Valentine’s Day With Spike

Series: The Holiday Series

Author: Spikedluv

Rating: NC17

Pairing: Willow/Spike (as it should be)

Spoilers: Nothing really. Takes place during season 4.

Summary: Willow celebrates Valentine’s Day with Spike.

Notes: Fluff, the whole fluff, and nothing but the fluff. ** indicate emphasis.

Feedback: It’s ALL about the feedback (and naked Spike)! Don’t make me beg, it’s not pretty.

E-mail: spikedluv@midtel.net

Distribution: The Seduction of Spike, Soulmates, Willow’s Lil’ Secret, Shades of Gray, The BatPack Archives, Wacky Witch Willow, Rapture, and Shippers United. If anyone else wants it, please take it; just let me know.

Disclaimer: I don’t own these characters, just borrowing them for awhile. Everything belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Grr Argh, Fox, the WB, UPN and whomever else they really belong to, although I wouldn’t mind having a Spike of my own. Who would? The story is mine, though.

Thanks: Amanda, beta and grasshopper extra ordinaire.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

"We’re doing *what*?" Spike asked; his voice raised just a hair, as he leaned forward on the couch.

Willow winced. "Going to The Bronze with Buffy and Xander?"

"You want to spend Valentine’s Day with the Slayer and the moron?" he asked.

"Well...not the whole day," she hedged. "The Bronze is having a Valentine’s Day dance, and they’ve got a great band playing, and we don’t have to stay long, and I already picked out this really cool dress, and..."

"What kind of dress?" Spike interrupted. He’d wanted Willow all to himself on Valentine’s Day, but the prospect of seeing her in a dress might just make him willing to spend some time with the Slayer, her pup, the moron, and demon-girl. Might.

"Huh?" Willow asked, thrown off-track by his question.

"What kind of dress?" he repeated the question.

"Oh, uh, blue, dark blue, kinda sapphire blue, with a v-neck, like, to here," she pointed at her chest, between her breasts, "and little straps, and, and, up to here," she marked the spot on her thigh, "and kinda satiny, and, uh, did I say blue?" she asked, looking at him hopefully.

Spike shook his head to clear it after Willow’s babblefest. He tried to imagine her in the dress she’d just described, but found it difficult. He was used to seeing her covered in long skirts and sweaters, or completely naked, and the thought of seeing her in a dress that showed a little skin made him harden in anticipation.

"Alright," he agreed gruffly.

"Really?" Willow squealed, and jumped on him, pushing him back on the couch.

"But I ain’t wearing no poncy outfit!" he warned her, just before her lips covered his.

"Okay!" she said when she came up for air. "But how about a, um, new pair of jeans, and a new shirt?" she asked.

***

"When did you buy these?" Spike yelled from the bedroom, where he was looking at his new clothes spread out over the bed.

"When I went back to pick up my dress," Willow yelled back from the bathroom where she was getting dressed and doing her hair and make-up. She had put her stockings and panties on in the bedroom, but didn’t want Spike to see the dress until she was all ready. "What’s wrong with them? Don’t they fit?" she asked in dismay. She wanted everything to be perfect tonight, and if his new clothes didn’t fit she was gonna...

"They’re...new," Spike whined. Willow rolled her eyes.

"Don’t be a baby," Willow said, brushing her newly trimmed hair which now hung in a bob just below her chin. She shook her head and watched it swing about her face, and smiled at her reflection. "I washed them so they wouldn’t have that stiff feel to ‘em," she added, and applied a light coating of powder to her face.

"They’re...blue," Spike whined.

"What’s wrong with blue?" Willow asked, ready to stab him with the mascara wand she held in her hand. "I’m wearing blue. And besides, they’ll match your eyes."

"Bleedin’ poof," he growled to himself as he pulled on the blue jeans and the long-sleeved blue Henley top, tucking it into the jeans and zipping them up. He picked up the new belt Willow bought, thought about looking for his old comfy one, but realized it would be no use, and shoved the belt into the loops, muttering to himself.

