Willow was sitting at The Bronze with Xander and Anya. They were the first to arrive and had claimed a table. While Xander went to the bar to get drinks for the three of them, Willow and Anya made sure they had enough chairs for everyone, including Spike. Willow was ninety percent sure he wouldn't show up and one hundred percent afraid that he would.
An uncomfortable Giles was the next to arrive. He felt out of place at The Bronze, hanging out with his young charges, but he'd agreed to be there to keep Mrs. Finn, Emily, company. He stopped at the bar to get a drink and took a sip before making his way to the table where Willow, Xander and Anya sat.
"Good evening," he said when he reached the table.
"Hi, Giles," Willow smiled up at him happily.
"Hey, G-man," Xander greeted him with the hated nickname and a goofy grin.
"Hello, boss," Anya said with a silly smile. Sometimes she still couldn't believe that she, Anyanka, ex-vengeance demon, was now a productive member of society.
Giles took a seat on one side of Willow. The seat on the other side of her was empty, then Anya and Xander with three empty seats between Giles and Xander.
A couple of minutes later Buffy, Riley and Mrs. Finn arrived and claimed the three empty seats, Buffy next to Xander, then Riley, then Mrs. Finn next to Giles. Everyone exchanged `hellos' and then Riley went up to the bar to get drinks for the three of them and a refill for Anya who was drinking another kool-aid type drink that went down way too easy, as Willow knew from experience. Willow was nursing her bottle of water and neither Xander nor Giles had finished their drinks yet.
The seven of them chatted and then danced to a couple of fast songs for the next half hour, except for Giles and Mrs. Finn who were content to remain at the table. Then the band played a slow song and Riley, Buffy, Xander and Anya headed for the dance floor, leaving Willow with the older couple.
"Where's Spike this evening?" Mrs. Finn asked Willow.
"I-I don't know," Willow answered honestly, trying not to sound disappointed. "He knew about tonight, but he must have forgot, or had something else to do," she tried to smile. She changed the subject and the three of them talked until the other two couples returned to the table.
Riley and Xander went to the bar to get refills for everyone and Buffy said, "Oh, I almost forgot to ask. I need someone to patrol for me tomorrow night. Riley and I are taking his mother out for a goodbye dinner," she smiled at Mrs. Finn.
"Oh, darn," Anya lied, "Xander and I would do it, but we already have plans. Maybe Willow and Spike would be able to do it."
"Huh?" Willow said as she heard her name mentioned.
"Take patrol for Buffy and Riley tomorrow," Anya explained. "Xander and I would do it, but we already have plans," her eyes were big with the fib, "do you think you and Spike could do it?"
"Well, I, um, I'm sure Spike probably already has plans," Willow stammered.
"Plans for what?" Spike said as he pulled out the chair between Willow and Anya, turned it around and straddled it.
Willow's mouth dropped open when she saw him and she tried to form words, but no sound came out. Spike finally took pity on her, placed his knuckle under her chin and closed her mouth.
"Patrol," Anya was explaining. "Buffy needs you and Willow to patrol tomorrow. If you're not busy."
"I suppose I could fit in a patrol with Red, here," Spike took a sip of whiskey from the glass in his hand and looked at Willow from under his eyelashes.
"I don't think...," Buffy began, but was interrupted by a matchmaking Anya before she could finish.
"Great, then that's settled. I really appreciate you guys taking patrol so Xander and I don't have to cancel our plans on such late notice," she added, trying to make Buffy feel guilty enough to accept her arrangements.
"Fine, but if you...,"
"Here's your drink, Buff," Riley set the soda down in front of the blond and Anya could have kissed him for the timely interruption.
"Thanks, Riley," she smiled up at him and he planted a quick kiss on her lips before handing out the rest of the drinks in his hands to his mother and Giles.
"Hey, what's deadboy, junior doing here?" Xander asked as he sat down and then froze as Anya gasped, "Xander!"
