~Part 1~

"Buffy, you can patrol. Xander, Anya, could you look through some of these books for something useful? Thank you. Er, Riley, perhaps you
could check some of your sources for information? I'll make some tea then a few phone calls." Giles headed towards the kitchen.

"What about me?" Willow asked meekly from her perch on the sofa beside Xander and his girlfriend.

The former watcher walked out again. "Well, er, I... don't know. Study? Some... schoolwork?" He returned to the kitchen.

Willow frowned. "Well, I-I can... do a spell if you want?"

"No." Came three firm replies with Anya and Riley both looking slightly stunned by the sudden and simultaneous outbursts.

The witch looked hurt for a moment. "Want me to look up some stuff on the internet?"

"Willow, honestly, we don't need you." Giles said plainly. The red head's face dropped at the impact his words had on her. "Oh, I didn't
mean it like that, Willow." He said softly but surely.

The girl stood. "Don't bother." She mumbled sadly as she walked out the door.

Once the door had clicked closed there was momentary silence. For a few seconds the group waited before returning to their set out jobs with
Buffy finishing her stocking up with Giles' stakes and leaving the apartment.

*^*

Silent tears fell from Willow's eyes as she walked towards the dorms. A twig snapped somewhere to her right but instead she just slowed her pace
a little more. She looked over to the bushes and saw a dark figure fly through them at an inhuman speed. Exactly what she thoughts. Something
inhuman was out there. She knew she should panic, flee, scream for help but something stopped her. She stepped back a bit in shock when the
figure finally decided to jump out at her. It growled, the beast's hands curled into claws as drool started to hang from the corner of it's mouth. The rows of fangs showing as it snarled at her. She took a step back at the sight. The beast moved a step forward as it scared it's prey. The monster yelped a very un-beastly yelp before dropping to the ground, dead. Willow looked up and saw someone she hadn't expected. "Spike?" The vampire gave her a small smile before putting his cigarette back in his mouth. She looked down and saw a large scorch mark on the beast's back.

"One problem with Marra demons... they don't like fire too much. Probably because most of their bodily fluids are flammable." He took one last puff from his cigarette before putting it out under his boot. "Why aren't you runnin' for Slutty? Want to be the brave one for once? I can tell you that wasn't too brave at all. More like stupid." He stepped forward a few steps, putting his hands in his pockets.

Willow looked down a bit, trying to comprehend why he had saved her. She looked up. "Thank you." The girl whispered.

He stared at her for a few moments, slowly figuring out what was wrong with her. "They ignorin' you again? Phht! Stupid pillocks the lot of 'em."

"You don't have to talk to me. My friends won't. You don't have to." She mumbled as she started walking again.

"What if I want to, Pet?" He asked, turning to watch her walk away. Willow turned around and looked at him curiously. "I mean, I *don't*. Want to talk to you, I mean, but what if I did?"

"Then you'd probably follow me and talk until I fall asleep." She started to walk again.

"You'd let me in your room?" He asked with a little chuckle in his voice. Willow turned around again, her face plain and unaffected by the world. They stayed in silence for a few minutes. "Or would you rather just sit and *not* talk."

Willow shrugged and started walking again. Spike sighed and caught up to her, walking along beside her. After a few minutes of Willow looking up
curiously, then looking at the ground, then looking up, and looking down again, she finally talked. "What are you doing?"

The blond looked down at her then around him but finally looked back at her. "I think... I'm walking with you." He said playfully with a smile.

"Why?"

"I don't want you bein' monster chow. Who else would buy me blood bags and such? Hmm?"

The witch rolled her eyes. "That's the only reason anyone keeps me around anymore. Always want *somethin'*." She mumbled to herself. "Buffy
wants help making stakes and to do her homework, Giles wants me to look up some stuff on 'that dread machine'," She imitated Giles' voice.
"Xander wants me to get snacks, Anya doesn't even acknowledge me... not that I care. Riley wants me to drop stuff off to his teachers for class.
Yeah, even *Riley* is joining in." She shook her head with a roll of her eyes. "Now they don't even want me doing stuff."

Spike watched her closely as she talked. "Ever thought of sayin' 'No!'?"

Willow looked up at him, about to make a witty remark like Buffy taught her but nothing came out. "No." She replied with a frown.

"There now, Luv. That's all you gotta do. Next time they ask for somethin'... you just say that." He gave her another smile.

They both stopped and looked up, they were standing outside Buffy and Willow's dorm room. "Oh, uh, this is... me." She said, pointing nervously at the door. She pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear and opened the door, walking inside. She stopped and turned, Spike was already moving away, she moved out the door again. "Spike." The vampire stopped and turned around. "*Do* you want to come in and talk?"

He paused in thought for a moment before walking back and walking inside the room, waiting for Willow to close the door behind him. She motioned
to the room. "Make yourself comfortable." The blond sat on the end of Willow's bed. <Odd. Could've sworn he'd go for Buffy's bed.> Mentally, she snorted. <They usually end up there.> A little giggle escaped before she sat against the headboard of her bed.

"Are you 'appy?" He asked out of the blue.

"Pardon?" She asked. <My mind is playing tricks on me. *Really* playing tricks on me.>

"I asked if you were happy, Ducks?"

The girl shook her head from the shock. "Uh... uh..."

He gave her a knowing look. "It's *that* way, is it? You're in need... they leave. Been *there* before." He muttered to himself.

"You have?" Asked Willow, after hearing his last muttered comment.

He looked up at her. "Yeah. While ago. Goes back to Angelus."

"Oh. When you were first... you know... made?"

He smiled at her and shook his head. "I mean post-slayer-happies."

Willow smiled at his term. "I have to remember that one. Not that I'd use it to her face or anything." She moved away from the headboard so she could cross her legs. "And tonight is another night of Riley's slayer-happies."

Spike shuddered. "Something I didn't want to know about."

"Hey, you were *engaged* to her."

"Another thing I didn't want to bring up." He paused for a moment. "Pet, ever thought of havin' a vampire that *can't* lose his soul as a friend?"

She blinked a few times in shock. "You're offering?"

He thought for a moment. "Yeah. I guess I am. Just... don't tell the slayer and all 'er chums. I have a reputation you know."

Willow gave him a wide smile. "Sure. Friends."
 

~Part 2~

The two new friends laughed again as Willow made a joke. She smiled, lying side ways on her bed as she watched him. A yawn escaped her but
was covered by her hand. He smiled. "Get some rest, Pet." He stood and helped her turn and slip under the covers.

"Wait." She yawned again. "'Til I fall asleep?"

Spike looked out the window. The sun wasn't far off from rising. <She'll be asleep soon enough, Mate.> He sat on the edge of her bed and blinked
a few times in shock when she placed her hand on his. She covered her mouth again as another yawn escaped her. He smiled at her again.

"What?" She mumbled sleepily.

