~Part One~

Willow wiped down the table before she set the tray filled with salt shakers and a plastic container of salt. As she slid into the booth, she glanced at her watch. *Damn, still half an hour before I can leave,* she thought.

“That’s the fifth time you’ve looked a you’re watch in the last ten minutes,” a voice said beside her.

The red head glanced up, startled. It was the other waitress, Nutmeg. “Is it?” she asked, slightly embarrassed she’d been caught.

“It is. I timed it. Do you have a hot date tonight or something?” Nutmeg asked.

“Yes.”

With an excited squeal, the tall girl grabbed a seat across the booth from Willow. “Ooh. Do tell.” She folded her arms on the table and leaned forward to catch every word.

“Well...” Willow started. She glanced around the cafe. It was still empty. George, the short order cook, stood in the back reading a Chemistry text book. “Okay. I met him on line.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But it turns out that we already knew each other,” she said as she began pouring salt.

Nutmeg took the filled container and twisted the top on tight. “How exciting. So when did you find out you knew each other?”

“Well, he found out about a month ago, but I only figured it out a couple of weeks ago,” Willow explained.

“You mean he didn’t tell you right away?” the dark blond asked.

“No. At first, he thought I was playing him. And then when he realized I wasn’t playing him, he said he wasn’t sure how I’d react when I did find out.”

“How did you react?”

“I was pissed. I thought _he_ was playing me for the fool. See, we were never what you would call friends before. In fact, you might say we were enemies.”

Nutmeg stared at the red head for a second. “Do you know what this reminds me of?”

“No. What?” Willow asked as she finished filling the last salt shaker.

“That movie.”

“What movie?”

Nutmeg gathered the filled shakers in her arms and began to distribute them to the tables and counter. “That one with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. You’ve Got Mail. That is totally what happened to you.”

Willow tried to remember the romantic comedy. “I guess. Never really thought about it, but I suppose so.”

“So where are you going?” she asked.

Willow just shrugged. “I’m not sure. Probably out to dinner, maybe a movie.”

Moving closer to the red head, Nutmeg nudged her with an elbow. “So any nudge, nudge, wink, wink,” she giggled.

“Huh?”

“You know. Are you doing the horizontal romba? Or are you still in the heavy petting stage?” Nutmeg asked.

“Nutmeg!”

“What!? Hey, I haven’t had a date in over a month. I need to live vicariously through others,” she said with a pout.

“No horizontal romba. Not for lack of trying on his part, though. I will admit I’m tempted, but still not sure he how he really feels about me,” Willow sighed.

“Can’t you just have sex for sex’s sake?”

“No. The last guy I went out with I thought I loved and loved me ended up cheating on me,” Willow explained. “I’m not going to go through that heartache again.”

Nutmeg just shrugged. “That’s cool.” She glanced up at the wall clock. “Oh, look. It’s eight. Time for you to go home and beautify yourself for your man.”

The red head shook her head and put away the container of salt. “Good night, Nutmeg,” she said before she walked out the front door.

“Good night, Willow.”

Spike glanced at the clock again. It still read eight. He still had an hour before he could leave to see Willow. With a frustrated grunt he sat before his computer. With a few clicks of the mouse he pulled up his e-mail. “Bloody chain mail,” he muttered as he deleted them quickly. He surfed through his favorite sites and found a new site for the Sex Pistols. He jumped when the phone rang.

“What do you want?” he said in greeting.

“Spike,” a broody voice said in a warning tone.

“Again, what do you want? Peaches,” Spike growled.

“Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“You and Willow,” Angel said.

“How the bloody hell did you hear about that?” Spike asked.

“Cordelia told me.”

Spike rolled his eyes. Getting information from the man he considered his sire was like pulling teeth. “And how did the cheerleader hear about it?”

“Cordy and Willow talk a lot. Now answer the question,” Angel demanded.

“Kind of. Not that it’s any of your business,” Spike growled into the receiver.