He looked up at Mrs. Finn and then at Buffy, "Oops?"
"Don't worry, Xander, I already know that Spike's a vampire," Mrs. Finn let him off of the hook.
"You do?" he yelped. "How?"
"It's a long story," Giles said as he took a drink.
Spike just smiled and looked over at Willow who was blushing and doing her best not to look at him. Her best not being good enough, she peeked sideways at him. Spike caught her looking at him and slipped his hand under the table to rest on her thigh. Willow squeezed the bottle of water Xander had just given her, squirting a stream of water high in the air, as Spike squeezed her leg.
"Uh, sorry," she muttered as Buffy wiped her face off and gave her a dirty look.
Spike laughed.
"Shut up, Spike, or I'll...,"
"Buff," Riley put his hand on her arm. "Why don't we go dance?"
"Don't be here when I get back," Buffy ground out at the blonde vampire.
"Or what?" Spike asked to her back as Riley tugged her toward the dance floor.
"That sounds like a good idea. Come on, Xander, let's go dance," Anya stood up and pulled Xander to his feet. "Why don't you guys come, too?" she called back over her shoulder to Willow and Spike. Willow froze when she realized what Anya had said.
"Whadda ya say, Red?" Spike asked. "You up for a little dance with the big bad?" he stood up and removed his duster, tossing it over the back of the chair.
"Oh, I, um, I...," Willow alternated between looking at Spike's chest, she couldn't bear to look in his eyes, and the table top.
"C'mon," he took her hand and pulled her out of the chair, "let's leave these old folks to watch the table."
"You, um, you're technically the oldest one here," Willow commented as she stood up.
"How old are you?" Mrs. Finn asked, curious.
"Hundred twenty-seven," Spike said as he pulled Willow in front of him and began to push her toward the dance floor.
"And that's only counting vampire years. How old were you when you were turned?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Young and naive," he answered cryptically.
"Like me?" Willow asked.
"Just like you, Red."
"That's so cute. In a freaky, Hellmouthy sort of way," Mrs. Finn leaned toward Giles and spoke as her eyes followed Willow and Spike onto the dance floor.
"What is?" Giles asked as he took a sip of his whiskey.
"Willow and Spike," Mrs. Finn said, "they make such a cute couple."
"What?" Giles choked on his whiskey and Mrs. Finn slapped his back.
***
Spike pulled Willow onto the dance floor as far away from the Slayer and her pup as he could. Taking her into his arms, he placed his hands on her hips and held her so that her body brushed his. Willow gripped his bare forearms and slid her hands up his arms to his biceps as she tipped her head back to look up into his face.
"What?" he tilted his head.
"I didn't think you were coming," she said softly.
"Haven't yet," he smirked down at her.
"Spike!" she slapped his arm and blushed. "I meant...,"
"I know what you meant," he pushed her hair behind her ear with one hand as the other slipped around her hip. Cupping her buttock, Spike lifted Willow to her tiptoes and pressed her against him, "I couldn't not come."
"Spike," she whimpered as her fingers clutched at his arms.
"What, baby?" he leaned down and kissed her neck.
"Don't tease, Spike," Willow complained as she ran her hands over his shoulders and behind his neck, her fingers playing with the hair curling on his neck.
"I'm not teasing ya, Red," Spike whispered in her ear as he drew his hand across her shoulder and down her side.
"Teasin' implies an unwillin'ness ta follow through," his fingertips brushed the side of her breast and she gasped.
"I, on the other hand, am more than willin'," he bit her earlobe with blunt teeth as his thumb grazed her nipple.
"Goddess...Spike," Willow felt a tingle in her belly.
Spike continued to drag his hand down her body, over her stomach to her upper thigh. He pressed his hand flat against her leg, fingers facing down, then splayed his fingers so that his pinky pressed into the juncture between her thighs.
"Spike," Willow breathed as she dropped her forehead onto his chest and pressed herself against his hand.