What kind of self-respecting demon wears clothes that match his eyes? Only a ponce. Which was obviously what he was turning into. He couldn’t believe he was letting Willow dress him in blue! What kind of poofy color was blue? Not nearly as masculine and, well, just plain cool, as black. Much better color for a demon.

"Where’re my boots?" he called.

"At the foot of the bed," Willow called back.

Spike walked around the bed and stared at the boots. "What did you do to ‘em!" he cried.

"I cleaned and polished them," Willow said, only a hint of impatience in her voice, as she applied lipstick.

"Y-you cleaned them? Th-they...," Spike sputtered in horror.

"Don’t worry," Willow assured him, dropping the lipstick into her tiny purse, "one good fight and they’ll be good as new, er, old. You’ll have ‘em scuffed up in no time."

"I’d better," Spike muttered as he sat down on the bed and pulled on his newly cleaned and polished boots. Wanker, he thought. Git! He couldn’t believe he...

All thought stopped as Willow stepped out of the bathroom. He swallowed hard and his mouth opened and closed, though no sound came out of it. The dress was a satiny sapphire blue, with spaghetti straps, a neckline that plunged to a spot between her breasts that caught Spike’s eye, and a hem that rode mid-thigh.

"Spike?" Willow asked worriedly.

"You look beautiful," he breathed, all thought of new jeans and polished boots forgotten.

"Really?" she asked shyly.

"Bloody hell," Spike said as he rose and took a step toward her. He ran his finger over her shoulder and under the strap. Willow shivered at his touch.

"You too," she whispered. "You know, I mean, you look very handsome," she ran her hand over his chest, his muscles nicely emphasized by the Henley. Her hand grazed lightly over his nipple and Willow felt it harden. She could see the crystal she’d given him outlined beneath the shirt.

A horn beeped and she jumped. "That must be Xander," she said, turning away and grabbing the wrap that matched the dress. Spike took it out of her hand and placed it over her shoulders, then took her hand and led her down the stairs.

He grabbed his duster, barely noticing that she’d had it cleaned, and escorted her to the car. He raised his eyebrow at Xander’s uncle’s car, a light-blue 1957 Chevrolet BelAir convertible with the top up.

"Nice wheels," he said reluctantly, after he and Willow were settled in the back seat, with Willow snuggled up against him, his arm over her shoulders. It wasn’t as nice as his De Soto, but, he mentally shrugged.

"Thanks," Xander replied, surprised. "And look, you can actually see out the windows."

"Ha, bloody ha," Spike replied. "You cold?" he asked Willow as she tried to snuggle closer.

"No," Willow blushed. Spike smirked down at her, realizing her intent to get as close to him as possible. He pulled her shoulders close and reached over to lift her legs over his, running his hand up and down her leg, then slipping his fingers beneath her dress.

"Spike!" she screeched, and giggled.

"Hey, no hanky panky in the back seat," Xander warned.

"Why not?" Anya asked, turning around in the seat. "I mean, as long as they let us watch."

"An!" Xander cried, wigged at the thought of Willow kissing Spike, much less watching them...do more.

"No! No watching," Willow said. "Stop that," she slapped Spike’s hand, "she’s watching!"

Anya sat back down in the seat and reached for the rearview mirror, adjusting it so she could see into the back seat. "Drat!" she said. "I forgot I wouldn’t be able to see Spike. It’s kind of weird to see Willow’s dress move up her leg like that for no apparent reason."

"Anya!" Willow squealed.

"An!" Xander yelped, readjusting the mirror. Oh, god! Spike’s hand was under Willow’s dress! He didn’t want to think about it, but now it was all he could think about. He felt a headache coming on. He rubbed his temples, wondering if this was what an aneurysm felt like.

