Willow stood outside Spike's apartment, debating over whether or not
she really wanted to knock on the door. She had phoned the blonde
vampire earlier in the day to tell him about the research session at
Giles' place. They had agreed to go together and tell the others about
their relationship.

Now, however, Willow was having second thoughts. Although Spike and
Buffy had reached an uneasy truce over the past months, she would be
less than thrilled to learn that Willow and Spike had been seeing each
other secretly. And Giles--the redhead didn't even want to think about
how he would react.

She jumped as the door suddenly opened, and Spike looked out at her.

"Hello, luv. Did you come over just to stare at my door?" he asked with
a grin. "It's a nice door, but still--"

"Oh, shut up," she murmured good-naturedly, and he chuckled and pulled
her inside.

"Spike, I'm not so sure we should tell--"

Her statement was silenced by the mouth that descended on hers. Their
lips met, and Spike felt a burning sensation jolt though him as her
tongue entered his mouth. His hands dropped from her waist, and he
stepped back.

"Spike?" Willow asked, her brow creased with concern.

"What have you been eating?"

"I had some spaghetti, but that was an hour ago," she answered. "And I
brushed my teeth and--"

"Garlic," he mumbled, running his tongue over his tingling lips.

"I'm sorry!" she gasped.

He smiled as her green eyes followed the path of his tongue as it
trailed over his lips.

"Come here," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her again.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure," he nodded. "I can stand a few sparks."

She laughed softly as his lips reclaimed hers. His tongue slipped
between her teeth, and he pushed the slight pain out of his mind as her
body found its natural fit against his.

Willow finally drew away from him as her need to breath pulled at her
lungs. Spike's blue eyes were fixed on the red tresses that framed her
face, and he cocked his head to one side in amazement.

"When did you learn how to glow?" he asked her.

"Glow? Me? What are you talking about?"

"It's pretty. I like it," he told her, reaching out to run his fingers
through her hair. "It isn't hot, though."

"Spike, what are you talking about?" she asked again, stepping away
until the door hit her back.

"Oooh...it glows even better from back there," he smiled. "Your body is
all wriggly, though. Sexy as all hell, but wriggly."

Willow reached out to touch his cheek, "Are you okay? You aren't making
any sense."

"No, baby, come look," he took her hand and led her to the bedroom,
turning her to face the mirror he had hung from the wall just for her.
"See?"

"See what? What am I supposed to be seeing?" she asked, turning her
head to look back at him.

"Your hair! It's glowing, pet! Bright red with wonderful orange
sparkles. How do you do that?"

"I'm not," she looked into the mirror again, just to make sure. "Spike,
my hair isn't glowing!"

He wobbled a little as he grinned and rested his chin on her shoulder,
staring at her sole reflection in the mirror.

"You sparkle like diamonds," he whispered.

He placed a peck on her soft cheek, then turned on his heel and headed
out of the bedroom. She trotted after him to find him opening the front
door. He waved his hand as if inviting someone in.

"We were just coming to talk to you," the vampire spoke to the air.

"Spike?" Willow spoke.

"Don't look so surprised, slayer," Spike grinned. "Where did you think
she was all those nights when you couldn't find her?"

Willow walked over to stand directly in front of him, "Slayer?? Buffy
isn't here."

"How can I explain this so you'll understand it?" the vampire asked as
he looked over the redhead's shoulder. "We've been seeing a lot of each
other. Well, all of each other, if you really want to know."

Willow put her hands on Spike's shoulders and looked up into his eyes,
"Buffy isn't here! Spike, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I haven't forced her into anything," Spike growled at his invisible
guest. "Tell her Willow. Have we or have we not been shagging each
other of our own free will?"

The redhead, unsure of what to do, turned around to look at the empty
air Spike was addressing.

"Hear that?" Spike continued. "She's here because she wants to be."

Willow sighed in exasperation and turned around to face him, "Spike!
Look at me!"

He smiled and pulled her into his arms, planting his lips immovably
upon hers.

"You're glowing again," he chuckled. "See that, slayer? Would she be
glowing if she didn't love me?"

"Hey! I never said I loved you!" Willow shouted.

"What the hell do you mean, that proves nothing? Would she feel so soft
in my arms if she didn't love me? Would her lips match mine like they
do? Would she make me want to die--again--when she's in my bed?"

"Oh, Spike," Willow purred softly, running her hand over his cold
cheek.

"You wouldn't know love if it crawled under your skirt and bit your
ass, you bloody bitch," he growled at the absent slayer.

Willow's hand fell away, and she shook her head and shoved him down
onto the couch. He reached up and pulled her onto him.

"Give me your tongue again, pet. I like it when you glow for me."

"Garlic," Willow murmured. "It must be the garlic. No more smoochies,
Spike."

"Why not?" he asked sadly.

"It's the garlic. There must have been something wrong with it. It was
probably planted by clowns in a crow-infested garden tended by
frog-chasing squirrels," she grumbled.

"My poor baby. Those squirrels hurt you, luv," the vampire whispered,
red tears welling up in his eyes.

"That was a week ago, remember? I'm all better now," she told him.
"Spike, it's the garlic. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I'll make it better," he promised, completely ignoring what she was
trying to tell him.

Spike lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom. He closed the
drain in the bathtub and turned on one of the two knobs before turning
to Willow and reaching for her.

"NO!" she shrieked. "Spike, I'm all better now! You don't need to--"

Lifting her up in one strong arm, he whirled her around to the tub and
dumped her into the cold water, clothes and all. The air rushed from
her lungs in a shocked shudder as the frigid water soaked through her
clothes to her skin. Spike, also fully dressed, climbed in after her
and straddled her legs as he hauled her body next to his. She curled
her hand around his shirt collar and shoved him backwards. His head
disappeared under the still-running water, and his body shook violently
before she dragged him back out.

"What the bloody hell are you doing?!?" he shouted angrily.

"What am _I_ doing?" she yelled back. "You've spent the last half hour
kissing me until I thought my lips would fall off, talking to someone
who isn't even here, and trying to drown me, you undead idiot!"

Spike stared at her as she glowered at him. She stood up and splashed
her way out of the tub and out of the bathroom, and he shut off the
water, scrambled out after her and ran into the living room. They
studied each other for a long moment as water pooled on the carpet
under their feet. Willow's eyes traveled from Spike's drenched pants
and shirt that clung to his hard body, up to his face which dripped
water from his nose and his chin, and further up to his hair which was
sticking up like blonde porcupine quills. Her shoulders shook as she
laughed at the pathetic sight.

Spike's mouth quirked into a grin, and he dragged her into his arms.

"No more garlic for you, little one. Not ever," he whispered.

"I promise," she agreed.

"What do we do now? Do we dry off and go track down the slayer or not?"
he asked her.

She drew back slightly and their eyes locked as their individual brains
recalled the unreal conversation he'd had with Buffy.

"Not," their voices chorused resolutely.

End.

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