New Story: Pursuits of Happiness
	For josephine_64 Very AU Buffy-verse. Williamy. :)

Introduction

“Damn, there’s a lot of tweed in here.” Buffy stood in the doorway of the library and she considered running away once she saw the woman that was seated at the table.

“Buffy, come join us. Sit,” Giles smiled politely and he looked as if he was afraid of Buffy making a scene.

“So, you’re a watcher, huh?” She wrinkled her nose as she inched closer to the woman who was across from Giles. “How does the Council want me to die this time? What kind of apocalypse are you putting me up against?”

“Buffy, it is so wonderful to finally meet you. My name is Elizabeth Monroe.” She held a hand out to Buffy for a handshake but Buffy declined the offer. “Er, the Council doesn’t need your assistance with an apocalypse at this time…” Elizabeth paused, flustered by Buffy’s snort. “We need your help in a different case. I need you to protect me.”

“Huh?”

“I need you to accompany me on a little trip. You see, I’m doing extensive research on a legendary vampire and I have finally found where he is after years of trying to locate him.”

“What are you planning on doing to the vampire,” Buffy asked as she pulled out a chair next to Giles. She sat, suddenly interested. “And when you say ‘trip’, does this mean all expenses paid?”

“I adore your enthusiasm Buffy, to be honest, I feared you’d be rather difficult.” Elizabeth grinned and leaned in, her eyes twinkling with excitement. “This vampire has gone through many transformations in his existence and I have found a spell that will convert him into his human-state for a short period of time. I’ll need your help to make sure he is always controlled to some degree while I question him; he was as dangerous as man as he is now as a vampire.”

“So, you want me to baby-sit so you can get an A on your research paper?”

“No…well, we’d be going to Brazil!”

“Brazil? What’s in Brazil?”

“Rio de Janeiro, beaches, coves…”

Buffy flashed Elizabeth a smile, “And I’d miss class too? This all sounds too good to be true…what’s the catch? What kind of vampire am I going to protect you from? What’s his name? Have you heard of him, Giles, in your books?”

“I’ll let Ms. Monroe have the honor of telling you, “ Giles answered.

Buffy frowned, confused by Giles’s reaction, he didn’t seem too thrilled by the other Watcher’s proposal.

“Well, Buffy, I want us to come face-to-face with this demon.” Elizabeth pulled out a heavy book and slid it across to Buffy. “I want you to help me fend off William the Bloody.”

“William the who?” Buffy squinted and she took a closer look at the picture the Watcher was pointing at. “Oh my God, that’s Spike!”
***
 

Chapter 1

“Did you know the island has no roads or cars?” Buffy moved around her room excitedly as she packed her suitcase. “I’m going to take a ton of pictures, I hope I won’t run out of film.”

“It’s too bad I can’t join you. Can’t you tell her that you need your trusty sidekick,” Willow asked, looking through the travel brochures Elizabeth had provided.

“I tried Will, but Elizabeth thinks the less will be the merrier.”

“Aren’t you worried? About Spike?”

“That bleached blonde idiot? What’s to worry about him? I’ll find him, tie him down somehow and then we’ll do the spell. I’ll do my baby-sitting duty part-time and I’ll scan the beaches for hotties on my time off. It’ll be great.” Buffy zipped up one suitcase and she pulled out another empty bag from her closet. “We’ll be gone for a month. How many pairs of underwear will I need?”

“Hotties? What about Angel? Heck, what about Drusilla? She won’t just let you steal her Spike.”

“Angel? Things haven’t been going too great with him lately. I still have to tell him about my trip…” Buffy sighed for a moment but she forced her excitement back, “Drusilla? What about her? If she gets in my way I’ll give her a few pokes from Mr. Pointy.” Buffy shrugged. “Can you believe I’m taking three bags of weapons? Giles is making me. God, just how much Holy Water does it take before the airport people get suspicious?”

“Probably just one bottle will do the trick.” Willow said confidently with a nod.