The trip to The Bronze was over way too soon for Spike, who hadn’t removed his hand from Willow’s leg the entire trip, and couldn’t have been short enough for Xander, who had to listen to their whispered conversation from the backseat, along with Anya’s running commentary on where Spike’s hands were at any given moment.

"We’re here!" he cried in relief as he parked the car and turned the ignition off. "Looks like this place is gonna be crowded," he surveyed the nearly-full parking lot. "Wonder if the Buffster’s here already?"

Xander got out of the car and walked around to help Anya out, while Spike and Willow exited the backseat. The two couples walked up to the door together, paid the price of admission to the bouncer standing there, and then entered The Bronze.

The band was already playing and the loud beat hit them like a wall of sound. The place was only about half-full, despite the appearance of the parking lot, and they easily found Buffy and Riley seated at a table for six in the middle of the club. Not too close to the dance floor and large speakers, not too far away from the bar.

"Hey, Buff, Riley," Xander greeted the two as he pulled out a chair for Anya. "Great table."

"Hey, guys," Buffy smiled. She was sitting close enough to Riley that he could put his arm over her shoulder. "Wow, Will, I told you that dress would look amazing!" Buffy said when Willow removed her wrap, revealing the blue spaghetti strap number beneath it.
 

"Thanks, Buffy," Willow blushed as she sat in the seat beside Riley.

"Yeah, you look great," Riley added.

Xander whistled. "You dress up nicely, Wills," he smiled at her as he took his seat between Anya and Buffy.

Spike growled as he took the seat between Anya and Willow, his hand possessively grasping Willow’s.

"And the rest of us look nice, too, right?" Buffy prompted.

"Anya always looks good," Xander leaned over to kiss is previously annoyed, now preening girlfriend, and turned to look at Buffy. "Whoa, Buff! Is there anyplace to fit a stake in that outfit?"

"Not a wooden one," Buffy admitted with a sly grin.

"O-kay!" Xander’s eyes got big. "Little bit too much information there, Buff."

"No, no, continue," Anya pleaded.

"How about a drink?" Xander asked before Buffy could continue. "Or a dance? Anything, really."

"I’ll take a drink. Lemon-lime. Buffy can continue her story while you’re gone," Anya replied.

"Right then," Xander stood. "Spike, you coming?"

"You want something, Red?" Spike asked.

"Cola, with lime, please," Willow smiled at him as he reluctantly stood and released her hand. He took two steps away, and turned back. He pulled her wrap off of the back of her chair and placed it over Willow’s shoulders, covering her up. He patted her shoulders, and walked away after Xander.

Willow looked over at Buffy and they both burst out laughing.

"Possessive much?" Buffy asked.

***

Spike finished his beer, and led Willow to the dance floor when the next slow song came on. She was a vision, with her beautiful red hair, big green eyes, and porcelain-white skin, all set off by the sapphire blue dress.

He pulled her close and ran his hands over her back. He splayed one hand on her lower back and pressed her against him, as the other hand slid beneath her hair and cradled her neck. Willow rested her head on Spike’s shoulder. One arm was wrapped around his waist while the other rested on his chest, her fingers playing with the crystal beneath the material.

"I’m glad you’re wearing my crystal," she said softly.

"Why wouldn’t I?" he asked. Willow just shrugged. "My girl gave it to me," Spike lowered his head enough to whisper in her ear, "because she didn’t want anything to happen to me."

Willow tilted her head back and smiled. Spike pressed his lips gently to hers, kissing her as they danced. Willow’s hand slid up his chest and around his neck. She buried her fingers in his hair and pressed his head to hers, deepening the kiss. She opened her mouth and let his tongue in, then sucked on it.

Spike moaned into her mouth and Willow felt her body respond to the feel of him, the taste of him. When she finally had to pull away from him to breathe, she kept her head tilted so she could look into his eyes.

"Spike," she began, and stopped, swallowing hard. He was so handsome, in a sexy-bad-boy way, and she couldn’t believe that he was here with her. For the ‘big bad’, he was very careful with her...until she didn’t want him to be careful anymore, and then he made her scream.