"Ya want me, baby?" Spike's breath tickled her ear.
"Ye-es," she moaned into his chest.
Spike's fingers curled into Willow's leg and drew her skirt upward.
Willow's breathing quickened and she lowered one hand to Spike's chest, her fingers digging into his flesh. She bit him through his t-shirt as his cool fingers touched the bare skin of her leg.
He slipped his hand beneath her skirt and turned it, curling his fingers around her inner thigh.
With a wordless moan Willow shifted her leg to give Spike access to her center. He slid his fingers up her leg until they encountered her damp curls.
"Naughty girl, Red," he growled in her ear as his finger slipped between her slick folds.
"I wasn't, aah!, sure if you were coming," Willow panted as Spike slipped a second finger inside of her and curled them into her front wall, "but I wanted, ohh yes!, to be prepared, ah, ah, ah, in case you did," her voice rose as Spike stroked her clit with his thumb.
Willow clutched at Spike as her body tensed. Spike buried his hand in her hair, pulled her head back and covered her mouth with his. Willow cried her release into Spike's mouth as her body clamped around his fingers, covering his hand with her juices.
When Willow's body had stopped trembling, Spike withdrew his fingers and let her skirt fall, then put his fingers to his lips and sucked them clean.
Willow leaned against Spike as the next slow song started playing. Her breathing slowed as she recovered from her orgasm, but the feel of Spike's body against hers kept her on edge, his erection pressed into her stomach as they moved to the music.
"Spike," Willow whispered.
"Red," his voice was husky with desire as her scent filled his nostrils.
"There's a storage room in the back," her hand slipped between their bodies.
"You mean the broom closet?"
"No, the storage room," she pressed her hand against him.
"Isn't that locked?" he groaned.
"I'm a witch," she took his hand in hers, "you're a vampire," and began to lead him off of the dance floor, "what's a little ol' lock compared to that?"
When they reached the storage room Spike watched to make sure no one was around while Willow whispered a spell that unlocked the door. She pushed the door open and pulled Spike inside.
Spike kicked the door shut and swung Willow up against it. He crushed his lips to hers as his hands kneaded her breasts. Willow's hands frantically tore at his belt buckle as she returned his kiss.
She unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans as Spike pinched her covered nipples. Willow moaned into his mouth as she shoved his jeans down over his hips and closed her hand around him.
Spike groaned as he urgently tugged at her skirt, then lifted her. Pressing her back against the door he lowered her, sheathing himself in her heat.
"Oh, yes," Willow moaned as Spike filled her. She wrapped her legs around his waist and tipped her head back against the door.
"Bloody hell, Red," Spike groaned as he thrust into her, "you're so bleedin' *tight*." He buried his face in her neck, pressing his tongue against her pulse point.
"Spike!" she tightened her legs around him and buried her hands in his hair, pressing his head against her shoulder, silently begging him for more. Spike took her skin between his lips and sucked on it.
Willow pushed her hands between their bodies, unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it away from her. Grabbing Spike's head she pushed his mouth down to her breast.
"Please," she begged.
Spike looked up at her and saw the need in her eyes. His eyes held hers as his features morphed, blue eyes turning amber.
"Yes," Willow moaned as she leaned forward and kissed his forehead ridges before urging his lips down to her breast.
Spike licked her breast, then sucked on the fleshy mound before sinking his fangs into it. The pain of the bite faded as the sensation of her blood flowing into Spike's mouth created heat at her core. Willow began to keen and Spike covered her mouth with his hand. Her body tensed and she bit him as the orgasm rocked her.
The sounds Willow was making, the feel of her body clenching around him, the taste of her sweet blood and the delicious pain as she bit his hand combined to send Spike over the edge and with another thrust he came with her.
***
Willow opened her eyes and groaned as she tried to stretch aching muscles. Spike's head was still bent to her breast as his tongue bathed the twin puncture wounds.
"Spike?" her voice was breathless with wonder and fulfillment.