"You look so cute when you yawn." His face fell. He'd just said that out loud. "Uh, I mean... just that... well..." He wracked his brain for an excuse but stopped as soon as her tired eyes started to beam happily. He let his hand run across her cheek and she started to fall asleep. Once her breathing had levelled out and her heart beat had slowed to show the deep sleep she was in he started an inner war of whether he should give her a kiss goodnight. <I'm a vampire. I don't kiss humans goodnight.> He reprimanded himself. Before he knew it he was leaning in and placing a feather-light kiss on her cheek. The vampire stood, still fighting the mental battle with himself as he cursed his way out of the room. "Enemies to friends to goodnight bloody kisses. You stupid *stupid* bloody pillock." He closed the door softly behind him. "And you *know* if you were bad you would've slammed it!" He muttered angrily, turning back and hoping she hadn't woken up from his volume. He started to curse again as he walked away from the door.

*^*^*

Willow woke up with a yawn to the medium volume music pumping out of the stereo's speakers. She looked around and saw Buffy dancing around the room, singing along to the music.

~I told you what I needed
You said you'd do your best
You wanted everything from me
I just wanted what was left~

The witch sat up in bed and rubbed her sleepy eyes. "Hey, where'd you run off to last night?" Buffy asked, still bopping along to the song as
she started to pull out clothes to wear to class that day.

"Where'd *you* go?" Willow retorted a little harsher than she thought.

~I've been here, all this time
I've been the one to break your fall
I've never ever asked for much
A friend, and that was all~

"What?" Buffy asked, looking up from what she was doing, totally clueless to what her friend had just said.

"Where did *you* go?" Willow asked again, her teeth gritting together a little more this time as she crossed her arms over her chest.

~You can never see the real me
You'd never try... anyway
You think you know all about me
Think you rule my night and day~

~I can think for myself
I'm a woman not a mouse
You think one break up leaves me broken
Well I've finally awoken~

"Wills, you know I stayed at Riley's." The blond smiled, opening her t-shirt drawer. "Hey, what do you think of this? Too short?" She asked, pulling a top out to show the red head.

Willow's eyes bugged sarcastically. "You know what that word means?" She shot at her friend.

~You're the one that is blind
I can make up my own mind
I have a life, day to day
And I'll live it my own way~

~You're fantasy's a joke
I'm just glad that I awoke
You were dragging me in chains
Left me with your remains~

~I was broken, torn and battered
My heart, badly crushed and scattered
I was literally a mess
I just woke up now I guess~

"Willow?" Buffy asked, turning to her friend with a confused look.

An idea popped into Willow's head and she mimicked Buffy's tilting of her head, letting herself bring the memory of a little trick Tara had taught her on one of their spell meetings. She let her eyes flash bright blue before changing back to their original green. "Willow... who?" She asked

Buffy gasped and blinked a few times, stepping back a step in shock. "Oh Wills." She muttered. The slayer grabbed for the phone and started
dialling. While Buffy had her back turned Willow rolled her eyes and pulled her suitcase from under her bed, glad that she'd packed her spare clothes and other items in there just in case either Riley slept over or she'd leave. The witch walked out the door, hearing the last part of Buffy telling Giles how 'they'd lost their little Willow' and that 'it's a slayer's duty...'. The red head snorted and left the room, walking down the hall, not knowing exactly where she was going.
 

~Part 3~

Willow unpacked the rest of the stuff from her suitcase, shoving the now empty trunk under her bed. She straightened up with a sigh. It'd been a
while since she'd come back but as her parents always said... 'It's *our* house'. Well, they said it when they were around at least. Thinking for a moment, Willow still couldn't remember *when* exactly that had been. Frankly, they really hoped that she would graduate high-school early so they could do all their travel earlier but since Willow didn't they had to wait for her to start University. She decided to put the answering machine on while she took a much needed bath. Two more days of school until summer break. The witch just wondered how she could take two days off from school to stay away from Buffy. How would she explain her outburst? And, of course, the blue eyes. She inwardly grinned. Drawing a nice, steamy bath she started shedding her clothes. There was a knock at the door. The red head grumbled and went to put her robe on when she hesitated and then finally dropped her arm and hopped in the bath. "Nobody's home." She pretended to tell the person at the door as she slipped into the hot water filling her tub. A relaxed sigh escaped her lips as she sank down to her neck under the bubbles.

The doorbell rang a few times. An idea struck her as she turned to the partially opened door. She could only just see the door of her room from her spot and even then it was a stretch. "Bring forth to me what I seek. Goddess, humble me, as this I speak." She continued her little incantation as she saw her spell book floating through the door of her bedroom. A smile appeared on her face. "Oh... I'm good. I'm *very* good." She indulged herself.

The book hovered above her as she reached up for it but noticed her wet hands. She looked around but the closest towel was directly diagonal to
her and the others were hanging on the laundry basket. The girl pouted but saw a towel drop just in front of her face. "Wow, and I didn't even
think about it."

"Your welcome, Pet."

Willow's eyes snapped up and saw Spike standing, holding the towel above her. She yelped and slipped further under the bubbles. He grinned and
waggled his brows at her just to make her a little more embarrassed. "Spike! How'd you get in!"

"You left the welcome mat out, Luv. Covered over but once it was uncovered... invitations galore." He walked over and put the lid down on the toilet, sitting on top as he watched her, still holding the towel in his hands. "And you Scoobies think I don't know where you live." He gave her a look.

"Uh... Spike... we might be friends now b-but... friends don't see friends... naked." She looked hopelessly at him.

A corner of his mouth quirked up. "Another thing you Scoobies don't know..." He trailed off and watched the red head start blushing furiously. The vampire chuckled. "Relax, Pet. My eyes haven't witnessed a thing, I promise."

She sank a little lower in to the tub. "Good. Now can you get out of here so your eyes continue to... not witness... *anything*?!" She looked up at him with embarrassed eyes.

Spike sighed and stood, dropping the towel by the tub and looking at the book still hovering above her head. He snatched the book from the air
and put it on the sink. "'Urry up, Pet. Have something we need to talk about." Then he walked out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him
before walking downstairs to the 'living' room.

*^*^*

Willow jogged down the stairs with her towel wrapped up on her head and a robe tied around her. Seeing Spike stretched out on the couch she took
a step back before remembering. <Spike! Ah! No. Spike friend. Spike is my friend. Spike has a chip. Spike has his feet on my mother's sofa. Bad Spike. Grr. Stake Spike. No. Spike friend. Spike is my friend.> She walked up to him with her thoughts still rambling. "Spike." She said plainly as she tapped at his shoes, waiting for his feet to be taken off the cushions.

The vampire turned his head and looked at her, sitting up and straightening his duster while his eyes looked at the floor. "Red, the slayer told the others you're a demon." He looked up at her. "But I can't sense anything demon-y about you."

She smiled. "You actually listened to Buffy?" A little giggle escaped her. "I always thought she was a... 'daf chit'. That's right isn't it?"

Spike smiled and chuckled. "Daft. Not daf. Yeah, you're right. Why would I listen to 'er now? Oh, right... I was worried." He looked up and clasped his hands together. "What'd you do? Put a spell on her?"

"No, I just... made my eyes a different colour. Blue. I like blue. Blue eyes are so cool." She smiled as she dreamily looked off into space.

The blond arched his scarred brow. "Aren't... my eyes blue, Pet?" He gave her a little smirk as she looked at him.