Her heart was so full of love for the demon-man holding her. Her heart squeezed a little every time he walked into the room. She wanted to tell him, but she was nervous.

Spike looked down into shining pools of green. Her eyes were so expressive; they revealed her every emotion. He felt his heart clench, though he knew that wasn’t possible. "I know," he said, as he brushed his thumb over her cheek.

"You do?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, but you can say it anyway, if you want," he lowered his head and kissed her again. He was a demon, the big bad, and he lived for violence and mayhem. But this demon needed to love, and be loved, too.

"Oh," she said breathlessly when he released her lips. "Spike, I..."

A couple dancing nearby jostled them. The slow music stopped and a fast song came on. They stopped dancing, and stood in the middle of the dance floor.

"Red," Spike said her name softly, reverently.

"I love you, Spike," Willow whispered, tears in her eyes.

Spike lifted her against him and kissed her again. Gently; but as if he could never get enough of her. He pulled back to let her breathe and pressed her head to his neck, burying his own face in her neck, breathing deeply of her scent.

"Love you too, Willow," his voice broke. Willow lifted her head, and Spike’s hand brushed over her hair. She placed both hands on his face and looked into eyes that glistened with unshed tears. She rested her forehead against his and smiled.

"Good," she said. "That’s good." She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight.

When he could speak again, Spike said, "Uh, you want to dance some more or go back to the table?"

"Back to the table," Willow said, "where we can cuddle."

"Mmm," Spike growled. He walked back to the table without setting Willow back on her feet.

"Spike!" she giggled. "My dress! My butt better not be sticking out!"

"Bloody right," he ran his hand over her butt. "Nope, all covered."

She giggled again. When they got back to the table, Spike sat down and settled Willow on his lap. Willow shifted her butt around to get comfortable, felt his erection poking her, and blushed.

"Comfortable?" Spike asked, eyes shining with mischief.

***

Xander pulled the Chevy into the driveway, parked, and turned off the ignition. He got out of the car to let Spike and Willow out, and then walked around the car to help Anya out. Spike looked at them over the roof of the car, and turned to Willow.

"Why are they getting out of the car?" he whispered.

Willow swallowed hard. "They wanted to see your reaction to your Valentine’s Day present," she said.

"They wanna watch us...?" he asked in horror. He knew demon-girl was kinky enough to ask, but didn’t think his Red or the moron would go for it.

"No!" Willow slapped his arm. "Not *that*!"

"Oh!" he said in relief. "Then what?"

"You’ll see," she smiled an ‘I’ve-got-a-secret’ smile at him. He looked away from her as Buffy and Riley parked on the street.

"Them too?" he groaned. He wasn’t even sure Willow would want to exchange gifts, and now he had an audience to watch him open the one she’d gotten for him. What if he liked it a lot, too much, and the Slayer staked him? Nah, Red wouldn’t do that. Would she?

"Uh huh," Willow nodded, her smiling growing. She had butterflies in her stomach and she could barely breathe. What if he didn’t like it? It wasn’t your typical Valentine’s Day present. What if he wanted chocolate? "Everybody ready?" she asked when everyone was gathered together. They all nodded, and Willow looked at Spike, and then nervously pressed the garage door opener that she had stashed in Xander’s car earlier.

They all watched the garage door as it rose slowly. Spike wondered what she could have gotten him that she’d need to store in the...garage...bloody... He thanked hell that he didn’t need to breathe when he saw what was there.

His De Soto. He walked to the garage, pulling Willow along with him. He just stood looking at the car.

"Where’d you find it?" he asked.

"Well, I didn’t actually find it. I asked Harmony where it was," Willow admitted.

"And she told you?" he asked, his voice going up an octave.

"Well, yes. After Buffy threatened to burn her clothes and that ugly unicorn poster," Willow smiled.

