He gave her a small smile.
<I can't believe he almost told me about his dream. I wonder what he dreamt about. Why do they always have to make comment after comment to him?> She found herself watching him as he looked up at her. Their eyes met and she saw him give her a small smile. She responded with a smile of her own.
After listening to twenty minutes of constant bickering between Spike, Xander and Buffy; she had had enough. Willow closed her book and turned to Giles.
Giles saw her face expression. "I know, the bickering. It never ceases, does it?"
Willow shook her head no. "It makes me angry. He doesn't have to patrol with us, but he does it. Since we have nothing in specific to research, can I leave?"
"Of course." Giles then turned to Buffy. "Buffy, don't you think you should patrol?"
Buffy relieved, stood up. "C'mon fangless, patrol time."
"Sorry Buffy," Willow told her. "You'll have to take Xander."
"Why? I'm taking fangless."
"I'm leaving, Spike is coming with me." She saw Spike out of the corner of her eye turn towards her.
"I'm the Slayer," Buffy told her.
"So," Willow replied. "Look, I'm leaving and Spike was my ride. Therefore he's leaving too." In that one moment Spike was by her side smirking. "Besides I'm not leaving him here so you two can throw some more insults his way. You two have had enough for tonight." Without saying anything else, Willow walked out the door in the cool night air.
They walked to the car in silence and climbed in. Before he started the car, he turned his head towards her. "Thanks, for..."
"I just thought you could get out of there."
"Yeah." He started the car up. "Well, we'll be at your house in a few."
"Actually," Willow started. "We should stop by the grocery store." She could see his surprised reaction and couldn't help but to smile.
"We should?" Spike asked.
"Yes, we should. How else are you gonna cook me a meal, if I don't have food." It was her turn to smirk. "Besides, we gotta stop at Willie's if you plan on staying a few days."
~Part: 13~
They continued to talk as he drove. "Just because I'm letting you stay for a couple of days, it doesn't mean I'm changing my mind."
"About what?" Spike wasn't sure what she was talking about.
"About what? That's funny, Spike. Giles plan. The sole reason that you invaded my house."
"Right, that. The sole reason." <Sole reason. Got to remember that.> Spike pulled into the parking lot. "We're here," he told her. As they walked into the grocery store, Spike glanced at Willow. "Real food, pet. Remember that."
As they walked through the isles, Willow started putting things in the cart. Almost every time she would put something in the cart, Spike took it out. He would always say the same thing after each time. "That's not real food, luv."
Willow turned around and glared at him. "If you say that one more time, I'm gonna scream!"
Spike leaned in closer to her. "That's not real food," he whispered and then started to smirk. He waited for her to yell.
"Uughhh, you make me so mad." At that moment Willow looked up and saw an elderly couple looking at them. "Can I help you with something?" she asked them.
"You two make such a cute couple," the woman directed towards Willow and Spike.
"Oh we're not..." Willow started to say as the elderly couple walked off. Spike watched as the couple kept glancing at them.
Spike walked over to Willow and put his arms around her waist. He pulled her to his body. Spike let his lips graze against her neck. He then started to whisper in her ear. "I hate to fight baby," he told her in a sweet voice.
"I'm not your baby," she said through gritted teeth.
"You could be."
As his grip loosened around her waist, she turned around. "And you could be dust."
"Right then."
Willow suddenly felt bad for the way she was talking to Spike. It seemed to be the same kind of comments that Buffy and Xander were throwing his way. "Look do we have enough food? Can we leave?"
Spike tried to hide the hurt in his voice from her comments. "Yeah, luv. We can leave."
They drove to Willie's in silence. As he pulled up and shut off the engine, he glanced over at her. "You don't have to go in with me, Red."
"You'd leave me out here in the car? Alone?"
"I just thought..."
"What if...I know I'm a witch...would someone..."
"I won't let anyone hurt you." Spike took a deep breath. "It you get nervous, you can lean into me."
"Excuse me?"
"For the demons to think that you're with me. That you belong to me."
"Oh," she said in a high pitch voice. <'That you belong to me.' Those simple words send shivers through my body. The good kind of shivers.> "Let's go."
Spike walked through the door with Red behind him. The moment they entered the door, everyone became quiet. He walked up to the bar and after a few moments, the other demons started their conversations again. "Uh Spike," the bartender said nervously. "What can I get ya?"
"The usual." Spike turned and face Willow. "What d'ya want?"
"Huh?"
"What kind of drink, luv?"
"Surprise me."
Spike smirked and ordered her a drink. When the drinks came, Spike let Willie know how many packets of blood he would need. In the meantime Spike and Willow just stood against the bar drinking their drinks and engaged in conversation. Instead of Willow standing behind him, she was now standing beside him.
"So," she started. "You seem more at ease here."
"It makes a world of difference when someone isn't threatening to stake you every twenty seconds of your unlife."