Willow turned her head away, her cheeks going a little pink. "So, anyway, I'm fine. Anything else you wanted?"

<Don't ask me that.> He thought as his eyes roamed over her body. <And to think... she's naked under that. Down, Boy!> He pulled his eyes away
from her and coughed a bit. "Uh... no. No, nothing." He said, leaning forward and pulling his duster closer. <You've been her friend for about 24 hours and already you're 'aving 'thoughts' about 'er.>  <He doesn't have a place to stay. The crypt doesn't count. He doesn't have blood. I can get that. I have here. He can... uh, I'm staying here. Spike can't stay here or I'll want to jump him. No! No, uh, I'd want to... spoil him. Yeah, that sounds kinda... innocent. No, that sounds naughty. No! Willow Rosenberg, get. a. grip! Also naughty thoughts. Argh! Wait... I'm having naughty thoughts. I haven't had naughty thoughts since Oz. Eep! I'm having naughty thoughts about Spike! Spike *is* kinda hot. Ack! Down, Rosenberg! Think... bad ass vampire thoughts. Think killing and maiming. Think blood. Think biting. Oh... biting. Spike... biting. Ah!>  "Pet?"

Willow snapped out of her rambling mental chatter as she looked up at him. "Huh?"

"I asked what you were thinking, Luv." He said softly.

"Oh... er, uh, well..."

"For a while you had that look." He stated with a small smile.

"What?" She squeaked.

"The sympathy one. The one where you wanted to know if I want to move in here." He cleared for her.

"Oh. Oh, yeah, I thought about it. What do you think?" Her eyes went round. She asked and didn't even notice until after she'd done it. "Because, I could use a... watch-vampire. Better than any watch-dog. Oh, and I can blanket up the windows so you can move around." She gave herself a mental slap on the head and began contemplating doing it in the literal sense too. "So. Do you?"

There was a pause. <Enemies to friends to goodnight kisses to moving in with her. All in a few hours. No one can ever tell me I'm a slow mover.> He looked up and nodded. "Sure. Why the hell not?" With a tiny smile from the witch they began planning where he'd sleep and what the 'rules' were. Willow automatically starting with 'no feet on the furniture'. Spike started wondering just when he stopped being the big bad... and when he started to act like the everyday married man.

"Yes, Pet." "Okay, Pet." "Right, Pet." "Whatever you want, Pet." Oh yeah. He was whipped.
 

~Part 4~

There. All done. Now all he needed was a packet of cigarettes and a bottle of alcohol and he'd be right. Looking over his new living area, which was Willow's basement, he let a small smile play on his face. Hands on his hips, he admired his work. After moving the spare bed out of the guest room and down into the basement, and moving a few drawers and a desk down it actually looked kind of cosy. Two tiny lamps on each bedside table. It almost looked like a normal room. Apart from the pipes running along the ceiling, but who looks at the ceiling anyway? Willow bounced down the stairs and his smile widened. "'Ello, Pet."

"Hi, Spike." She greeted, bringing a vase of flowers with her. He gave her a funny look. "Please, Spike? Please? It has to have *some* colour."
She batted her eye-lashes at him.

"Pet, I'm a vampire. The only colours we like are black, blue and red." The vampire flopped down on his new bed. "Black for leather and dark, blue for bruising or any kind and red for, well, blood, but that's obvious."

"Ah! Blood! I almost forgot!" She quickly ran back up the stairs.

<Oh great goin', mate. You scared 'er. Now she remembers she's bunkin' with a cold blooded killer.> His shoulders slumped as a weary hand ran
over his face. "Priceless. Bloody priceless."

"Here." The red head came back down carrying a mug of something. She handed it to him. "Thought you might get hungry so while I was out I went to Willy's and threatened to turn him into some kind of really weak demon if he didn't give it to me." She smiled widely at him, watching as he took it with shock. "It's pigs blood. I didn't know which you preferred. Pigs, cows... I-I know you like humans best, obviously, but he said he only had that mixed stuff."

"Pig's blood is fine, Pet. The mixed is pretty foul." He put the mug on his table and looked up at her.

A frown marred her face as she pointed to the mug. "Aren't you going to drink it?"

<Don't want to drink it in front of you, Ducks.> "No... not hungry right now. Will in a while though." He gave her a short nod and patted the bed
near him for her to sit down. Tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear, she sat on the edge, waiting for him to speak. "Ducks..."

"Quack." She giggled.

Spike looked up at her with a grin. "Pet."

"Had fish once."

Spike sighed. "Kitten. No, don't say anything." He interrupted, holding his hand up to silence her. "Luv, vampires pretty much make it a rule to *not* say this but... thank you." Willow gave him a warm smile as she gave him a small pat on the hand, her gesture making his own smile form. "I want to take you out. That's what girls like these days isn't it? That shopping crap?" The blond pulled out his cigarette packet, the last nicotine stick being pulled from the tiny box and placed in his mouth.

"You want to take me shopping?" She asked, blinking her round eyes at him.

"Yeah."

"With what money?" She asked cautiously.

"Mine. Just give me a day or two and I can tap into it."

She looked taken aback. "You had to steal from Giles to get cigarettes and blood! Why didn't you use that money!"

"I wasn't stealing, I was doing a business deal... and it takes a few days for it to get to me and I didn't have a phone I could use. The watcher wasn't too keen on sharin' the line with a vampire and when I was in the crypt... well, no phone at all. No spare change to use the bloomin' pay phone either."

A few silent moments passed before Willow remembered that a question had been asked. "Oh, yeah, shopping. Sure. Sure why not? When, where and what do I bring?"

"Just let me call this person, see when the money can get to me and I'll tell you. Where. I don't go shopping at any of these teeny bopper places
so you'd better pick that one. What do you bring? Yourself." He absently ran his fingers over the back of her hand.

"Great. Thanks, Spike." She leant over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before jogging back up the stairs again and walking to her room. As she started closing the door of her bedroom some thoughts struck her. <I just kissed Spike. I just *liked* kissing Spike.>

*^*^*

Downstairs in the basement, Spike laid back on his bed, his cigarette dangling out the corner of his mouth as his fingers ran over his cheek where the red head had kissed him. The corners of his mouth tugged up in a smile, his gaze somewhere off in space, past the pipes that his sight was directed at. Who looked at the ceiling anyway?
 

~Part 5~

"Alright, Luv. Let's go." Spike exclaimed as he walked in the door with a tiny envelope in his hands.

Willow raised an eyebrow at him. "Where's the money?"

The blond let out an over dramatic sigh. "You kids live in the age of all this great and bloody wonderful technology and you don't know what a friggin' credit card is?" He asked as he pulled out four separate plastic cards. "Just 'ave to sign 'em and we're off." He said, sitting at the table and picking up a pen.

"Where was the meeting place?"

"My old crypt. Bloke asked where I was gonna live now I 'ad money. Told 'im I'd buy an apartment or somethin'."

Willow played with her hands as she shuffled her feet. "W-will you?"

Spike subtly shifted his eyes to see her feet moving about beside him. <Whatta ya know! She wants me to stay.> "Well, I *was* thinking about
it." He said with a shrug for effect.