Angel growled back. “Willow is my friend. You hurt her and I will dust you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I’m also calling to grant you a favor,” Angel continued as if he hadn’t heard Spike.

“Never asked you for a bloody favor,” Spike replied.

“Yeah, but I’ll grant you one anyway. I’m inviting you down to LA for the summer.”

“Why?”

“First of all, I could use the help. Summer time in LA is a busy time for us. Secondly, as I said Willow is my friend and for some reason she likes you. Being in Sunnydale with Buffy there can’t be easy,” Angel said.

Spike thought about it. While the Slayer didn’t know about his and Willow’s relationship, it was only a matter of time before she found out. When that happened she would be all over him. And not in the way he wanted Willow all over him. LA would offer them the opportunity to explore their relationship without the Slayer’s interference. “I’ll talk to Willow tonight about it.”

“Good. Just remember what I said,” Angel warned.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Got it,” he said as he hung up. He stared at the phone for a minute. In the background a faint “Goodbye” sounded. Turning, the blonde vampire stared at his computer for a moment. “Bloody hell,” he cursed. “Damn AOL bastards. If I ever find you people I’m gonna kill you all.”

Spike wandered around the shop looking for the perfect gift for Willow. He growled in frustration when his ten minute search came up empty. “Bloody hell. I’m a ponce. Plain and simple. I’m a ponce,” he muttered to himself.

“Back again?” the clerk said from behind him.

Turning, he glanced at the man. “Yeah.”

“She must be really special. You’ve been in here practically every other day,” he said.

“Yeah,” Spike repeated.

“Well, you’ve given her a lot of roses. Why not try something different? We just got an order of Tiger lilies,” he said as he opened one of the refrigerated storage units. He slipped inside and found the beautiful blooms. Bringing out a bunch, he showed them to the peroxide blonde.

“Tiger lilies, huh?” Spike said as he looked at the delicate flowers. “Okay, I’ll take them.”
 

~Part Two~

The loud knock at the door startled Willow from the fantasy world of Harry Potter. She paused to finish the last sentence of the chapter before placing her Snoopy bookmark between the pages. “Just a second,” she called as another knock broke the silence of the apartment.

As she passed the mirror she stopped to check her appearance. *Not bad,* she thought as she gave her bangs a little fluff. She opened the door and smiled. “Hey, Spike,” she greeted semi-casually.

“Here,” he said as he thrust the bouquet of Tiger lilies in her hands and pushed his way into the apartment.

“Well, hello to you, too, sweets,” she said sarcastically.

Spike glared at her as he picked up the thick hard covered book Willow had left on the couch. “Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire? You actually read this junk?” he asked.

“Yes,” Willow answered, making a grab for the book. “And it’s not junk. They happen to be very well written,” she defended and stuck her tongue out at him. She finally got her hand on the book and set it on the coffee table beside the flowers. “Now. Tell me what’s wrong?”

“Peaches called,” he spat as he flopped onto the couch.

Willow sat beside him and tucked her bare feet underneath her. “Angel called you?” she asked more than a little shocked. She knew the two vampires’ relationship was touchy at best.

“Yep. Prom Queen,” he started.

“May Queen,” Willow corrected.

“Whatever. Anyway, she told the Poof that you are...dating,” he said, spitting out the last word.

“Oh? And who did she say I was dating?”

“Me! Who the bloody hell else would she say you were dating?” he demanded.

“Just checking. So then what happened?” Willow asked.

“What do you think happened? He threatened me,” Spike growled. “Then he invited us to Los Angeles,”

Excited, the red head knelt up on the couch. “Really? We can go to LA?” she asked. With a sudden abundance of energy, she jumped to her feet and grabbed the flowers. “So can we go?” she asked again sounding like a child wanting to go to Disneyland. She grabbed a vase from the kitchen cabinet and filled it with water.