"Yeah, I guess it would."
"You don't seem, well like yourself either."
"What do you mean? In a bad way?"
"Don't even worry your head about it, luv. I just meant you don't seem as shy and withdrawn. I like it."
"Yeah, I like it too. It's like ..."
All of a sudden Spike spun around and grabbed the minion's wrist. "She's not for you."
The minion obviously didn't know who Spike was. "If she isn't your dinner, she's gonna be mine." All of a sudden all movement stopped in the bar.
Spike bent the minion's wrist back until he heard bones breaking. "She doesn't belong to you mate," Spike growled.
~Part: 14~
"I said she doesn't belong to you, mate."
"She's not marked," the minion told him trying to defend himself. "She's not claimed."
Willow felt as if she was frozen. She looked up at Spike and saw his eyes flashing golden. She could feel power surrounding his. Unconsciously her body stepped towards him, leaning against his.
Spike felt Willow against him as he struggled for control of the demon. He pulled harder on the minions wrist, hearing more bones break as the younger vampire fell on his knees. "If she belongs to anyone," Spike growled. "She belongs to me!" He let go of the vampire and watched as he collapsed to the floor. Without morphing, Spike could feel his demon taking control. He placed his hands on Willow's hips, pulling her body closer to his. Spike looked down at the minion still on the ground. "Don't touch what I consider MINE!"
Willy returned to the counter and watched the scene in front of him. He had put the blood in a paper bag and placed it on the counter in front of Spike. "Uh..Spike..I have that thing you wanted."
Spike turned around to Willy, nodding his head. At this moment the minion picked himself up and lunged for Willow.
He anticipated the minion's move. Spike turned back around snarling as he reached forward, tearing out the minion's throat. As the dust fell, a satisfied smirk came across his face. Spike grabbed Willow again, crushing her body into his as he nuzzled her neck.
Willow's mind was trying to comprehend everything that happened. Demon bar. Minion. Dust. And then Spike. She closed her eyes and tried to lean further into him as she felt him against her neck.
Spike suddenly let the man in him have control again. He leaned back from Willow's neck and looked into her eyes. As their eyes met, he looked away but didn't remove his hands. "We're leaving," he told her. Spike grabbed the paper bag and pulled her out the door.
As they both got in the car, Spike put the key in the ignition but didn't turn the key. He took a deep breath and turned toward her. "Look, Red..about what happened.."
Willow turned to face him. "Don't worry about it."
"Look, it's just..."
"No big deal, Spike. We should head back."
"Yeah," he said quietly. The rest of the ride was done in silence.
When they pulled up to the house, Willow got out of the car without a word and started grabbing groceries. She let herself in the door, leaving it open for Spike.
As Willow put away the last of the groceries, Spike leaned against the pantry door watching her. "What?" she asked him.
"So what? I get the bloody silent treatment now?"
"Spike..."
"No no, let me guess. That display tonight reminded you of who I was. A monster. A demon. Hell, you're probably disgusted with the demon in me." Willow felt herself getting flushed from anger. "Bloody humans are all the same." Spike took a step towards her. "You're just like the rest of them."
"Go to hell, Spike." Willow pushed him out of her way as she rushed out of the kitchen.
<Who the hell does that chit think she is?> Spike made his way up to her room and threw open the door. "What the hell is your problem, Red?"
As he entered her room, she stopped pacing. "Go away."
"Like hell I will."
"I don't want you here," she told him.
"That's too bad, ain't it." He walked up to her and his voice became more gentle. "You don't really want me to leave." He took a deep breath. "Do you?" he asked shyly.
"Why would you want to stay? I mean I'm just like the rest of them, right Spike? You said it yourself. Just a human."
"Red, I..."
"NO! You've said more than enough. Never mind what I actually thought about tonight. Never mind what was going through my head. No, you automatically come to your damn conclusions." She started to pace again. "You were so quick to judge me. You don't even know me."
Spike watched her for a moment, wondering what she was thinking about what happened tonight. He took a step towards her and placed a hand on her arm, causing her to stop and face him. "Well?" he asked impatiently.
"Well what?"
"Bloody hell! You know what, I was right to judge you. You are just like the rest of your scooby pals. As far as getting to know you, you aren't exactly an open book. The little show you put on for your friends is a great act but I don't buy it."
"What act would that be?"
"The one where you're everyone's doormat. I'm know you're nice, Red. But there's this hidden flame within you and every time it surfaces, you push it back. Would it be so wrong for you to show me the real you and not the illusion for bloody once."
The only emotion Willow could see at that point was anger. "You want to know the real me, Spike? The real me didn't mind that little show tonight. But obviously you couldn't stand it. That is what that whole scene in kitchen was about, wasn't it? For the first time, I actually saw you in your element. The power that you hold. The power that radiates from you."
"Red..."