"It’s...why does it look different?" he asked.

"Well, um, new paint job. And they fixed the fenders. Said it looked like you ran over something. And I had it cleaned. Oh! And the windows," Willow replied.

"What about the windows?" Spike asked as he stepped closer to the car.

"Well, I had ‘em tinted with a special UV coating, so you wouldn’t have direct sunlight, but you could still see...eep!" she squeaked as Spike lifted her in his arms and hugged her tight.

"Thank you," he whispered softly, so no one else could hear him.

"You’re welcome," she whispered back. Spike set her back on her feet and Willow turned to her friends. "He likes it!" she beamed.

"Get rid of ‘em," Spike stage-whispered. "Wanna go shag now."

"Spike!" Willow squealed, as she reached out to slap at his arm. Spike danced out of reach and smirked at her. "Um, night guys," Willow turned to her friends.

"I can take a hint, Wills," Xander said. "Night. See ya, dea...er, uh, Spike," Xander caught his slip just in time, casting a covert glance in Riley’s direction.

"Night, Will," Buffy waved and led Riley back to his car.

Willow watched them all pull away, and turned to Spike. "I thought we could maybe go for a ride," she said.

"You wanna go for a ride? Now?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Willow shrugged. "They have this hill that overlooks the town. It’s a really great place to...you know...make out."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go!" Spike said.

Willow smiled and tossed him the keys that were in her purse, and then followed him to the car. He opened the drivers’ side door and Willow slid across the seat. Spike climbed in and started the car, then turned to Willow and pulled her close for a kiss, fast and hard.

He backed out of the driveway and Willow lifted his arm so she could snuggle under it. After a moment, she leaned forward and turned the heat on, then snuggled back under his arm. They rode in anticipatory silence. Willow’s tummy was full of butterflies again, which was really weird, because this wasn’t the first time for her and Spike, but it felt like a first.

Spike could tell Willow was nervous. He could also scent the arousal wafting off of her body, and it made it difficult for him to concentrate on the road. He slipped his hand beneath her arm and cupped her breast.

"Oh, god, Spike," she moaned, pressing her legs together as the ache between them intensified.

"You smell so good," he groaned, as he rubbed his thumb over her nipple.

"Oh, god, you can...you can smell it?" Willow was mortified.

"Oh, yeah," Spike drawled. He pulled up to a stoplight and turned towards her, slipped his other hand beneath her dress. "And I wanna taste it." He gently insinuated his fingers between her thighs and pressed them against her center. Willow moaned and let her legs fall apart as she gripped his thigh with one hand, the fingers of her other digging into the leather seat.

Spike slipped his fingers beneath her panties and rubbed them along her slippery slit. Willow moved her hips, trying to get more contact. Spike pulled his fingers away from her and slipped them into his mouth. He kept his eyes on Willow’s as he sucked her essence off of his fingers.

"You taste so good," he said, his voice husky with desire.

"Spike," Willow moaned.

"Yeah, luv?"

"The light’s green. Hurry," Willow said.

Spike smirked at her as he drove through the intersection. He stopped smirking when Willow shifted on the seat and covered his erection with her hand. He started hyperventilating, until he remembered that he didn’t need to breathe, when she slipped the button and began pulling the zipper down.

"Luv," he said, "what are you doing?"

"You just keep your eyes on the road, Spike," Willow replied as she moved the Henley out of her way and wrapped her warm fingers around his shaft.

"Bloody...! Red," Spike was having a difficult time focusing on the road.

Willow slid off of the seat and onto her knees, then leaned forward and licked the head of his cock. "Lift up," she said.

"Willow," he groaned, as he lifted his hips.

Willow tugged on his jeans until they were far enough down that she could free his cock. She lowered her head and ran her tongue from the base of his shaft to the tip of the head.

"Bugger!"

"Are we almost there, Spike?" she asked innocently.

"Closer than you might think," he choked out.