“Do you really want to go, Luv?” Spike asked as he turned to face her.

“Yes...well, only if you want to go,” she answered. Her bright green eyes pleading for a positive response.

“Pet, I don’t...” Willow’s bottom lip began its sweet pout. “I hate when you do that,” he whined. He extended his hand to her. She slipped her hand into his and settled onto his lap. “We can go to LA,” he sighed.

“YES!” she squealed as she threw her arms around his neck. She jumped up and did a quick Snoopy dance. Spike stared at her with his jaw ajar. A sudden laugh erupted from his lips. She paused and smiled at him. “What?” she asked breathlessly.

“That’s the infamous Snoopy dance?”

“Yep.”

Spike stood up and pulled her into his arms. “It’s bloody adorable,” he said, planting a kiss on her lips.

“Xander does it much better than I do,” she teased as she kissed him back.

Spike shuttered in horror. “Never.” Willow giggled and kissed his chin. He lifted her against him. As his mouth lowered to claim hers, Willow’s toes dangled over his boots. She parted her lips in invitation and Spike accepted. Their tongues danced together as her arms twined around his neck. Spike backed up and when he felt the couch brush the back of his calves he lowered them on to the couch. His callused fingers lightly stroked her bare thighs. His lips moved from hers and caressed her chin then nipped gently at the tender flesh of her neck.

Willow moaned as she felt his fang scratch her skin. It was a minor cut, no worse than a paper cut. A thrill ran down her spine as Spike licked the few drops of blood away.

As he tasted the sweet taste of her, Spike pulled away. He leaned his head against the back of the couch for a moment. Once he had found some thread of control he opened his eyes and gazed into her deep emerald stare. Although, they were dark with passion, he knew nothing more would happen tonight. *Damn it,* he cursed to himself.

“That was nice,” Willow smiled softly at him.

He reached up and brushed a bit of hair from her eyes. “Yeah, it was.”

“Oh! I’ve got to call work!” Willow exclaimed as she climbed off Spike’s lap, nearly kneeing him in the groin.

“What for?” he asked.

“I’ve got to get someone to take my hours while I’m gone,” she said as she picked up the phone and dialed. “I doubt there would be a problem. It’s summer and everyone wants more... Oh, hi, Nutmeg.”

“Nutmeg?” Spike asked, but Willow just turned her back on him.

“Is George there? George, it’s Willow. I know it’s short notice, but I was wondering if I could have the summer off? Los Angeles. No, I’m not running away to be come an actress. Okay. Great. Thanks.” She hung up the phone and returned to the couch.

“The whole summer, pet?” he asked. While he figured he could tolerate the Poof for a couple of weeks he wasn’t too sure about a couple of months.

Grabbing the remote control, Willow turned on the television and flipped through the channels until she found The Real World marathon-- New York to New Orleans. “Oh, we don’t have to stay with Angel for the whole summer. In fact we don’t have to stay in LA either, but I figured it would be easier to do things together if I didn’t work every night. I know how you are about daytime dates,” she said as she snuggled into his side.

“Well, I have out grown that spontaneous combustion phase,” he said as they watched the true story of seven strangers.

Willow rubbed her cheek against Spike’s broad chest as she watched the London cast trek through Africa. She glanced up at the peroxide blonde. She smiled at his closed eyes and slack jaw. His fingers stroking the bend of her elbow told her he was awake. A loud snoring snort caused a giggle to rip through Willow. “Okay, okay. I get the point. You don’t want to watch The Real World. So what do you want to watch?” she asked.

His bright blue eyes popped open. “ESPN?” he asked hopefully.

“No.”

“How about that dead people flick?”

“How many times have you seen The Sixth Sense anyway?”

“Okay, fine. What do you want to watch?”

“10 Things I Hate About You?”

“No.”

“Ever After?”

“Blech.”

Willow tried to think of a movie they both would enjoy. Something romantic, yet bloody. “Braveheart?”