Willow pouted, looking at him and seeing he was concentrating on signing the cards. "Oh. Uh, so..."

He grinned and looked up at her. "Pet, I'm only moving out if you kick me out or if you move in with me." He said plainly before moving back to his signing.

The red head's mouth opened and closed a few times. <Move in with... move in... w-with... oh goddess.> "Move in with?" She gulped.

"Yeah, Pet. Why?" He looked up, innocence of his statement in his eyes. The vampire hadn't even known he'd suggested it... and seriously. For once he was completely serious about something and let it slip out... without knowing.

"Move in with you? In an apartment? For real?" The question in her eyes finally let his words sink in.

Would he move in with her? What if he got his bite back? She'd been so nice to him... and she'd be his house-mate... he couldn't kill her. They were friends. What about her friends? They'd no doubt try to kill him if he became a real vampire again and hurting them would surely piss 'er off. "Yeah. Why?"

"You're asking?" She asked with wide eyes. <What if he gets the chip out and you're living with him? It'd be like home delivery! Oh goddess. But he seems friendly. Yeah, we're friends. He wouldn't eat me. Then again, he probably killed his friends when he was first vampirated. But that was then. This is now. Oh, and he seems interested. What if he's faking though? What if it's all just a cruel joke? What if...?>  "What I'm asking is if you want to move in with me... when do we look for a place?"

The witch's mouth dropped. She gulped then her eyes rolled back in her head as she fainted.

"Luv?"

*^*^*^*

"You sure you're okay now, Pet?" Spike asked, eyeing the girl cautiously as they walked through the mall, thinking the girl was about to faint again.

Willow looked up, coming out of her daze, and smiled at him. "Fine. Yup, fine is me." She mumbled, looking at the stores they passed.

"You'd tell me if something was wrong, right Luv?" He asked in a small voice.

"Uh huh." She replied absently, as she grabbed his hand and moved automatically to a pet store. She knelt down in front of one of the cages of puppies. "Awwww, idn't dat cuuuute." She said, making her lips go pouty as she baby-talked the animals.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Wonder how they taste." He muttered.

Willow turned her head to glare at the vampire but rolled her eyes and turned back when she saw his grin. An idea struck her as she turned again. "Spike..." She looked up with her eyes matching that of the 'pouty' puppy's behind her.

He looked down and saw her pleading face. "No, luv. No dogs allowed." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away.

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeease?" She asked sweetly. "Spiiiiike." He turned to see her puppy dog eyes again. She put in a little whimper when he gave her a
stern look. "Pwetty pwetty pweeeeeeeeeeease. With sugar on top?" As if they'd been reading each other's minds the puppy went on it's hind legs
and it's paws up in a begging manner while Willow did practically the same. "I'll be your slave for a week."

A mischievous tint formed in Spike's eyes, as he looked down the hall-way of the mall. When he turned to look back at her he smiled. "Is that a promise, Pet?"

She smiled widely and jumped up. "Yes!" The girl started bouncing happily at the thought of her very own dog. "Can I? Can I? Can I?"

He held out a credit card. "You're worse than a toddler on Christmas, Red." The blond chuckled but Willow was already inside, searching for a
salesperson.

*^*^*

A half an hour later when the stores started to close Willow and Spike left, laden with shopping bags and a small carry-cage that temporarily
housed their pet. Spike rolled his eyes until he looked to the sky. "How and *why* do I put up with this?" He muttered to the heavens as he
listened to Willow continue to baby-talk the tiny white puppy.
 

~Part 6~

"This house is probably more of what you're looking for." The saleswoman said as she unlocked the door to the house. "Please, come in. Have a look around."

Willow made the subtle hints earlier to the woman that it was 'only proper' that they be invited in, trying to play along that they *both* needed an invitation so she wouldn't get suspicious. As the red head and bleached blond stepped over the thresh-hold they took in the large amounts of space. "William, this is great!" Willow exclaimed with a smile. She turned to Spike with a grin.

The vampire rolled his eyes. "Luv, it's just a house. Not a bloody car or something *worth while*." He crossed his arms over his chest, taking in the beautiful wallpaper and hardwood floors.

"Over here you will find the living room." The woman stated, walking over and indicating another large room. The plush carpeting of the room was a creamy colour, with a red tinge to it, soft and subtle.

Willow snickered at her terms. "Come into the room of the living, William." She giggled as Spike rolled his eyes. She loved tormenting him with his real name. How would they be allowed into a house if she called him Spike? The real estate people would probably run screaming in terror, even without knowing he was a vampire. "This is great." She muttered in appreciation as she saw the wonderful house.

"Yeah, bloody fantastic. Pick a house and let's go already." The blond grumbled again.

Willow walked up to stand beside the real estate lady. The red head sighed. "He doesn't seem to care where he lives too much." The woman stated as she looked at the young girl.

The witch rolled her eyes with a smile. "He prefers travelling."

"Well, when you two finally want children at least you can have lots of space." She indicated the house once again.

"Children?!" Willow yelped. "Oh, no no no. We're just friends. I wanted to move out of home so we're moving in together."

"Well, I'll leave you two to have a look around, call me if you need anything." She moved away.

Spike walked up to Willow, looking around the room. "Pet, it's up to you. I don't mind."

"Spike, this'll be your place too." She whispered to him.

He gave her a small smile. "Red, I lived in a *crypt* I think wherever you choose will be just peachy." He looked up at the woman. "'Ow many
bedrooms?"

"Four." The woman replied, stepping a few steps closer.

"Think we need all o' that, Ducks?" He asked Willow, giving her an unsure look.

"One bedroom each, two guest rooms. Thank you." She turned and said to the woman. "Here's what I think, Spike, one bedroom each, one spare
room for you, one spell room for me. We can share the study if you want, the living room is general."

"Good but... can we call it the lounge room now? You know, for the living impaired people around here." The vampire smirked at her.

Willow smiled. "So... can we get it?" She asked, trying to contain her excitement.

"You want it?" Asked Spike. Willow began nodding furiously. He looked up at the real estate agent. "We'll take it."

"You haven't even seen all the rooms yet." The woman said but a smile was planted on her face.

Spike shrugged. "Doesn't matter. We know what rooms it has and it's the best we've seen. How about we do the paper work and, Red, Luv, you go
pick a room." With Willow's delighted squeal and Spike's chuckle the lady went to retrieve all the necessary paperwork.

*^*^*

Upon getting home to Willow's parent's house, Willow opened the door with a huge grin, Spike following behind her. A small bark was heard as Willow and Spike's tiny white puppy ran up to them. "Puppy!" Willow called out as she picked the dog up, her face being licked affectionately as they moved further into the house.

"You really should name it, y'know."

"Why should you care? You're a vampire." She said with a smile.

"Yeah, but I know how it feels to go around with people calling me 'vampire'. It's not bloody nice. 'Ow would you like it if people went around callin' you 'human'."

"I am human." She smiled again as she tickle the white fluffball in her arms.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure, *human*."

"Leave me alone, *vampire*." She retorted playfully. "Who's a cutie wutie." She said, tickling the tiny dog. "Huh? Who's a little angel? Yeah?" At Spike's groan the two stopped playing and looked at him. "What?"