"No. You were so quick to judge me. You never thought that I might actually accept your demon. That it intrigues me. You never thought that I might actually like what happened at Willy's. That for the first time, I felt protected and...and almost powerful because I was with YOU. Just like you didn't notice...you didn't notice that I didn't shy away from you." Suddenly her voice became soft. "And you didn't notice that when you started to nuzzle my neck, that I leaned into your touch." Hearing the words that came out of her mouth, she suddenly started to blush. She looked away quickly.
"I noticed," Spike said softly. He then turned around and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Spike sat down on the couch and lit a cigarette. He replayed tonight's events through his mind. Even more he replayed the words that Willow told him just moments ago through his mind. That's when he knew. He knew him being there was more about the chip. She wasn't ashamed of him. And she wasn't using him to get someone else. Those two things meant everything to him. Before he knew it, an hour had flown by. Spike quietly made his way back to Willow's room and turned the doorknob. Seeing her asleep, he quietly walked over to her and brushed a lock of hair out of the way. Spike grabbed the blanket at the end of her bed and draped it over her body. He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Sweet dreams, Red." He then placed a soft kiss on her cheek and left the room. Moments later after covering the windows, Spike fell asleep on the couch.
~Part: 15~
Willow finally sat up and looked at the clock. 4:30. She threw back
the blanket that was covering her, suddenly wondering where it came from.
Spike. Glancing around the room, she noticed it empty. Willow climbed out
of the bed and walked into the main room. Seeing the sight before her,
she froze. She saw the windows covered up and sleeping on the couch was
Spike.
Willow silently walked over to him, hoping not to wake him. She picked up the blanket at the end of the couch and draped it over his body. As she started to walk away, she felt him grab her wrist. "Spike!"
"What are you doing, Red?"
"I didn't want to wake you. I..uh..I just covered you up and now obviously I'll be going back to bed." Willow started to take a step forward but Spike wasn't letting go. "You have to let go of my wrist, Spike."
"Why'd you cover me up."
"You were cold?"
"I'm dead, luv. Body stays at room temperature."
"Sorry. It was just a polite gesture. I'll be leaving now."
"Why? So you can toss and turn some more?"
"How did you know that?"
"Vampire hearing, luv. You've hardly slept all night."
"Yeah I know," she replied quietly. "I'll try not to make any more noise."
All through the night, Spike had repeated her previous words in his head like a chant. <'Your demon intrigues me. The real me liked the display. You didn't notice how I leaned into you....and it goes on and on.> "It'll be sunrise soon."
"I know."
Spike flipped back part of the blanket and moved to the back of the couch. "Red."
"What?"
"Bloody hell, luv. Get on the couch."
"With you? I don't think so."
"So I was good enough to sleep in your bed last night but..."
"That wasn't my choice. You wouldn't leave."
"I'm staying at your house, I took you to Willy's--made sure no one touched you, stayed in your bed last night and you still don't trust me?"
"You're an evil vampire. And you've tried to kill me more than once. Excuse me if I don't jump at this opportunity."
"What will it take for you to trust me?"
"Stakes, holy water, a cross bow."
Spike let go of her wrist. "Well then, I guess that's that." He didn't understand why she wasn't moving away. "I let go of your wrist, luv."
"I know."
"And you're still standing there."
"Yeah."
"Goodnight, luv."
She watched as Spike closed his eyes. Willow took a deep breath and climbed onto the couch next to Spike and under the blanket. She watched as Spike opened his eyes in surprise. "What if I fall off the couch?" she whispered.
Spike wrapped his arm around Willow, pulling her against his body. He searched her eyes with his. "I'll have to make sure I never let you go." Spike wondered what his last statement really implied. If he was talking about just tonight or more. If he was talking about forever. As her eyes drifted away from his, he felt her lean into his body and eventually drift asleep. The only thing Spike focused on was that moment.
~Part: 16~
Spike woke up hours later, still holding Willow in his arms. He took a deep breath, inhaling her scent. His eyes flew open as he fought his demon back. There was only a few hours before sunset. "Red," he whispered in her ear. "I need to get up, to feed." He got no response from her. "Pet, I need you to get up."
"Mmm," Willow said starting to wake up. "I had this nightmare and..." The words died on her lips as she saw Spike. "Oh goddess. It was real."
He was confused. "Huh?"
"My nightmare...well it was you."
Usually he would have been happy at a comment like that but recent events had changed things. "Nightmare? I was your bloody nightmare?"
"Well...um..."
"Remember when I told you I would always hold onto you?" He saw Willow shake her head yes. Spike let go of her body and watched as she rolled off the couch and onto the floor. As he heard the thud and the 'ow', he started to smirk. "I lied." Spike jumped off the couch and headed to the kitchen.
Within moments, he threw a blood packet in the microwave waiting for her rant but it never came. He finished his blood and started moving towards the main room. As he turned the corner, he saw her there just staring at him.