“Okay.”

Willow rolled off the couch and crawled over to the video cabinet. She searched for the movie. “So when can we go to LA?” she asked with her head in the cabinet.

Spike’s eyes focused on the soft round curves. “Huh? When ever you want, Kitten,” he said distractedly.

Locating the DVD, Willow crawled over to the player. “This weekend?”

“This weekend?” She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yeah, I guess, that’s fine.”

She pressed play and crawled back into his arms. With a tug, Spike pulled a hand-made quilt over the two of them.

Buffy sat on her best friend’s bed watching the red head decide what to pack. “So when do I get to meet this guy?” she asked for the nine hundredth time.

Willow folded a jade green skirt and placed it in her suitcase. “I’m not sure you should meet him,” she answered.

Buffy put down the shoe she’d been playing with. “Why not?”

Leaning against the footboard, Willow sighed. “I’m not sure you’d like him. And then there’d be all this tension. And that tension could put a strain on our relationship. And that would be bad cuz I really like him and I’d hate to have the two of you fighting all the time. I’d be caught in the middle and have to divide my time between the two of you. If I spent more time with you, he’d get upset and vice versa. It would be a big old mess.”

“What makes you so sure I’d hate him?” the blonde asked with a laugh.

“Well, let’s just say personal history,” Willow answered.

Buffy’s hazel eyes stared intently at the red head. “Personal past history? Did I go out with him at one time?”

She took her time in answering. “Kind of, but it was a really short romance.”

“Please don’t tell me it’s Parker. Anyone, but Parker.”

Willow stood up and grabbed some more clothes from her closet. “Oh, please. Give me some credit here, Buff. I’d sooner spit on him than date Parker.”

The Slayer flopped back on the bed. “Well, it must be pretty serious if you’re going away with him,” she sighed as she stared at the ceiling.

“Kind of. At least, I hope it is.”

Buffy rolled onto her stomach. “So have you done it yet?”

Willow paused in her folding. “Not yet.”

“Are you going to?” she asked with a wicked smile.

Willow blushed as she set some underwear in the suitcase. “I don’t know. It’s kind of scary.”

Buffy looked at her friend in surprise. “Willow. Are you saying you’ve never done it?”

“No.”

“‘No’ you’re not saying that or ‘no’ you’ve never done it?”

“No, I’ve never done it,” Willow answered.

“But what about Oz?” Buffy asked as she sat up.

“What about Oz?”

“I’m surprised you and Oz never had sex.”

“Well, after that whole kissing Xander thing, it just never seemed right and then before I knew it. He’d screwed Veruca and the relationship was over. I’m taking things slow now,” Willow said.

“But you guys do kiss and stuff, right?”

Willow sank down onto the bed with a blissful smile. “Oh, yeah.”

Buffy giggled at the silly look on her face. “Well, don’t sit there looking blissful. Spill,” she demanded.
 

~Part Three~

Willow looked up at Buffy, and shook her head.

"My lips, are sealed." She said, bringing her hand across her mouth, looking like she was zipping her mouth shut.

"You are no fun." The slayer said, with a pout.

"That's not what my guy says." Willow giggled, as the slayer threw a pillow at her.

"If I can't get any details, I'm going to bed." She said, laying down. Willow smiled, and nestled into her bed.

Anya pulled down the blinds to the cafe, and then turned to look at the red head.

"When's the blonde wonder getting here?" She asked.

"He should be here any minute, and be nice." Willow said, opening a wrapper to some bubble gum.

"Anya, and nice don't belong in the same sentence." Lexie said, with a smirk. Anya turned to her, and stuck out her tongue.

"Brat. If I were a demon again..."

"Well, you aren't. And you won't be." Lexie sat down next to Willow and stole a piece of gum. "What flavor?"

"Cotton Candy"

"Blech." Anya walked behind the counter, and grabbed her cup of coffee.