"Just don't call the dog Angel. That little mutt might be annoying but he's not the bloody poof."

The dog jumped down from Willow's arms, landing lightly on it's feet as it started to scratch and nip playfully at Spike's legs. "The bleedin' mutt's got an attitude problem too." He grumbled, shrugging it off only to have the dog bite him again in it's usually puppy-play way.

"A 'blond' dog with attitude. Likes to bite. Hmmm." A grin started to spread across Willow's features. "Here Spike Junior." She bend down and slapped her legs, calling the dog to her. The dog went running into her outstretched arms.

"And he runs at your call. How ironic." Spike muttered, raising an eyebrow as he looked straight at Willow. She stuck her tongue out at him. "Wonder if you tell him to jump, he'll do that to?"

The red head gave him a wicked grin and put Spike- the dog, on the ground. "Jump, Spike, jump! Come on. Jump!" The puppy stared at her. She
picked him up again and shrugged at a chuckling vampire. "I can teach him." She turned and headed for her bedroom.

"Oh no you bloody well can't! He's *not* getting whipped!"

"Says the King of Whipped!" Willow called back over her shoulder as she ascended the stairs.

Spike went to retort but found nothing to say. Instead... he growled and flopped down on the couch, flipping the tv on and popping in a tape of
his favorite show, Passions.
 

~Part 7~

"Need anymore boxes, Red?" Spike asked as he knocked on Willow's door and walked in.

Willow looked up from her spot on the floor near her trunk. "Uh, yeah, just dump them near the door. Hey, Spike, down in the lounge room there's a floral vase, near the window, can you go get it and put it in with the glasses. It was supposed to go in my glory box." She turned back to the stuff in her hands as she sifted through it. "Mom won't miss it." She added. Spike walked away again after dumping the boxes near the door like she said.

When Willow was alone she started to sort through the items in the box again and pulled out a few photos. One was of her parents and her as a
little girl. One was of her with Xander as kids, riding their tricycles down the footpath, grinning their wide, childish grins. Another was of her and Buffy, laying on a picnic blanket after giving each other both make-overs. The second last one was a rare photo she had of the whole Scooby gang. Giles, Angel, Buffy, Xander, and herself all stood in Buffy's backyard. The photo had been taken by Joyce, who had been asked if she could get a photo of them all before Giles could protest. Willow was a bit more than shocked that Angel had turned up in the photo at all, considering vampires didn't have reflections. She'd have to study that later. The very last one was of Buffy, Xander and herself, Buffy and Willow were in the middle of almost wetting their pants with laughter as Xander made a face. It was around the first few months they had known each other.

She ran her fingers down the glass of the photo frame as a tear ran down her cheek. "I miss you guys but you... you're just so... why don't you
see me?"

Spike stood outside her partially closed door, listening as her strained voice spoke of the happy times they'd had as a group, researching was even a fun time around then but since college... they'd separated. Even after Angel had gone to hell and the slayer had left for L.A. she said they were losing their 'best friend bond'. He heard her sob and frowned. It couldn't be *that* bad? Getting away from that stupid chit 'Buffy' would be nothing but a pleasure for him. But... he *was* a vampire and she *was* the slayer. He was meant to hate her. And hate her he did. Willow had gotten to know her. <Red probably just didn't have the heart to hate her to start with. Buffy's a stupid brat after all.> He contemplated knocking on the door but she had begun talking again.

"You guys don't need me. You said it yourselves. I don't know why I even thought you did." She dumped the photo back in the trunk and closed it.
Spike finally took this as his cue and knocked on the door. Willow jumped and wiped the tear tracks from her face. "Yeah?" She called out. Spike opened the door. "Oh, uh, just the trunk now." She stood as Spike picked up the heavy trunk with ease.

"I think we're done, Luv. Wanna start moving it all over?" He headed for the door.

"Yeah. You go on ahead. I'll be down in a minute." She closed the door behind Spike and leant back against the it, looking over her bare room. Not a single thing was left, bar the bed after they had shopped and bought her a new one for the new house. Looking at the bed she could see the image of her and Buffy lying on it reading magazines. Looking to the French doors she could see Angel looking at her as he asked her to look up information on Ford and her telling him she wasn't allowed to have boys in her room. Over near the wardrobe she saw Xander mocking her when they were eight, by putting her dresses in front of him, pretending to wear them and be her. Over where her desk was she saw Jesse, sitting on the corner like he usually did, eating the cookies she had made. Xander subtly cringed while Jesse complimented her. Then again, Jesse would eat whatever she made. His last meal ever being blood. But before anymore bad memories threatened to invade she turned and opened the door, throwing one last glance behind her before she left.

*^*^*

Willow sighed as they stood outside their new house. She put her hand out to Spike for the key and unlocked the door. "Time to start." She went to walk in but was hauled back and picked up into Spike's arms. She wrapped her hands behind his neck tightly. "What are you doing?" She squealed.

"Humour me, Luv." He grinned, stepping over the thresh-hold with her in his arms. "Awww." He said over dramatically, walking over to the kitchen counter and dumping her on top. "I'll bring everything in. You can get ready to unpack all your things."

"Spike, aren't vampires allowed in other vampires houses?" She asked in a worried voice as she sat up on the counter, letting her legs swing down.

"That's only if there's no humans living with 'em, Ducks. We're safe." The vampire replied before walking back out to the car and bringing the first box in. "'Ere." He placed the box on the floor. "You better start moving these boxes to your room. All the furniture will be here tomorrow." He walked out again as Willow started to push the box along the wooden floors, glad they were polished enough to let the box glide along without too much friction.

She picked it up and carried it up the stairs, grunting as she did it, finally deciding she'd just pick it up each step and rest it on the next before repeating the steps again and again until she was on the second floor. When the elevator they found started working again... she'd be more than pleased. She finished moving the box into her room. It was huge, almost four times bigger than the one at her parent's house. The others were the same. She wondered just how much this gem of a mansion cost and how Spike had afforded it. Stocks? Shares? They could do so much. Well, possibly. He *was* a vampire and he *had* been living long enough for any kinds of shares to pay well. Buy at a small price and sell when it gets higher. Then again, something about Spike told Willow he liked to gamble. She'd ask him about that later. Looking up she stepped back in shock. Her mouth dropped. "Oh goddess." She muttered, covering her mouth with a surprised smile.

"Like it, Red?" Spike asked from the doorway. He stepped in and gave her a grin. "I found it when you were looking for 'junior's chew toys. Had some guys come in a do it while you were checking your email."

Willow turned and gave him the biggest smile she could, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She repeated over and over.

Spike wrapped his arms around her waist, returning her hug. "Thank you for putting up with me." She pulled back and started bouncing happily,
turning back to see the beautiful new wallpaper and computer system that was situated in the far corner. The hand sized red, green, blue and
white pentacles, with a light purply maroon colour backing it that were decorating the bottom and top of the walls bordered the beautiful designs of the rest of the wallpaper. "*And*..." He drew out, leading her towards the computer. "I got the best they had shipped in from some big place. This guy said they were the best. Got all the latest and greatest equipment and programs. You can have it on one condition." He stated, looking straight into her eyes. The girl looked at him expectantly. "You teach me how to use it." Willow's eyes brightened. "Now I'm going to go unpack the rest of the stuff from the car and go pick up the rest. You want to come back so you can leave your parents a note of something?"