Willow tried to remain calm. "When sunset comes, I want you gone. I want you to leave."
Spike took a step towards her. "Red..."
"I'm not asking you, Spike. I'm telling you."
Getting lost in her eyes, he brought his hand up and touched the side of her face. "What about last night?" he whispered softly.
"What about it?" she asked as she pulled away from his touch. "Nothing happened."
"Nothing happened? The bar. The couch. There was a connection, luv."
"You're delusional."
Her words cut through him like a knife. "Is that so?" He took a step towards her, leaving hardly any space between them. "What you should be asking yourself," he said in a low voice. "Is what would happen if for one bloody moment you didn't push me away?"
Willow took a deep breath and took a step back, jumping slightly when the phone rang. "Hello. Oh hey. I was just about. You can't? Yeah, I understand. Bye."
Willow hung up the phone and walked silently to her room, closing the door behind her. Twenty minutes later, after a hot shower and a change of clothes, she walked out into the main room. Willow took one last look at Spike, however she couldn't let her eyes meet his. "Remember sunset, I want you gone." Without another word, she walked out of the house and into the sunlight.
Spike stared at the door for a moment, before leaning back into the couch. <Why does she always push me away? Now she doesn't even want me around. What to do. What to do.> Before he even realized it, the sun had gone down. He picked up his duster and headed towards the Magic Box, never sensing the figure lurking in the bushes.
Willow couldn't believe she had reduced herself to lurking in the bushes of her own house. After she watched him walk away, she let herself back in the house and called Giles to let him know she wouldn't be there for research tonight.
Spike walked into the Magic Box, still thinking about the last twenty-four hours of his unlife.
"Evil dead," Xander started. "Can't you just go away? Forever."
"Seems to be the bloody vote for the day," he mumbled lowly to himself. "Shouldn't use the word forever around vampires, Xapper. They seem to take it quite literal."
"Most vampires still have bite."
Spike narrowed his eyes and glared at the young boy. Suddenly his eyes started to drift over the room. Willow was missing. "Where's Red?"
"None of you..." Xander started but became quiet when he heard Spike growl.
Spike looked towards the Watcher, who had become engrossed with his book. "Watcher? WATCHER?"
Giles lifted his head. "Yes. What? Hello, Spike."
"Where is she?"
"Buffy? She should be..."
"Not Slutty. Red. Where is she?"
"Oh..um..she called earlier. Said she couldn't make it in..."
Spike turned around and headed out the door. He walked quickly back to her home, knowing she was in there. He opened the front door and made his way up to her room, slowly opening the door. She was sitting on the bed in a tshirt and a pair of boxer shorts. She had her hair pulled back and was hugging her knees to her chest. "Red?"
Willow's eyes flew open at the sound of her name. "I thought I told you to leave."
Spike shrugged out of his duster and threw it on the chair. "You did." He walked over to the bed and sat down next to her. "I figured I was needed here more."
"I don't need..."
Spike quickly placed his fingers over her lips. "Don't."
After a moment, Willow felt like she should say something. "Thought you were going to do research tonight?"
"I was." Spike took a deep breath. "You weren't there so I left."
"Oh," she replied quietly.
"You wanna tell me what's going on, luv? You never miss research."
"I just...didn't want to go tonight."
"This have to do with that phone call you got earlier?"
"Maybe."
Spike placed his fingers under her chin, willing her to look at him. "Tell me."
Willow looked away quickly. "It was Buffy. We had plans but she canceled. She wanted to meet up with some guy she just met. Instead of me. I just..." Willow paused for a moment.
"Slayer is a daft chit, pet. The bloke will see it sooner or later."
His comment cause her to grin. "Spike!"
"What?" he asked. "I got you to smile and at the expense of the Slayer. So now what? Now you're sitting here feeling bad for yourself. What's that gonna accomplish?"
"It's not about her. It's just....I'm not feeling sorry. I'm..reflecting."
"Reflecting?"
"Yeah. Reflecting on my life."
"How's that going?"
"Not so good."
"Wanna tell me about it?" he asked as he leaned back on the bed.
"It's just...I guess I feel alone. Mu friends are just..busy. I miss...I miss having someone that needs me."
They were both silent for a couple of minutes after her confession. She turned around to look at him, seeing him watching her. "Are you staying here tonight?"
"Is that an invitation?" He watched as she shook her head yes. "Then yeah, I'm staying. Like you could get rid of me anyways."
"Could you do something for me?"
"What is it?"
Willow started biting her bottom lip. "Could you hold me?"
Spike gave her a genuine smile. "Of course."
Willow crawled into bed and felt his arms around her. She couldn't help but to think how right it felt to be in Spike's arms. "Spike?"
"Yeah, luv."
"I'm glad you came back tonight."