"Hmm..." Lexie ignored Anya and started to chew on a piece. "Think it has enough sugar?"

"They were out of sugar free."

"Here's Dye Job now, thank God. I'm sick of all this chewing gum stuff. How can you two be so addicted?"

"Hey, you have an addiction to coffee."

"Coffee isn't overloaded on sugar."

"Yours is." Willow smiled sweetly.

"Just open the damned door, Red." Anya shot back. Willow got up off the stool and walked to the door. Opening the door, Spike kissed Willow on the lips.

"Cotton Candy, huh?" He asked, his scarred eyebrow arched.

"That's the flavor of the day." Lexie said. Spike looked at her, and shook his head.

"You two have an addiction."

"Oh lets not start this again." Willow sighed, walking to the table and grabbing her over sized purse. "Let's go." She waved good-bye to the girls, and walked out with Spike.

"He was one very hot specimen." Lexie mumbled to Anya.

"Definite eye candy." Anya nodded.

"Oh yeah."

"How's long do you think we'll be there, baby?"

"About a month." Spike turned to look at her, a look of horror on his face, and he saw the mischievous grin.

"Oh very funny." He pouted. Willow smiled, and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Seriously, probably ten days, at most." She said. Spike sighed, and placed his arm around her waist.

"Whatever you want, Luv."

Willow and Spike walked the rest of the way to the apartment in silence. Walking up the door, Willow pulled out her keys and unlocked the door. Walking in, she set her purse on the couch.

"I need a shower."

"Care for me to join you?" Spike asked, innocently.

"Very funny."

"What if I'm not being funny?" Spike walked to Willow, and crushed his lips against hers guiding her backwards, they hit the wall, and Spike's mouth left hers kissing a trail up to her ear, he nibbled and sucked on her ear. Willow's moans filled the room.

Willow looked at Spike, and shook her head. Pushing him away from her, she inhaled deeply.

"Spike, I'm not ready." Willow whispered. Spike nodded, and walked up to her again.

"Love you." He kissed her softly on the cheek. Walking towards the kitchen. Once he was out of site, Willow let out a breath of air, she didn't realize she was holding. Walking into the bathroom, her legs felt like jelly. Turning on the shower, she grabbed some towels and quickly got undressed.

Stepping into the shower, she sighed in relief. Knowing they were supposed to be leaving in less than an hour, she quickly washed her body and hair. Standing in the shower, letting the warm water cascade down her body, she relished in the feel of the water beating down her body. She sighed, and turned off the shower. Stepping out, she wrapped a thick towel around her, and patted her hair dry. Walking out of the bathroom, she glanced at the living room, and could see some CD cases on the ground. Shaking her head, she walked into her bedroom, and quickly changed into a tank and jeans. Walking back out, and down the hallway she headed towards the living room.

"Spike?" She walked into the living, and saw him sprawled out on the floor with headphones on his ears. She giggled, and walked into her room. As she leaned down to pick up her bag, she felt arms encircling her waist.

"Hello, baby." He whispered, in her ear. Willow giggled and swatted his arm.

"Let me down, you big oaf."

"Oaf?"

"Did I stutter?"

"You've been watching The Breakfast Club to much, Red." Willow giggled, and Spike let her down.

"When do we leave?" She asked, smiling. Spike groaned.

"Why do we have to go?" He asked. Willow pouted at him. "That's why." He muttered. He lifted up her bags, and started for the car.

"Think you packed enough, Red?" He asked.

"Hey, it's not that bad." Willow said, defensively. Spike looked at her, and raised his scarred eyebrow.

"This is four bags, and for only one week. Surprised you didn't pack more." Willow shrugged, and Spike walked out to the car. Willow heard some music, and looked down at the headphones that were no the living room floor. Picking up, she heard the familiar tunes of Sarah McLachlan.

"The man has layers, that all I can think of." She shook her head, turned off the stereo and walked out of the apartment, all while with a smile on her face.

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