Even living on the Hellmouth, there were some things that seemed beyond the realm of possibility. Enjoying Cordelia Chase's presence was one of those utterly unbelievable occurrences. Especially considering that Willow could still clearly remember her enthusiastic participation in the 'We Hate Cordelia Club' as well as the more recent trauma of seeing her best friend and long-time crush quite happily lip-locked with the cheerleader.
Since those not so long ago days, Cordelia had changed for the better. Willow had to think that so had she by moving past her long held dislike of the other girl and accepting her in their exclusive little group. That had been a good decision on her part, Willow now recognized. She and her long time nemesis had actually become friends. That tiny spark of friendship had bloomed after Buffy's disappearance from Sunnydale.
"I _tried_ to explain that it would be much more reasonable if he let me pick out his clothes," Cordelia said in exasperation as she expertly maneuvered her car through Sunnydale's dark streets. "But Xander insists that he's quite capable of choosing his own! Can you believe that?!"
Willow smiled slightly, enjoying the always fashionable Cordelia's sorrow over her boyfriend's unique style. "He's always had that stubborn streak," Willow said dryly.
Cordelia snorted. "Let's just see how long it manages to last out against _me_." Her eyes glinted in the dark interior of the car, and for a moment, Willow almost pitied her long time friend. He didn't stand a chance against Cordelia.
Both girls fell silent as Cordelia concentrated on the road before them. "You'd think the mayor would spring on some new streetlights," Cordelia finally hissed in irritation as they left the last working light behind them.
Willow nodded, not speaking. This stretch of unlighted road was often referred to as 'Death Street'. If it wasn't the vampires who waylaid pedestrians foolish enough to be out at night, it was the cars that got them. One way or another, Sunnydale was a death trap.
A flash of colour caught Willow's attention as she peered into the darkness, and she gasped, straightening in her seat. "Cordelia!" she shrieked in warning.
Cordelia cursed and slammed onto the breaks. They skidded forward and both girls winced at the sickening sound of a body slamming into the car. "Oh God..." Cordelia breathed, her face pale and her hands shaking against the steering wheel.
Willow stumbled out of the car, Cordelia close on her heels. She cautiously moved around to the front, expecting to find a sprawled body waiting for her. There was nobody there. Willow's heart started thudding at the sight of the empty pavement stretched out before them. "Get back into the car!" she hissed, her eyes scanning the trees lining the street.
Sensing the urgency in Willow's voice, Cordelia didn't hesitate. She turned around, and ran straight into Spike's waiting arms. The cheerleader yelped in fear and Willow's heart plummeted straight down.
Since Buffy had left Sunnydale behind, Giles and the Slayerettes had taken over vamp dusting duty. Though it was a fumbling attempt, they managed to dust at least a small fraction of the newly born creatures. But that was a team effort against confused and disoriented newborns. She and Cordelia didn't stand a chance against Spike.
"You really should watch how you drive, pet," Spike slurred, his fingers running across Cordelia's throat. "Somebody could end up getting hurt..." Cordelia's eyes rolled wildly as his cold fingers settled against the pounding pulse in her neck.
Willow fidgeted, trying to resist the urge to reach for the cross in her pocket. It wouldn't do her much good from where she was standing, and Willow suspected that Spike could easily snap Cordelia's neck before her fingers could even close around the cross.
As if knowing the train of her thoughts, Spike grinned at Willow over Cordelia's shoulder. He tilted his nearly empty bottle in Willow's general direction in a mock salute before taking a swig from it. The smell of liquor wafted over to Willow and her eyes narrowed.
Did alcohol affect vampires like it did humans? If it did, had Spike consumed enough to throw him off balance? Could she risk Cordelia's life on such a gamble?
Looking at Cordelia's desperate face, Willow decided that taking action was the only way to go. Cordelia would no doubt become a bore to Spike soon, and her life would end at that moment. If they acted now, they could at least surprise Spike. Hopefully.