~Part: 17~
Spike watched her as she closed her eyes and drifted to sleep. He listened to her heartbeat slowing to a steady pace. As he felt her unknowingly nuzzle into his body, he pulled her closer to him; tightening his hold. <Now, look what you've done mate. This isn't all about the chip anymore. Or is it? Bloody hell!> Spike let his thoughts dwindle slowly. He focused on her warm body and the constant sound of her heart. Both of those things lulled him to sleep within moments.
Willow woke up the next afternoon, opening her eyes slowly. As she opened them, she noticed Spike was still asleep. She could feel his strong hands resting on her back, holding her body to his. Her legs were intertwined with his and her hands...She just realized where her hands were. Her one hand was resting along the top of his jeans while her other hand was placed on the back of his thigh. Realizing this, she attempted to pull away.
Spike felt her body shift when she woke up. He had pretended to be asleep, not sure of how she would react. Anything had to be better than the day before. As he felt her try to pull away, he let out a low warning growl.
Hearing his growl, she removed her hands from his body but didn't try to pull her body away. Willow then raised her head to look at him. "Hey Spike," she said softly.
"Hello, luv." He waited for a moment before he continued. "No what are you doing here? No why are you in my bed? No I had this nightmare and it was you?"
Willow shook her head no. "No, but I do need to get up."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why do you need to get up?"
"I just...I just can't stay in bed with you all day."
"Why not? I kinda like that idea," he smirked. "Besides the day is almost over. I figure you have about an hour till dusk."
"What? Why didn't you wake me?"
"Why the hell would I do that? I was in a comfortable bed with a beautiful warm girl next to me."
"I'm not."
Spike became confused. "Not what?"
"Beautiful. I'm *not* beautiful."
"You're right, you're not. You're sexy as hell."
"I'm not," she whispered.
Spike grazed his hand along the side of her face. "You got my attention, pet."
"Because of the chip," she said sadly. "You said it yourself. I'm your one ticket."
"That's not what this is Red," he said sternly.
"Then what is this? I don't..."
"At first it was about the chip, but now...I don't know. I didn't come here last night because of the chip. I didn't stay because of the chip. And when I tell you you're sexy and beautiful, then you are. No arguments." Spike leaned in closer to her ear. "And I love the way your hands form to my body when you're asleep." He leaned back and watched as she started to blush. Spike couldn't help but to smirk. "Since we need to leave soon, why don't you go take a shower? I'll fix us something to eat."
Willow climbed out of the bed and started to walk towards the door. She turned around to look at him. "Thanks. For everything."
He watched her disappear and then made his way into the kitchen.
About thirty minutes later, she came downstairs; only moments from sundown.
Spike looked up when she descended down the stairs. He stood up and pulled his jacket on. "Whelp called. He left a message. Something about ordering pizza."
"Ok. Just let me get my shoes and then we can leave."
The walk over to the Magic Box was made in comfortable silence.
Two hours later..........
Willow looked around the people at the table. Her family. She then focused her attention on Giles and Spike. She knew Giles hadn't found anything else besides his plan. She watched as he tried to get Spike to talk about it.
"Look watcher, the girl doesn't want to participate."
"I've done the research. There's no other way. Do you think I want to hand her over to a soulless, chipless demon? I think not."
"You want her to even consider it? Let me take her out of here for two days. That'll give you a whole 24 hours before you're supposed to do the spell after we get back."
"I don't know."
"I can't get to know the girl with these gits around. You want her to learn about me, me and her; we leave."
"There's no way you're leaving with her, evil dead."
Spike looked up at Buffy. "Wasn't asking for the opinion of Bitchy."
Willow looked at Buffy and then at Spike. <It's only two days. What do I have to lose?>
"Buffy does have a point Spike but not quite in the words she chose," Giles told him. "We won't know where you are. We won't know what you're doing. We won't..."
Willow stood up from the table and looked at Spike. She took a deep breath and faced Giles. "It's not your decision. It's mine. No one asked me what *I* wanted to do."
"Willow," Giles started.
"No. Listen, it doesn't mean that I'll agree to your plan."
"You can't trust Spike," Buffy told her.
"No," Willow said. "You can't trust him." She then turned to Spike who had a smirk on his face. She couldn't help but to grin at him. "When do we leave?"
~Part: 18~
Willow sat back down in her chair and started to sink into it. Everyone was arguing about her decision. Everyone but Spike. As her eyes met his, she felt a wave of confidence run through her. Willow stood up once again. "Quiet," she said but no one was listening. "QUIET!" she yelled. Instantly there was silence.
Spike nodded his head. "Nice, pet."
Willow started to grin. "Look, I know none of you trust Spike but this is my choice. Not yours. It's only for two days and he still had the chip. This is *not* discussable any longer." Willow saw Spike standing up, still watching her. "Spike?"
"Meet you at your house in one hour. Pack light."
"Where are you going?"