“Goody.” Buffy looked at her pile of suitcases and she smiled, “All packed and ready to go.”
***

“Angel, I came by to say…uh, bye.” Buffy walked into the mansion and she found her boyfriend sitting on the stone floor reading a novel.

“Where are you going,” Angel asked, his eyes never leaving the page of his book. Buffy could hear concern and surprise in his voice.

“To Brazil on a Slayer mission, I’ll be gone for about a month and I need you to help out with patrolling while I’m gone.”

“A month?” Angel got to his feet. “That’s a long time, Buffy. Why are you going to Brazil? What about school?”

Buffy blinked, realizing that her mother, Joyce had said the exact words to her the day before. “Angel, I have to go, the Council needs me. You know it’s my job--.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to nag,” Angel said, sulking into a corner.

“No you weren’t,” Buffy stepped forward to comfort him but he walked farther away from her. “I’m taking all my homework,” she said sternly, upset that he had dismissed her. “I think it’ll be good for me. I’ll have time to think about college and… us.”

“Us?”

“Angel,” Buffy pushed her way in front of him. “Stop avoiding me. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t touch you, I can barely be in the same room with you. You act as if you’re afraid of me.”

“Buffy… I’m afraid of myself, what I’ll do if you’re near me… I’m afraid that if you touch me, I won’t be able to control myself. You’ll get hurt.”

“And us pretending to be kind-of-together, that’s hurting me. What I want from you I can never have. You don’t need me to take care of you anymore--.”

“So that’s it? Are you really going to think about us during your vacation or have you already made up your mind? You’re breaking things off so you can be free in Brazil--.”

“Angel, that’s not fair.”

“There’s got to be a way we can still see each other. I’ll try harder.” Angel grabbed her hand as if to prove his point. “Please, Buffy.”

“There is: tell me that you don’t love me. If you can do that, we’ll be friends, just friends with only friendly touching and no kisses and definitely no temptation for sex. Tell me that Angel and we’ll see each other.”


Angel said nothing, still holding her hand.

“I need to go or I’ll miss my flight.” Buffy pulled away and she made her way out of the mansion.
***

“What do you know about Spike?” Elizabeth asked after they had settled in the seats on the plane.

“He’s annoying and a major pain in my ass.”

“Oh? About how many times did you and he fight?”

“Off and on all last year. He crashed Parent Teacher Night because he wanted to kill me. The Night of St. Vigius or something like that…” Buffy smirked as Elizabeth took out her notebook and started scribbling down everything that Buffy had said.

“The Night of what?”

“St. Vigius. You’re on your own if you don’t know how to spell it.”

“I’ll look it up later. Please tell me more.”

“Ok, well, my mom hit Spike with an axe and he ended up running away like a little girl,” Buffy chuckled. “And then I heard he fried some uber vamp, a little kid.”

“Ah yes, the Anointed One,” Elizabeth nodded.

“From there he was just a pest, he and Dru, his skanky ho of a girlfriend. He popped up all the time; I think he really had an obsession with killing a Slayer. He killed two and he wore it like a badge or something. He’d brag all the time. God, how I wanted to kill him… Anyway then there was Angel,” Buffy said his name and she felt a pang in her heart. “I’m sure you know about him…”

“Yes, yes I do,” she blushed, hinting that she knew all about Buffy’s past.

“Spike actually helped me stop him…in his own twisted way. I guess Angelus was hitting on Drusilla and Spike flipped. He wasn’t much help in the end really but we did have a pact. He ended up taking Dru and leaving me to fight Angel alone.” Buffy frowned. “That was the last time I saw the big jerk.”

“Hm…he made a pact with the Slayer, how truly remarkable. He never ceases to amaze me.”

“I guess. Whatever you say,” Buffy shrugged before putting on her headphones and reclining back in her seat.
***

“Wow,” Buffy stepped out of the tiny airport on wobbly legs and in awe. “It’s beautiful here.”

“I agree William the Bloody seems to have nice taste in vacation spots.”

“Where’s the hotel that we’re staying in? I hope it’s kinda far because I really need to work out my legs from the long flight.”