Willow nodded as she started to skip out of her room. Spike chuckled as he watched her. Thinking about it, he hadn't laughed or smiled so much in all his years as a vampire. Maybe having friends wasn't such a bad thing after all.

*^*^*

"Ready, Number 1?" Spike got his answer. "Okay, Mission: Smiles is a go." He started to hum the 'Mission: Impossible' theme music as he and his comrade started to move through the house. They found their target sitting at the computer, typing. "You take the left, I'll go right." He whispered. "Ready? Go!" They ran stealthily toward her, Spike grabbing her around the waist and picking her up, spinning her around in circles. Spike put her on the ground and started to tickle her.

"Spike! Spike stop it!" Willow started to giggle as he tickled her ribs. She started laughing until her stomach began hurting. "Spike!" She squealed. The little fluff ball by her head started to lick her cheeks and then jump around her where Spike's hands weren't tickling. He finally stopped at her groans. The vampire smiled when she rubbed her sore abs and leant up slightly to slap him on the arm. Puppy Spike jumped up and licked her again. "Spike." Willow growled. Both Spike's looked up innocently.

The puppy yelped and the vampire glared at it. "Oh, blame it on *me* then." He crossed his arms and pouted. The dog yipped and started to run
around the room, before jumping up and around.

"Sit." Willow said sternly. The dog sat. "Don't think you're getting out of this because you're cute." She looked at Spike who was looking at her hopefully. "You either."

"You think I'm cute?" He raised his eyebrows with a big grin on his face, receiving another slap on the arm. "Come on, Pet. You've got to admit that was fun." He stood and helped her up.

Willow grumbled something and rolled her eyes. "When can we get the phone hooked up? And the electricity? Oh, and the water?"

"All tomorrow, Ducks. I told you, I have it covered. Now, you go jump in that little sleeping bag of yours and get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow. I'll be in the basement." He turned to walk out of the room.

"Why?"

"No blankets and I don't want a sun-tan. I'll be painting over my windows soon enough. Oh," He turned back as he reached the door. "lock you're balcony doors, Pet. Don't want anyone breaking in when we just got here, 'eh?" He walked out, Spike junior following behind him.

Willow walked over to the glass doors and opened them, stepping outside into the cool night air. She looked down over the rail and smiled. It was like her old room but... not. This time she actually felt like she had freedom. This time it felt like home. She looked back and up at the house. One more story of the house still to check out. Ground floor was nice. First floor had the bedrooms. Second floor was a mystery they still needed to investigate. At least she knew they'd have fun doing it. <And again with the bad Willow thoughts.> She grinned, walking back inside and locking the doors. Her first night in *their* house and she had an incredibly large smile on her face. All thanks to Spike.
 

~Part 8~

"Thank you! Bye." Willow finished paying the last of the delivery men after they'd filled the house with all it's furniture. Half the day gone with a dozen bulking men fixing everything up. The plumber, electrician, and telephone company had all come early in the morning, setting things up for what they wanted. The delivery men had come only a half an hour later to set things in their places with Willow giving them directions as to where everything was to go. Spike had already assured her that if there was something she still wanted, he still had plenty of money to spare. She crept down to the basement and looked around, finding Spike laying on blankets he'd brought over from the other house. She smiled, deciding not to wake him as she walked down the stairs. <I have a great friend here with me.> She thought, sitting by his sleeping form and studying him.

The girl was intrigued by this vampire. She'd always held a certain amount of fascination with Angel too. A vampire with a soul and all. Now she had another vampire friend. Without a soul and unable to kill. Even when he was able to kill she still found him in some ways kind of fascinating. He would kill without remorse but would love with all of his unbeating heart. When he kidnapped her and Xander for the spell she'd felt sympathetic for him and had actually wanted to do the spell, in some ways she wanted to do the spell so she would have a chance of living, the other way was because she'd actually wanted him to be with Drusilla once more, to be happy. She thought about how people had told her that she cared for people even if they didn't deserve it. Maybe they were right. Maybe she was really caring. Maybe sometimes she was just *too* caring. Her grandmother had always told her that she had the ability to see past people's outer-coating and find what was underneath but she'd never really listened. Now she guessed she'd picked it up from her grandma.

Now, with her living with a chipped vampire in a large house... she could try to straighten out her life, maybe even make it so she could enjoy it. She mock gasped at her thoughts and then giggled. Some other thoughts entered her head as she looked at her blond friend. <I should really work things out with the others. They might not need me but they should know I'm not evil. How am I supposed to explain that I'm not a demon? And what about Buffy? How am I supposed to explain to her where I was if she even believes me?> She sighed, looking down at Spike with a look of hope. <Goddess give me strength.> She prayed before standing and walking out of the basement. Once she was on the ground floor again she hopped in the elevator and pushed the button for the next floor up. The elevator only went to the ground floor, the second floor and the third floor, the basement obviously only had stair access. She hummed along with the elevator as it moved upward and started to giggle when the door open. "Brrjjjshoo." She mimicked it's funny noises then finally stepped out, the excitement about the house still bubbling in her system. She walked into her room, all done up with it's new furniture. Some from her parent's house and some new things. In the end, *all* of this was new to her. Everything
was for the first time. She quickly changed and wrote a note to leave for Spike.

She jogged down the stairs, skipping the elevator this time, and stuck the note on one of Spike's mugs of blood in the fridge, hoping he wouldn't miss it. She turned and looked on the counter, seeing a brightly wrapped package. Moving forward she saw the tag. 'Just let me spoil you and don't say a word, S.' She smiled widely as she took the wrapping away. Inside was a mobile phone with yet another tag on it. 'If you need me.' <He knows me too well.> She wrote out another note and left it near the wrapping on the counter. 'Thanks, Spike, I'll remember that. I'm just going to Giles' to try and fix things up. I'll be back before dark, but if I'm not I'll call you, W'. Then she walked out the door, ready for the attacks she was only hoping she wouldn't get from her friends.

*^*^*

Willow knocked once and poked her head through the door of Giles' house. He and Xander looked up. Buffy, Anya and Riley were nowhere in sight.
"Willow." Giles said, standing.

Xander stood and walked a few feet towards his friend, rubbing his hands up and down the sides of his slacks nervously. "Wills." He said, tinges of worry all through his voice. She stepped inside and took a breath, closing and locking the door behind her, no doubt Buffy would make an interruption and ruin everything. Better to sort things through one by one, or at least two by two, for now. "Let's just get something straight." She started saying. Before she knew it Xander was hugging her. "Uh, okay, what?" She asked, but returned the hug a little anyway, giving the boy a pat on the back as she gave Giles a questioning look.

"What is it, Willow?" Giles asked, stepping cautiously toward her.

"Xander, I need to breathe." Willow said in a choked voice. Xander stepped back after letting go of her. "Buffy rang Giles. What did she say?" She looked up at the ex-watcher.