"I have to go get something." The gang watched as Spike left. Willow sat back down and stayed with her friends. For the next forty-five minutes, there was nothing but silence. When she stood up to leave, she heard Giles voice. "Willow, may I speak with you before you leave?" Willow nodded her head and followed him into the back room.
Giles quietly shut the door behind them and turned to face her. "Willow, I think of you as a daughter. Are you sure you want to do this?"
Willow was beyond shock. This was the same man that wanted her to pretend to be at Spike's side for who know how long just so they could get information from demons. And now he was worried about two days. "Giles, it'll be fine. Only two days, remember? Besides, wasn't the plan your idea?"
"Yes, that is true. I just worry for your safety."
"I appreciate it, but I trust him. At least for this I do."
Giles nodded his head and watched her leave.
As Willow reached to door, she finally heard her friends speak up. "Willow please don't do this," Buffy pleaded.
"It's just for two days, Buffy."
"If you walk out that door," Xander started. "If you go to him...everything changes Wills."
Willow couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What are you saying, Xand?" She waited for a reply but all she heard was silence. "Are you saying that if I do this, that what? Our friendship is over?"
"Would it make you stay? Would it make you not go?"
Willow was so angry and hurt that she just walked out of the Magic Box; heading to her house. By the time she got there, she was in tears.
Spike had been sitting outside of her door for almost ten minutes when he saw her. He knew something had happened by the way she was carrying herself. Her head was down and her shoulders were slumped. He looked at her concerned. "Red?" When she raised her head to look at him, he saw the tears stains that had marked her face.
"S-sorry I'm late."
When he saw her pained expression, he tightened his jaw. "What...happened? Were you attacked?"
She shook her head no quickly. "We should get inside."
As they both walked into the house, Spike closed the door behind them. Willow turned around to him. "I'll just go get my bag together and meet you down here." The second Spike nodded, she darted upstairs.
Spike let her have a couple minutes alone before he made his way up to her room. Leaning against the door frame, he just watched her. He needed to know what happened before they left.
Willow lifted her head and her eyes widened when she saw Spike. "Hey..um..I thought I was meeting you downstairs."
Spike put his bag down on the floor and started walking towards her. "We're not going."
Willow jumped up form the bed. "WHAT?!"
"We're not going until you tell me what the hell happened."
"Nothing happened," she glared.
"Nothing, huh? Nothing made you cry?"
"Don't," she told him softly.
"Don't what? Tell it like it is? So what happened this time?" he asked mockingly.
"Stop," she pleaded.
"Why? This is fun." Spike turned around and walked over to his bag. "This was a mistake, Red. Go back to your friends."
"What friends?"
At this moment he realized why she had been crying. She wasn't attacked. It wasn't because of a demon. It was because of her friends. Spike turned around and made his way back to her. As he stood in front of her, he really looked at her. Hurt and anger were rolling off of her body in waves. He lowered his voice so he wouldn't scare her. "What happened after I left? What did they say to you?"
"Does it matter?" she asked flippantly as she tried to turn away.
Spike grabbed her upper arms tightly, preventing her from turning away from him. "It matters to me," he growled.
"WHY? It doesn't seem to matter to anyone else."
"Red, I..."
"You wanna know what they told me? After they ignored me for almost forty-five minutes, Buffy tried to plead with me not to go. Xander told me that if I went with you for this two day thing, everything changes. Everything between him and me would change." Spike could see her body start to shake from her anger. "It's like they were making me choose."
Spike loosened his grip and wrapped his arms around her. "All that stuff I said earlier, I was just trying to get a rise out of you." He was silent for a moment before he continued. "I need to know what you chose, Red." He felt her body tense for a moment.
"I walked out," she told him quietly. "I chose you."
A range of emotions went through his body at her last statement. He drifted his fingers through her hair, feeling the fiery tresses against his skin. Her words, 'I chose you', kept echoing through his head. Spike leaned back from the embrace to look at her. "Sorry about your friends, luv."
Willow raised her eyes to look at him. "No, you're not."
"I bloody well...alright, so I'm not sorry about them. They're a bunch of wankers." Spike lifted his hands and cupped her face. "I am sorry they hurt you." He heard her heart speed up and the only thing he wanted to do at that very moment was to kiss her. Catching himself before he acted on that impulse, he stepped back. "We should get going. We still need to do the spell."
His words pulled her out of her daze. "Spell? What spell?"
"Travel spell, luv. I only have two days. Did you really think I'd let things like the sun and a car damper things? Besides we won't be going anywhere. We'll be busy."
"Busy?" she squeaked. "Um..doing what?"
Spike let his eyes gaze over her body. "I can think of a few things," he said huskily. <Don't concentrate on her body, mate. You still need to do the spell.>
"Spike..um, I'm not good with travel spells."
"Your not doing the spell, Red. I am. Are you ready?"
~Part: 19~
Willow watched as Spike set up for the spell. She noticed how serious he had become. "Get you bag, luv. It's almost done."