"Ladybird!" Willow called out, using the codename Xander had dubbed his girlfriend with.
Cordelia nodded slightly, and her own cross flung upwards, snapping straight into Spike's face. He howled in shock at the sudden searing pain, and stepped back from Cordelia instinctively.
"Run!" Willow ordered needlessly. Cordelia was already sprinting towards the car's open doors.
Grumbling to himself, Spike rounded on Willow. His arms wound around her and she took up Cordelia's former position. "That wasn't nice, luv," he murmured. Spike didn't sound angry, Willow was rather shocked to realize. He sounded almost... amused.
Cordelia stared out at them helplessly from inside the safety of the car. Spike gave her a jaunty wave before pulling Willow into the trees. He laughed at the curse that rang out after them as Cordelia's car squealed as she headed back to the library to find Giles.
"Calm down, luv," Spike chided Willow as they strolled down the sidewalk. "I'm not going to dine on you, rape you, turn you, or leave your dismembered body on the Slayer's doorstep." He chuckled humourlessly, his arm tightening about Willow's waist.
"That's... a relief," Willow said. 'Oh Goddess! He's _talking_ to me? What do you say to an evil vampire?' Willow had never been all that talented at conversing with her peers, much less demons.
"Ladybird?" Spike said suddenly, looking down at the small red-head at his side.
Willow shrugged slightly. "Xander named her that. It's Cordelia's name when we go out Sla-" Her words came to an abrupt stop. 'No need to bring up that whole Slaying business. I wouldn't want to give him any more of a reason to sink his fangs into me...'
Spike grinned suddenly, his eyes lighting up. "Slaying? Her?! And you too, then?"
Willow bristled. "We happen to be very... kinda good... well, not bad at it!" she exclaimed.
"Do you have one of those name, too, pet?"
Willow grimaced. Of all the things that the vampire had to focus on... "Red Robin," she sighed, waiting for the inevitable laughter.
It never came, although Spike did look highly amused. "I think that I'll stick with Willow," he told her seriously.
Something was nagging at Willow. She really didn't want to bring it up, afterall, why question a good thing? But she had to know... It was times like these that Willow cursed her great curiosity. "You aren't going to kill me, then?"
"I said I wouldn't, didn't I?" Spike replied calmly as he led Willow into the park. He let go of her waist and plopped down on a swing, watching her out of unreadable eyes.
"Um.." 'Let it go, Willow!' her mind screamed. "Why? Not that I'm complaining or anything," she was quick to add.
"I wanted someone to talk to," he answered truthfully. "My minions aren't the brightest of creatures to have ever to walked this earth, most humans aren't any better, and Dru... well, even while she was with me, she wasn't the easiest of people to carry on a conversation with."
"Drusilla isn't here?" Willow asked, warily settling down on a swing some distance away from the suddenly talkative vampire.
Spike snarled deep in his throat, and for a moment, Willow feared that promise or not, he'd be at her throat in moments. "She wasn't much impressed by my deal with the Slayer... Apparently the Chaos Demon she was happily screwing around with is more to her liking that I am."
Willow felt sympathy well up in her at the sound of raw pain in Spike's voice. "I'm sorry... I know what it's like to..." She shrugged helplessly, cutting off her words. As nice as Spike was being at the moment, she didn't want to share her lack of a love life.
Spike shrugged in return. "Don't be. She'll come back to me in a decade or so." His eyes shifted towards her, pinning her to the swing. "Enough about me. Let's talk about something... fun."
Willow wearily climbed into her bed, her eyes aching and her throat sore. Spike hadn't been joking about his desire to talk... and talk... and _talk_. Willow had never had such a long conversation with someone in one setting in her entire life... not even when Buffy had been listing all of Angel's virtues in a lovesick voice.
'I'll have to call Giles and Cordelia, tell them I'm allright.' Willow glanced at the blinking red numbers in the darkness and sighed. 'Tomorrow.'
She closed her eyes and moments later was deep asleep, strangely content.
~End~