Giles removed his glasses and began buffing them, as his way of letting his nervousness show. "She-she said that, er, you were a-a demon." He
replaced the spectacles back on the bridge of his nose, stuffing the cloth back in his pocket. "That your eyes flashed bright blue."

"That was a spell." Willow did it again for them to see and frowned at them. "That night I stormed out of here? I almost got killed. Spike said it was a Marra demon."

"Woah, wait! *Spike* said?" Xander asked, his eyes wide as he looked at his old friend.

"Yeah, he-he saved me." Willow stammered. "He touched it with his cigarette and it died. Fire kills it or something. I always knew smoking killed." She joked, giggling a little, but after seeing Giles' still serious look she coughed. "Uh, well, we talked and he kinda helped me. He walked me home so I wouldn't get attacked again and left before sunrise. A few hours later I woke up to find Buffy dancing along to some blaring music. That's when I did the eye thing." She added in a small voice.

"Where exactly did you learn to do that?" Asked Giles in his serious tone.

"Tara. On a spell night. We looked through the books and saw that." She answered, wringing her hands before fidgeting with her skirt. The door
started to rattle as if someone was trying to open it. There was a knock. "Giles!" Buffy called through the door. "Are you home?" She called again.

Giles straightened again, satisfied with her story. "What exactly do you intend to do about Buffy?" He asked. "She's been looking everywhere for
you and I can tell you now... she didn't have the best intentions."

"I know. I was kinda hoping... you'd tell her, a-and then I'd come out." She said hopefully.

The old man nodded and she moved away into the hall near the bathroom as a hiding place. Giles walked to the door and unlocked it. "Hello, Buffy,
do come in." He walked away and sat on the couch. Xander took his seat also.

"What's the what? And why's the door locked?" The slayer asked, sitting primly on the armchair.

"Buffy, we have some news on Willow. Please, just listen while we explain."

After a half an hour of getting all the details out in... well, detail, Buffy sat in shock. "So... she's not evil?"

"No, Buffy, quite the opposite. She was just upset about how we were acting that night. Rather, er, unloved." Giles explained once again.

"Kinda the punching bag/pillow girl kinda thing, Buff." Xander added.

"But she listened to *Spike*?" She asked incredulously.

"Because he listened to her." Xander stated, now in shock that he had stood up for the vampire.

Giles sat forward in his chair. "Buffy, Willow is here. She came over to try and explain things to us. I think she has a guilty conscience about
running."

"I would too if I were her!" Buffy grumbled. "I was worried sick! I thought I had to kill her and now she's okay?!"

"Buff, this is Willow. You know how we treat her. After talking to her I kinda figured it out too. She was pretty much in the good for what she did." Xander leant in a bit more. "Except for the Spike talkage." He leant back again.

"Hey!" Willow called out. "I heard that!" She grumbled, walking in. She saw Buffy looking at her. "Shouldn't you be able to sense demons or something?" She asked, looking down at her feet then finally up at Buffy again.

"I can but... I can't. You're not a demon?" Buffy asked, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"No." Willow said, finally starting to let her own tears fall. The two girls jumped into each other's arms, letting everything out. "I'm so sorry."

"Me too." Buffy sobbed. Once they had calmed down and used a few handfuls of Giles' tissues they sat back down with Giles and Xander. "So, where were you all this time? I mean, you weren't at the dorm."

"I went and stayed at my parent's place." The witch answered, deliberately leaving out the part about her house-mate. "And I won't be staying at the dorm anymore. I kinda... fell into some money and, uh, I bought a house."

The slayer pouted. "We didn't even get to give you a house-warming party. How long have you been there?"

"Oh, I've only been there one night. We bought it two days ago."

"Then we still can!" The blond gave her a wide smile.

"Uh, uh, no! No, we can't! This house-mate of mine... he kinda... doesn't like visitors. He gets... grouchy." She had a flashback of the day at the Rosenberg house when Spike went around grumbling all day after having to get up in the middle of watching the tv just to answer the door to see a salesman that wouldn't go away. Luckily Spike stayed behind the door, out of the sun, so he could easily slam it after a while without the man even seeing it coming. They really didn't need a watch that seconded a calculator anyway. "I've known him for... a-ages. Old friend." She tried to hide her smile. Well, he was old and he was her friend. No lie there.

"When can we meet him?" Xander asked.

<Uh, never?!> "I don't know. You might see him around." She bit into her bottom lip. "Anyway, I had better go. I told him I'd be back before sunset. I didn't tell him about all the demon-y things that might get me." <Mostly because he already knows... and *is* one!>  "Okay, well, stop by." Buffy said, hugging the girl again.

"Sure. I have to get the rest of my stuff anyway." With a wave, Willow left, on her way back to her new house.

Once the door closed Buffy turned back to the two men. "I forgot to ask for her address."

"But she said no visitors." Giles stated.

"That doesn't mean I can't go over. He might go out sometime. I can take a peek around, can't I?"

"Buffy, leave Willow be. If she says no visitors then she has a right to have no visitors."

The blond flopped down into her chair, receiving a glare from Giles but going unnoticed. "No fair." She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Do you promise, Buffy?" Xander asked, giving the girl a look equal to one of Giles' stern ones.

Buffy stuck her tongue out at him. "Slayer's honor." She grumbled.
 

~Part 9~

Willow and Spike stood outside their home, near the edge of the road as they looked up at the huge dream of a mansion. "Whatta you wanna name a *house* for, Pet?" Spike asked with an exasperated sigh.

"They do it in France!" Willow stated. "Uh, how about... The Mansion of the..." She bit her bottom lip in concentration. "Something about the night... but just saying 'The Mansion of the Night' is plain."

"Why 'night'?"

"Because then it has something to do with you. I mean, we both live here."

"Red night. It can have both of us in it." He smiled.

"The Mansion of the Red Night. I kinda like it. Has that mysterious feel to it." She sighed happily as Spike put his arm around her shoulder, not
really caring if it was just a friendly gesture or not.

Spike leant in close to her ear and whispered, "Le Château de le Rouge Nuit."

Willow turned her head to look at him, her smile widening in surprise. "You know French?" She asked in a soft voice.

"Oui." The vampire grinned before heading back towards the house. He turned, holding his hand out to her. "Don't think you're staying out here alone." He gave her a stern look, making Willow giggle and follow him in.

*^*^*

A couple of hours later there was a knock on the door. Spike answered and took the few bags from the man standing on the doorstep. After
paying him he walked back in and over to the kitchen. Pulling out two plates, two decorated wine glasses and some cutlery he set to work on the beautiful wood table in the dining room, setting it up to look perfect equip with candles in the center and the tiny crystal figurines Willow had bought as a 'cute little centerpiece'. When all the food was on the table, the candles were lit and the lights were dimmed, just enough so that the candles weren't the only light source, Spike walked up and stood outside Willow's room, listening to see if she were still working on her computer. He smiled and headed for his own room. He put on the suit he'd bought for that night and walked back, fiddling with his tie. He growled softly at the offending piece of clothing and ripped it away from his neck, shoving it angrily in his pocket and unbuttoning the top button. A satisfied sigh escaped him as he knocked, hanging a gorgeous red dress on the nail in the wall directly opposite her room. He scurried back to his own room which was further down from Willow's and beside the room opposite hers.