"Mmm?" he answered as he sucked on the mound above her bra.
"That was...,"
"Amazing? Magnificent?" he supplied.
"Even better," she breathed. "So much better. But we've got a little problem," she said after a pause.
"What's that?"
"Getting back to the table," she giggled. "Somehow, I don't think they're all still on the dance floor. We need a, a, an alibi!"
"Alibi, huh?"
"Yeah, and you're a hundred and twenty-seven years old, with vast amounts of experience, so you have to think of it!" she passed the buck.
"I do?" she nodded at him. "I thought of the excuse last time, it's your turn."
"When did you...?" she trailed off.
"Yep," he smirked at her, "when you attacked me in my crypt."
"I did *not*...Well, okay, how about...I know, we went outside for some fresh air. Wait, you don't need air...a cigarette. I needed air, you needed a cigarette!"
"So we've been outside?"
"Uh huh!"
"In the alley?"
"Uh huh!"
"Where all sorts of nasties could attack you and you think *this* excuse is gonna keep me from getting dusted?"
"Oh, well, we could have been out front...Hey! I thought of one, and if you don't like it, then you think of a better one!"
"How about we just take off and don't tell `em anything?"
"That would be rude. Besides, our jackets are still at the table."
"Right," he frowned.
"I am going to have to stop in the ladies room first, though. You know, to, um, clean up," she blushed.
Spike lowered Willow to her feet and pulled his jeans up as she pushed her skirt down and buttoned her top. Spike stuck his head out the door to make sure the coast was clear and then followed Willow to the ladies room.
"You, um, you gonna wait for me?" she asked shyly.
"I'll be right here, Red," Spike said as he leaned against the wall across the hall and crossed his arms. After the door shut behind Willow he leaned his head back and closed his eyes, remembering the way she'd bit him and begged him to bite her.
"Where's Willow?"
Spike opened his eyes to find an angry Slayer standing in front of him.
"Ladies," he nodded his head toward the door behind her.
"Where have you been?" she asked angrily.
"Outside. Red needed some air. I needed a smoke," he went with Willow's alibi.
Buffy opened her mouth to continue the interrogation when the door behind her opened and Willow stepped into the hallway.
"Hey, Buff," she said.
"Willow, we were worried about you, where were you?" she ignored Spike.
Willow glanced up at Spike, who tilted his head toward the alley door, and then looked back at Buffy. "Outside," she told her. "I needed some fresh air, I just couldn't take the, uh, the...,"
"Still upset over Tara, huh?" Buffy commiserated.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Tara, upset, very," Willow agreed, after a fashion. "Spike agreed to babysit," Willow tried to look sad.
Buffy took her friend's arm and began to lead her back to their table. "Don't worry, Will, you'll find someone."
"You think?" Willow looked back at Spike and rolled her eyes, then winked at him with a big smile as she allowed Buffy to drag her along.
The eight of them spent several more hours at The Bronze drinking, talking and dancing, though Willow made sure she didn't slow dance with Spike again. She knew what being held close by him would do to her and didn't think they'd be able to get away with it a second time.
Eventually, Anya pulled out a deck of cards and they played couple-poker, because there were too many people crowded around the table for each one to have an individual hand, plus, some of them didn't know how to play. Willow knew that she and Spike could have kicked ass if he hadn't kept putting his hand on her leg and distracting her. She couldn't remember who'd anted what and raised who to save her life.
She looked up once to see Mrs. Finn staring at her and Spike. She blushed when Mrs. Finn gave her a slow smile and an understanding look. Willow felt her eyes get wide and she darted a look at Buffy to see if she had noticed anything. When she looked back at Mrs. Finn, the older woman glanced from Buffy and back to Willow, then shook her head. Willow breathed a deep sigh of relief and almost fell off of her chair when Spike leaned close to her and whispered, "What's wrong?"