Willow picked up her bag and walked over to the circle. She looked up at Spike and then back down at the circle. She took a deep breath. <If you want out, this is your chance. Who knows where the master vampire is gonna take you.>
Spike looked up at Willow and saw the doubt on her face. "You can still back out, luv. We don't have to do this."
"I walked out on my friends tonight for this. For you. We're doing it."
He watched as she had on her resolve face and then leaned down to pick up his bag. "I need you to stand in the circle, pet."
Willow stepped into the circle, not knowing what to expect. She had only done a travel spell once and it didn't go as planned. She started to relax when Spike stepped into the circle with her.
"Hold on to my hands." As he felt his fingers interlock with hers, it sent a shiver through his body. He could practically feel the fire she had burning inside of her. "I need you to trust me, Willow. Can you do that?"
Willow shook her head yes. "I can on this."
"Close your eyes, pet." Spike closed his eyes after he watched Willow close hers. He then whispered the words of the spell. As Spike whispered the spell, he could feel the air change around him. Everything felt different. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked around. A smirk instantly came across his face. "Luv, open your eyes. We're here."
Willow opened her eyes slowly and looked around. She tried to step away but found Spike still holding her hands. "Um...Spike? Could you let go?"
"What?" he asked as he looked down. "Oh, right. Sorry," he mumbled. He was anything but sorry. He had no intention of letting go, especially after feeling the fire she had within her.
Willow started to walk around the room that they arrived in. Kitchen. Fireplace. Bathroom. Bed. One bed. "Um...I think you messed up the spell."
"I bloody well did not."
"Is this where we're staying cause I thought you had some taste?"
"I'll ignore that comment and I do have taste. This way you can't run away from me. We'll be forced to get to know each other if it kill us. Well kills you," he grinned.
"Well, where are we?"
"Hotel. It's not one of the nicer ones but it'll work."
"I am not staying here." Willow picked up her bag and headed towards the door.
"I wouldn't open that door if I was you, pet. Never know what might be outside."
"How bad can it be, Spike? I grew up on the Hellmouth." As Willow opened the door, she heard Spike's next statement.
"We traveled to a demon realm, luv. You might want to stay inside."
Willow slammed the door shut and dropped her bag. She spun around and Spike could see the emotions in her eyes. "YOU WHAT?!"
"Now, Red."
"You brought me to a demon realm *intentionally*?"
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing."
"I'm human."
"And they won't hurt you if they know you're with me."
"I can't believe you brought me here. I trusted you."
"Then trust me now. You think I'm just gonna let something hurt you. When we go out..."
"When?"
"When we go out, well it'll kinda be like what happened in Sunnydale. You told me you didn't mind that. If fact you even enjoyed it." Spike started to advance towards the redhead. He could hear her heartbeat start to pick up. "It's just us, luv. You don't have to pretend."
"What about humans? What if one attacks?"
Spike started to chuckle to himself. "Luv, you're in a demon realm. Demons are in charge here. Most humans are kept on a leash. Literally. Demons are their masters. Just like when we go out..."
"I don't care where we are. You are not putting me on a leash."
"Didn't say I was. When we go out, I'll be your master."
"You're serious, aren't you?"
Spike leaned into her neck. "If you let yourself relax, you might find out you like me as your master."
Willow took a step back. "Don't count on it."
"We'll see." Spike opened his bag and brought out some junk food that he had swiped before they left. "You need to eat, luv."
Willow looked at the food and then back at him. "What about you?"
"I drank enough blood to last me through to tomorrow. I'll help you eat some of this food, though.
About an hour later, Willow noticed that she was getting sleepy. Spike noticed it too. "Time's a bit off here compared to Sunnydale. You should get some rest."
"Yeah, guess you're right." Willow stood up and stretched. She glanced over at the bed and then at Spike. "Um...Spike?"
He had just lit a cigarette, knowing what was coming next. "Hmmm."
"There's one bed. What are we..."
And there it was. "We're sharing the bed."
"We can't share the bed."
Spike put out his cigarette and smirked. "Afraid you won't be able to control yourself, pet?" Instead of getting the 'no' he was expecting, all he got was silence.
Willow left his side and the conversation, turning crimson red. She changed into a t-shirt and a pair of boxer shorts and slid into bed. The sheets were black silk and felt cool against her skin. Moments later she felt Spike climb into bed with her.
Spike watched her nervous state as he climbed into bed with her. Having the cool sheets draped across his skin and the warm body beside him, he was in heaven. Or as close as he was gonna get. "You don't have to be scared," he whispered. "I won't hurt you."
"I know."
"And I'm not gonna try anything."
"Alright," she whispered.
After a couple minutes of silence, Spike had to ask her something. "Do you regret coming with me?"