Willow looked out of her door and saw the dress. Walking out, she snatched up the tiny note pinned to it. 'Humor me.' She furrowed her brow as she read it again. <Humor me. Humor me. Humor him for what?> She asked herself, tugging at the fabric. "But it looks so tight." She bit her bottom lip as she looked over it. Looking down at the note one more time she took the dress and moved into her room.

Spike grinned as he quickly walked back to the door, setting a pair of red strappy high heels down in front of the door before taking the elevator downstairs.

*^*^*

Willow pulled at the fabric that was clinging to her skin. Opening her bedroom door she sighed, and almost tripped over the heels at her feet. She rolled her eyes. "He thinks of everything." She mumbled. Deciding to skip the elevator this time she started walking down the stairs. The fabric frilled just above her knees. She really had to compliment him on his taste but she still had no idea what it was for. Humor him... about what? <What's he planning?> She thought curiously. As she descended the last of the stairs she stopped, her mouth hanging open slightly as she saw him dressed in the suit she'd tried hopelessly to get him to buy. He looked up, half way through pouring his glass of wine. His mouth hung open slightly as he straightened. "Spike." She said in surprise. She looked at the glass that was about to overfil. "Spike!"

Spike kept staring at her until the wine began pouring over the sides of the glass. He pulled the bottle up abruptly and set it on the table while he used the tea-towel nearby to mop up the mess. "Uh..." He began saying. Willow walked down and stood beside him.

"What's this for?" She asked, gesturing to the table.

He looked up with a lopsided smile. "Well, Pet, you've been talking about having a house-warmin' party... and we both know if your friends knew you were living with me your house-mate would be a big pile of dust so... private party." He handed her her glass and picked his own up very carefully, taking a sip before it spilt on the floor. "Now, are you going to give the first toast or am I going to do it?"

A smile crept up on Willow's lowered face as she took in the situation. She looked up, raising her glass. "To... friends," She indicated him, "to... a new life... or unlife in your case." They both grinned. "And, uh, to a new house, *beautiful* house, and to..."

There was a bark from the kitchen. Spike growled and scowled at the mutt. "To Spike junior for interrupting." The dog yelped again and tottered away. He turned back to Willow. "Et à nous." He gave her a secretive smile before tapping his glass against hers and taking a sip.

"What did you say?" She asked, looking at him funnily. He shook his head and pretended to 'lock' his lips, taking another sip. "Spike!" She whined. He waggled his brows at her with a big smile. She hit him on the arm. "Tell me." She tried to glare at him but failed when her smile started to shine through. "That's it! You're teaching me French." She grumbled. He gave her a surprised look. "What?"

"Really?"

She rolled her eyes. "I don't have enough time or spare brain power after school."

"School's finished for the Summer, Pet."

"So? I'm having some R & R. I'm letting my brain cool down then." She moved over to her seat. Spike got their before her and pulled her chair out for her. She looked him over inquisitively. "You're not Spike." She said as she sat and the vampire tucked the seat in underneath her. He smiled and walked over to his own seat. He waggled his brows again. "What?"

Spike licked his grinning lips and clapped three times. Soft music began playing. "You really think the electrician was only here to give us electricity? Please." He rolled his eyes then smiled again.

She looked down at her covered plate then up at Spike again. "Okay, I can take the dress, and the shoes, and the wine and fabulous looking...
stuff on the table, the music is a stretch but... something's going to jump out at me from under this lid isn't there?" She asked, pointing to it.

The blond rolled his eyes. "I'm trying to give you a nice night and you think it's some outrageous way to hurt you. Luv, if I wanted to hurt you, you'd either be in the hospital already or... no, you'd be in the hospital already. No doubt about that. Pet, we're friends, we have a house, we have a mutt of a fluffball you named after me, we have a wonderful little life here and I expect to be allowed to spoil you rotten. Okay?" He lifted the lid of his plate and picked up his cutlery, starting to cut into his beautifully made out food. <Thank you, Garçon.> He thought as he looked down at the food and suddenly began wondering what his waiter friend had asked the chef for for their special night. He raised an eye brow as he poked his fork into something that looked like chicken. Willow watched as Spike picked up the food and put it in his mouth. She took a breath as she looked down at her plate. When she wasn't looking Spike grinned. Taking the lid off her tray 5 different paper 'spring snakes' jumped out at her, making her scream. She started panting for breath while the vampire sitting at the other end of the table started laughing at her scare. "Oh, I *missed* that." He said, standing from the table to retrieve her real plate of food. She glared up at him as he brought over her dinner and set it in front of her.

Willow smacked him on the arm as he chuckled again. She stuck her tongue out at him and pouted. He ran his finger along her bottom lip. "Don't
pout. Santa won't come and bring you any presents for Christmas." Willow rolled her eyes then looked up at him again as he took the lid off her
plate. "What?"

"Is Santa real?" She asked with a hint of belief in her voice.

Spike chuckled again as he walked over to his seat and resumed his eating. "Not that I know of, Luv. Now eat up before it gets cold."

<Maybe he is and he's a vampire. I mean, he goes around at night... he has been around forever...> She ran the list through her head of all the reasons why Santa might be a vampire as they both ate. <Wonder if he eats the little children he gives presents to. Maybe he's a child eating demon and can only go around annually!> Willow's thoughts started to ramble.

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When dinner was over it had taken him all of five minutes to convince Willow to dance with him. He took her into the classic dance position, making the red head blush slightly, and began leading her across the floor to the slow beat and hum of the music that played. The frills on the witch's dress blew around slightly every time the vampire did a quick turn. She looked down at her feet, hoping to her goddess that she wouldn't step on his toes and embarrass herself. He titled her chin up, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "The only way you're going to learn not to trample me is by practice." He gave her his almighty 'knowing' look. Another half and hour later and they were still in each other's arms, now pressed firmly against each other as the songs had past. Willow's head rested on Spike's shoulder and his cheek rested on her head. She sighed, closing her eyes before a yawn drew his attention to the time. He looked down at his watch, making his eyes go round. "Minuter du lit, mon mignon fille." He led her towards the elevator, letting her lean on him as the machine went up. She started to slip into sleep as she stood. He smiled, picking her up carefully and walking into her room, lying her softly on the bed, removing her shoes and pulling the covers up to her chin. "Bonne nuit, Petit Chat." He gave her a kiss on the cheek before glancing down one last time. He smiled and walked out of the room. He looked down the hall. "'Ey mutt!" Nothing. Spike
rolled his eyes and let out a heavy sigh before, "Junior." He called out softly. The tiny dog walked out of Spike's room and gave him a yawn and
expectant look, as if picking it up from Willow. "Go on." He titled his head to Willow's doorway. The dog walked down the hall and into Willow's room, jumping up on her bed and snuggling in next to the tired girl.

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*(Hopefully) The right translations*
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Et à nous - And to us.
Minuter du lit - Time for bed.
Mon mignon fille - My sweet girl.
Bonne nuit, Petit Chat - Good night, Kitten.
 

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