She looked at him and then back at Mrs. Finn who's head was now bent over her and Giles' hand discussing their strategy.
"I think she knows, something, about...us!" Willow hissed.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"She smiled at me!"
He just blinked at her.
"Not a regular smile. A, a, an I-know-something smile!" she insisted.
Spike looked up and everyone was staring at them. "What?" he asked.
"Your turn," Anya told him and Spike tossed some popcorn into the bowl. He then looked up at Mrs. Finn who was smiling at him. Bugger, he thought, she does know. He tried to lean back real casual- like in his chair, forgetting for the moment that he'd turned it around so there was no back behind him. He lost his balance and fell onto the floor, then lay there staring up at the ceiling.
Why me, he thought to himself as he closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Spike?" he opened his eyes to see Willow and Anya kneeling over him.
"Yeah?"
"You alright?"
"Dandy. You better not even think about laughin' little girl," he warned her when he saw the corners of her lips begin to twitch.
"Hey, not-so-grateful undead, get up!" Xander called.
"It's your turn again," Anya said. "And hurry up, we have some A cards."
"An!" Xander yelled and Spike heard the whisper of cards hitting the table as everyone else threw in their hands.
"Did we win?" Anya asked.
Despite themselves, they all had fun, and ended up closing The Bronze. When the bartender flashed the lights that signaled last call Spike offered to get the last round of drinks. To his amazement, and abject fear, Mrs. Finn offered to help him carry the drinks.
"You don't have to," Spike tried to head her off, but she wouldn't be deterred.
"It's the least I can do, after you all have shown me such hospitality," she insisted.
While they were waiting for the drink order to be filled, Spike turned his back to the bar and leaned on his elbows, watching Willow.
"She's very pretty."
"Hmm?"
"Willow. She's pretty," Spike didn't respond. "You make a cute couple."
"What?" Spike turned to look at her.
"That's just what Rupert said when I told him. Well, with the addition of him choking on his drink."
"What?!"
"Before, um, before I knew it was a secret," she stammered. "But, don't worry, he didn't believe me. I think he thinks I was hitting the bottle before our get-together this evening," Mrs. Finn confided.
"Bloody hell! If Buffy thought there was anythin' goin' on between me `n Red I'd be dust `fore she even had time ta finish the thought!"
"Yeah, I got that impression. Why doesn't she like you?"
"Oh, I don't know," Spike said sarcastically. "Maybe `cause I tried ta kill her and all her little Scooby pals `fore I got this bleedin' chip in my head!"
"You did? And now you help them?" Mrs. Finn looked at him in surprise, then said, "What chip?"
"Long story," he sighed. "So, what's Iowa like? You probably don't have many vampires getting staked in Iowa, huh?"
The night ended with the gang separating in the parking lot. Buffy and Riley drove Mrs. Finn back to her motel; Xander and Anya drove Willow home; Giles drove himself home and Spike took off toward one of the cemeteries where he hoped for a spot of violence before bedtime. He still had a couple of hours left before daylight.
Before they parted, Willow and Spike made arrangements to meet at the Magic Box at sunset the next night for patrol.
***
When Willow woke up it was already past noon. She thought about rolling back over and going back to sleep, but then she remembered that she was going to be meeting Spike for patrol that night and she knew that she'd never get back to sleep. She got up and dressed in an old, ratty pair of cut-off sweats and t-shirt and cleaned her bedroom and attached bath, then swept the balcony. The rest of the house looked good because her parents hired a cleaning service to come in once a week while they were out of town, which was pretty much always. If you don't have time for your daughter, you certainly don't have time to clean the house.
After showering and dressing in a pair of sweats with a tank top and sneakers, Willow sat down at the dining room table to finish her program, which was due next week. Since she was a computer whiz (sounded better than geek) and had already spent several hours on the program, it didn't take her long to complete it. She checked her watch, only four o'clock. Probably too early to show up at the Magic Box.