"No. I mean I've never been to a demon realm before and here I am. I can just be me, I don't have anyone breathing down my throat or yelling all around me. Of course the yelling is usually directed towards you, but well you get the idea." She paused for a moment. "And I get to share that with you," she added softly.
"Can I ask you for a favor, Red?"
"Um...o-kay."
"It's been awhile since I had a warm human laying against me and I won't try anything. Will you let me hold you?"
Willow could hear her own heart beat speed up as he asked to hold her. Not from fear, but from want. "Yeah," she breathed.
Spike snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her body to his. He wanted to touch her, to drift his fingers through her hair, even to kiss her but knew that would be going too far. So, he was content in just holding her right now.
"Spike, if one of the humans get loose from their master and they attack us..."
Spike tightened his hold on her just in case she tried to move away. "The chip isn't activated here. It doesn't work in this realm." Spike watched her eyes widen at the statement and her body tense. "This way I can protect you."
"Whose gonna protect me from you?"
~Part: 20~
Willow woke up the next...well, she didn't know what time of day it was. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked at the sleeping vampire. He had kept to his word. All he did was hold her. And if she had to admit it to herself, it was nice and comforting.
Spike had been awake for a couple of hours. He knew it was somewhere around noon but he couldn't sleep. He couldn't stop thinking about her last comment. <'Who is gonna protect me from you?' Is that what the chit really thinks? That I would bloody well hurt her? I'd tear apart anyone that touched my witch. My witch? Well she would be if she took a chance on me.>
Willow took one more glance at the vampire. Deciding he was asleep, she crawled out of the bed quietly; hoping not to wake him. Before she could take five steps away from the bed, she heard his voice.
"It's a bit around noon, luv. I case you were wondering."
Willow spun around to look at him. "How do you know?"
Spike raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm a vampire. I sense it." Spike crawled out of bed and lit a cigarette. "Where were you going?"
"I...uh...I was..."
"Go take a shower. Then we'll talk."
"What?"
"Shower. In the bathroom." Spike saw her still standing there. "Go on. Unless you'd like me to join you?" He left the invitation open, knowing she would refuse it.
"No! I'm going. I just don't see what we have to talk about." Willow picked up her bag and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
Once the bathroom door was shut, a smirk formed across his face. "We have lots to talk about," he said out loud to no one in particular. Unzipping his bag, he pulled out an object and slipped it into his pocket. "I'm counting on you to make this difficult."
Thirty minutes later, Willow walked into the main room fully dressed. She had pulled her hair back and threw on some comfortable clothes. A v-neck t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Seeing him on the couch, she walked over to him and sat down beside him. "Let's get this over with, Spike."
"Eager little thing, ain't ya?"
"I just don't understand why we're here."
Spike could barely control his demon as she was regarded with what he saw as a dismissive gesture. "I haven't hurt you, have I? I kept my word last night. I didn't try anything. Is it so awful to be here with me?"
"No," she told him quietly.
His demon calmed at her voice and that one word. His voice softened towards her. "Today is the only day we can talk. Tomorrow, you'll be occupied."
"Occupied?" Willow took a deep breath. "Occupied doing what?"
"Don't worry luv, I won't be here."
Willow's eyes widened. "You're leaving me *here*? Alone?"
"You'll be fine. I have a surprise for you. A good surprise. But I can't be here when you open it."
"A gift?"
"Kind of. It's for you to see but not to keep."
"I don't understand."
"I know but you will tomorrow. For now, I want to know about you."
"You already know about me. My life is pretty much an open book."
"Except for the fire inside of you."
"Yeah, I guess."
"Tell me about it. The real you."
"I guess I really don't know. People were always happy to see the shy quiet hacker. No one looked past that. No one could bring that part of me out."
"I could," Spike told her. "If you'd let me." He turned his head to look at her. "Do you trust me?"
"What?"
"Do you trust me, Red?"
"No. I always go the demon realms with Master vampires," she replied sarcastically. "I'm not sure what kind of game this is..." Willow started to stand up.
Spike grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down. "Sit down, luv. This isn't a game. I need to tell you something." As he kept eye contact with her, he knew this was his chance. He reached in his pocket and seconds later heard the click.
When Willow heard the click, she looked down. Her eyes became wide and she looked back at him. "YOU!" she said with anger. "You handcuffed me to *you*!"
"I had to," he admitted.
"You had to? Where's the key?"
"Hidden. Pet, I want you to trust me. I need you to trust me."
<He needs me to trust him. This is so not good. I'm in a demon realm with a Master vampire who can now bite and oh yeah...I'M HANDCUFFED TO HIM!> Willow looked into his eyes and suddenly saw the emotion. He wasn't being sarcastic. There wasn't any amusement in his eyes. He was being serious. Willow felt her anger fade away. "Will you unlock the handcuffs?"
Spike shook his head. "Not yet. I need to tell you something and I don't want you walking away from me."