Willow smiled and sucked on the head of his cock, her tongue licking it as she sucked. She lowered her lips over him until she had half of him in her mouth, her fingers wrapped around the other half. She moved her head up and down as she sucked the length of him she could fit in her mouth.

Spike could barely think, and it was with great relief that he parked on the knoll overlooking Sunnydale. He left the car running so Willow didn’t get cold, and leaned back in the seat. One hand lay on Willow’s head, the other gripped the steering wheel.

Willow slipped her hand inside his jeans and cupped his balls, gently rolling them as she sucked. She tried to take more of him into her mouth, but started to gag when his head touched the back of her throat. She lifted her head a bit and continued to suck, her thumb rubbing the base of his cock as she continued to knead his balls.

Spike groaned. "Willow, luv, I...Jesus, Willow!" he cried, feeling his body begin to tense, his balls tighten in her hand, his cock swell and twitch in her mouth, and then he spurt his cum down her throat.

Willow swallowed and swallowed, and tried to continue sucking, but found it was difficult to do both, so some of the cum ran out of her mouth and down her chin. When he stopped pulsing in her mouth, she sucked him clean and then let him fall from her lips.

She looked up at him as she licked his release off of her chin. Spike leaned forward and held her head with both hands as he cleaned his spilled essence off of her face. He pulled her up so that she was kneeling on the seat, tugged her against him, and kissed her.

He pulled away so she could breathe, and placed kisses along her jaw and down her neck. He kissed across her shoulder and slid the strap of the dress down her arm, replacing it with his lips. He moved to the other side and did the same thing, then leaned back and shoved the straps down her arms so that the dress fell, revealing her breasts.

Spike just stared at her, and Willow moaned. Her breathing was haggard, her heart rate erratic. She wanted him so badly she ached.

Spike gently cupped her breasts, and grazed his thumbs over her nipples, watching them peak, and become hard nubs. He pushed her back, and leaned forward to take them into his mouth, one at a time, stroking them with his tongue, sucking on them.

"Spike, please," Willow pleaded.

"Wanna taste you," Spike said, as he pulled her dress back up and slid her straps back into place.

"Yes, oh, god, please," Willow nodded frantically. Spike couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face at her eagerness to have his mouth on her.

"Backseat," Spike said as he opened the door and helped Willow out. He opened the back door and Willow climbed in, sliding all the way across the seat. Spike made sure the front seat was up as far as it would go, and removed his duster. He tossed it on the front seat and then closed the door. He climbed in after Willow, and turned to face her.

"Panties," he said, and Willow moved quickly to reach beneath her dress and slide them off. Spike helped her get them off over her heels, and then held them to his face to breathe in her scent. Willow blushed. Spike smirked again and stuffed them into his pocket.

He reached up to slide her straps back down her arms so that her breasts were visible. "Gonna want to see those," he whispered. "Okay, baby, slide up here and spread your legs."

Willow slid up on the seat and opened her thighs. Spike slid to his knees, and slipped his hands beneath her to lift her hips, then dipped his face to her center.

"Spike," Willow moaned when he didn’t touch her right away. And then he did. "Oh, goddess, yes!" Willow cried, when his tongue touched her at last. He ran the flat his tongue along the length of her slit, then lapped at her with the tip. He stroked her swollen clit, and then moved back down to slip his tongue inside her.

Willow grabbed his hair and pressed his head more firmly against her. She let her head fall back and her eyes close, lost in the sensations he was creating, until they built to a fever pitch. She felt her body tensing, and tried to call out his name, but couldn’t. And then she was coming; her orgasm ripping through her body, shattering her mind, and she tried to scream, but all that emerged was a wordless keen.

Spike pulled her down onto the seat, and she felt like a boneless lump. She opened her eyes to see him rising above her, and then he was sliding into her, and she was nothing but nerve endings as he brought her to the edge once more, taking her over again, and again.