Willow pulled out her logic text and read the assigned chapter. She finished reading and began work on the problems at the end of the chapter only to realize that she didn't remember anything she had read. She checked her watch again, five fifteen. Giles would be closing the shop up at six.
She decided to call him and see if he wanted her to come in and research before patrol. They still needed to figure out what `the power of the one' was. When she got him on the phone Giles sounded very happy to hear from her and agreed that he could use her help researching. Since she hadn't eaten yet, Willow offered to stop and get something for them and they settled on sandwiches from the deli just down the street from the shop.
Willow called the order in to the deli and packed her book bag before grabbing her jacket and the keys to her parents' car. She would really have to get the car checked out if she was going to be driving it. She wouldn't know a bald tire from an engine light, she laughed at the exaggeration, slight as it might be.
When Willow got downtown it was five forty-five and most of the spots in front of the Magic Box were empty. She parked the car, grabbed her book bag and jacket, then stopped in the deli to pick up their supper. When she got to the magic shop Giles was standing at the front window, having just turned the `closed' sign around, and he opened the door for her.
"Thanks, Giles," Willow breezed through the open door. "Supper and your number one research assistant, are here!"
"Willow, it's good to see you."
"Willow, hi," Anya said from behind the counter.
"Evening, Anya," Willow said as she unloaded her bags onto the research table. Giles walked past her and into the kitchen for some paper plates and napkins.
"So, where are you and Xander going tonight?" Willow asked the ex-demon.
"Nowhere special," she answered distractedly as she counted the money. "I thought I'd make him take me to the new movie at the theater."
"I thought you told Buffy that you had plans that you couldn't break," Willow said with a slight frown.
"Oh. Well, I lied," Anya smiled.
"You lied? Why?"
"So you and Spike could spend some...legitimate...time together," Anya admitted. "You know, without Buffy getting all suspicious."
"Anya!" Willow blushed. "That's...that's...Well, actually, that's very sweet. I can't believe you did that."
"You're welcome," she said with a smile. "No need to thank me," she held her hands up, "giving me all the gory details will be thanks enough."
"Right," Willow blushed.
"Plates and napkins," Giles held up the objects as he strode toward the table. Did you need anything else?"
"Nope. I'm all set, thanks," Willow said as she joined him at the table, casting a furtive glance over her shoulder at Anya. She slipped around the table to her usual seat so that she could plug in her laptop and pulled the take-out bag over to unload it. She placed the wrapped sandwiches on the paper plates and pulled out her bottled water.
"Thank you, Willow," Giles unwrapped his sandwich and threw the wrapper into the paper bag, careful not to get anything on his beloved books.
"You're welcome," she pulled her book bag over and retrieved her laptop. Sitting down Willow plugged in the electric cord and telephone wire and logged on. While the computer was warming up she unwrapped her sandwich and discarded the wrapper. She dialed up the Internet then picked up her sandwich to take a bite while she waited for it to connect.
"All done," Anya pulled up a chair across from Willow and handed a piece of paper to Giles. "Here's the total of today's receipts. The deposit is ready for the bank on Monday."
"Thank you, Anya," Giles said as he took the paper from her and perused it. "We had a pretty good day today," he commented after swallowing.
"Yes, and my feet are paying for it," Anya replied. "I hope Xander gets here soon. I think I need a foot rub. Xander has very strong hands."
Willow tried not to smile and was saved when the bell at the front of the shop jingled, announcing the arrival of said Xander.
"Honey, I'm home! Hey, G-man, Wills."
"Hey, Xan."
"Good evening, Xander."
"Xander!" Anya stood up and hobbled pitifully up to him and threw herself into his arms. "Thank god you're here!"
"What's the matter, An?" he asked as he hugged her.
"Giles worked me like a slave and my feet are killing me. Let's go home so you can rub them and, you know," she gave a little roll of her eyes.
"Ah, okay."
"I just need to get my purse," Anya said as she walked behind the counter.