***

"Willow? Willow, luv, come on now, wake up."

Willow could hear Spike’s voice, and noticed that he sounded worried, but she couldn’t move, not even her lips. Finally there was feeling in her fingertips, and she moved them, rubbed them over his arm.

"Red!" he cried. "Are you alright, luv?"

"Nnn," Willow managed to get out.

Spike dropped his head onto her chest. He’d been so bloody worried. She’d come and come, and then nothing. Willow felt his head on her chest and lifted her arm, though it still felt heavy, so that she could place her hand on the back of his head.

"O-kay," she managed to get out.

"I was worried," he admitted to her chest.

"Just...never...wow!"

Spike smiled, and lifted his head. "That good, huh?"

"Ego," Willow tried to shake her head in dismay. "Salt..."

"Salt?" he asked, confused.

"Smelling...salt...next time."

Spike’s smile widened. "I’ll be sure to pick some up," he assured her.

"Bed?" Willow pouted. "Tired now."

"Okay," Spike sat up and fastened his pants. "Let’s get you dressed and home to bed," he reached for her and helped her with the dress. "You want to stay back here until we get home?"

"No," Willow shook her head. "With you," she was so tired she could barely speak.

Spike helped her out of the car and she crawled gracelessly into the front seat. "Ow!" she said when she sat on his duster. She lifted up and tried to move the object that had poked her in the butt.

"What’s the matter?" Spike asked as he watched her.

"Poking," she whined.

"Oh!" Spike said. He reached into the car and pulled his duster out from under her. He slid into the car and reached into the pocket, pulling out a slightly squished box. "I, um, didn’t know if you wanted to exchange gifts," he hesitated.

"You bought me a present?" Willow was almost nearly awake now, at the thought of Spike buying her a Valentine’s Day present. She hadn’t been sure if he’d want to exchange gifts, and had been very nervous about getting his car back for him. But he *had* gotten her a present. The thought almost brought tears to her eyes.

"Uh, yeah. You might not like it," Spike said nervously. He hadn’t been sure what to buy a girl for Valentine’s Day. He’d gotten Dru a necklace with rubies that one year, but Angelus had topped that with a fresh, human heart. He didn’t think Willow would like that, but he wasn’t sure if she was ready for jewelry.

"Nonsense! I’ll love it! Give it here," she held out her hand. She was dying to know what he’d gotten her. What kind of Valentine’s Day gift would a vampire, would Spike, get someone?

Spike just tilted his head and looked at her.

"Give it!" she waggled her fingers.

Spike reluctantly handed over the box. Willow lifted the top and carefully moved the cotton out of the way. Inside the box lay a silver charm bracelet with one charm on it.

"It’s a charm bracelet," Spike said unnecessarily.

"I see that," Willow tried to breathe. She lifted the bracelet out and dropped the box onto her lap. She held it up so that she could see the charm. It was a heart. The front was engraved with the words ‘1st Valentine’s Day 2000'.

She looked at Spike with tears in her eyes. She couldn’t believe he’d gotten her a present, much less such a romantic one. "It’s beautiful," she said. "Thank you."

"Read the back," he said, his voice cracking with nerves.

"There’s more?" she asked, as she flipped the charm. The back was engraved also. It said ‘S luvs W’. Willow swallowed hard, but couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down her face. "Thank you," she said, "I love it."

"Oh, baby, don’t cry," Spike pulled her into a hug. "Don’t cry."

"I love it," she repeated as she wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Red," he said.

"Put it on me?" she asked when he released her. Spike took the bracelet from her and opened the clasp. Willow held her arm out and Spike put it around her wrist. Willow held her wrist up to her face and looked at the bracelet, then smiled at Spike.

She snuggled up next to him. "Let’s go home," she said.

Spike covered her with the duster and started the car.

They went to bed curled up around each other that night, naked, except for the crystal around Spike’s neck, and the bracelet on Willow’s wrist.

End

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