"So, I guess we'll see you all later," Xander gave a little wave and Anya dragged him out of the shop.
"Well, that was, as always, interesting," Giles said as he took a bite of his sandwich and turned the page in the text he was reading. "And, thankfully, very brief."
"Oh, yeah," Willow agreed and then they were both silent as they researched.
***
Spike arrived just after sundown. Willow blushed when she heard the bell jingle; just knowing he was there made her insides all jumpy.
"Watcher. Red," Spike greeted them.
"Spike," Giles said, his voice colored with suspicion. He knew that Mrs. Finn had to be wrong about Willow and Spike. Willow was just a kind-hearted girl who was nice to everyone, including bloodthirsty vampires. But still...
"Hey, Spike," Willow said without looking up from the screen.
"You all ready for patrol, Red?" Spike said as he leaned against the counter.
"Can you give me a few minutes?" she asked. "I've got a search running and I'd like to get the results before we go."
"No problem," he shrugged his jacket off and tossed it onto one of the chairs before leaning over the table and searching the pile of books.
"Can I help you find something?" Giles asked, worried that Spike might harm one of his books.
"Just looking for the book I was reading the other day," Spike said as he pulled a book out and sat down. Without another word, or a look at Willow, Spike opened the book to the marked page and began to read.
Spike was struggling to keep his eyes off of Willow. He had taken a chair as far away from her as he could so he wouldn't be tempted to touch her, but he was having a hard time with the eyes. They kept wanting to stray from the book in front of him to the beautiful red hair that kept falling out from it's place behind her ears to frame her face as she bent her head over the computer.
He didn't want Giles to get any more suspicious than Mrs. Finn's comment the night before might have already made him. Not only would he be dust, but they'd give Willow a hard time, and he didn't want to see her sad. He'd gotten too used to seeing her smile, and the desire that clouded her eyes when he...bloody hell!
Spike heard the computer beep and Willow's muffled, "Crap," and knew that this search, like the others, hadn't netted any results. She shut down the computer, then unplugged and wrapped the cords, shoving both into her book bag.
"I'm ready," Willow said as she stood up and slipped around Giles, "I just need to get some stakes." She grabbed the take-out bag and stopped in the kitchen to throw it out on her way to the training room.
Spike marked the page he was reading and got up to follow her. Willow had grabbed a couple of stakes and was turning to leave the room when Spike stepped up behind her.
"Take the dagger," he said as he reached for his favorite axe. There hadn't been any unusual demonic activity lately, but with unknown demons looking for `the power of the one', it didn't hurt to be safe.
"Why?" Willow asked.
"Never know when those demons'll show up," Spike said as he snagged a stake out of her hand and turned to leave.
"Hey!" she looked at her now empty hand. "You took my stake!"
"Get the dagger," Spike called over his shoulder.
"Bossy vamp," she muttered as she leaned down to retrieve the dagger.
"Heard that," Spike called from the shop.
"Darn vampire hearing," she continued to mutter as she slipped the sheath over her head.
"Still hearin' ya!"
Willow walked into the shop adjusting the shoulder strap. "I don't think I have this on right," she complained.
Spike looked up at Willow as he pulled his duster on. He slipped the stolen stake into his pocket as she walked over to the table.
"Do you think you'll need heavy weaponry tonight?" Giles asked as Spike lifted the strap over Willow's head and untwisted it before slipping it back on.
"Just in case our demons show up unannounced," he motioned toward the table where Giles was researching.
"Oh, yes, of course. I hadn't thought about that."
Willow slipped her jacket on and dropped her stake in the pocket, then grabbed her book bag. "I just want to put this in the car before we leave," she said, "that way Giles doesn't have to wait for us to get back."
"Okay."
"`Night, Giles, see you tomorrow."
"Yes, goodnight. Be careful," he admonished.
Willow followed Spike to the front door and slipped past him as he held it for her. "Watcher," he dipped his head toward the man still watching them leave.