“We’re staying in the lodge and I believe it’s in that direction,” Elizabeth pointed.

Buffy nodded and she took off, carrying all her luggage in ease, not bothered by their weight or bulk.

“Ah, Buffy,” Elizabeth called out but Buffy was already feet ahead of her. “Right, I’ll just catch up.”
***

“This will be the most difficult part of our task: capturing Spike. The island only houses fourteen people at a time so--.”

“Why would a vampire come to such a small island? It sounds like he’d have a really tiny food supply,” Buffy wondered as she stared out the window of their lodge. It was like a tiny house with two large bedrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen. Buffy loved where they were staying but it was the view that left her breathless. From the living room where she sat with Elizabeth, Buffy could see the beach, the ocean and a number of palm trees. “But then again, it is Spike and he’s not the brightest of the light bulb family.”

“I have reason to believe that Spike and Drusilla are only using this island for sleeping during the day and that they travel to hunt and feed. There’s a heavily populated area that can be reached by boat and it’s known for having quite a lot of demon activity.”

“Got ya, that makes sense. So when can I get on the boat?”

“The next group leaves in an hour, you can go then or you can wait until after sunset.”

“The earlier the better, the early Buffy always gets her man. And I’ll be able to scope out the area too. So I’m guessing there’s nightclubs and bars over there?”

“Of course,” Elizabeth nodded. “Those are the best locations for getting disoriented victims.”

“Ok, I’m going to change.”
***

“Hm.” Buffy looked in the mirror and she studied the cross that hung from her neck. “I can’t believe I broke up with him…” Buffy touched the necklace and tears filled in her eyes. On the flight Buffy had thought about Angel a lot and she decided she was grateful for Elizabeth and her timing. Buffy was relieved to have a month to be alone and away from her friends, away from Angel.

“God, I just want to have fun here, I so need some Buffy Time.”
***

Buffy walked out of the lodge just as the sun was setting. She’d spent more time than she had planned dressing and Elizabeth wanted to brief her many times over what she was to do with Spike once she’d found him.

Knock him out or drug him, it doesn’t sound that difficult, Buffy thought as she walked past one of the island’s bars.

“I’m not putting up with this anymore! You’re making out with a bloody chaos demon! Are you blind!?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Buffy hid behind the edge of the building and she watched as Spike and Drusilla fought. “This is way too easy.”

“No, I’m not blind,” Drusilla yelled back. She got up from the bench, leaving the chaos demon behind. “If you what to leave, fine!”

“What else can I do? I’ve given you everything: beautiful jewels, beautiful dresses with beautiful girls in them but nothing makes you happy! I’ve got an unlife you know!”

“Spike,” Drusilla’s voice was softer and she reached for his arm. “You don’t make me happy anymore. You’ve gone soft. You made a truce with the Slayer.”

Buffy wrinkled her nose at the disgust Drusilla had put behind saying her name. “Ho,” Buffy whispered.

“It didn’t mean anything. I did it for you, baby, I wanted to protect you. I was thinking about you the entire time. That bitch means nothing to me.”

“It doesn’t matter what you say, Spike. You’ve changed. You’re not enough demon for me.”

“What?!”

“We can stay friends.” Drusilla reached up to pet his face but he pushed her back.

“You’ll be sorry!”

Buffy watched as Spike ran off in an angry huff.
***

I’m so the last person that he’s going to want to see, Buffy thought as she neared the building Spike had entered. I can’t believe Drusilla was with that—thing…Spike may not be the handsomest but at least he doesn’t have the antlers and the slime. Ewww.

Buffy peeked through the window and she could see Spike throwing things and she could also hear his muffled screams.

“Great. He’s crying.” Buffy sighed and she wondered how much longer it would take before he’d be looking for the nearest drink.

“Oooh, if I could get him to pass out…”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me!”
***

“I-I can explain.” Buffy shrieked in surprise as Spike pulled her into the building.

“You! You’re ruining my life!”

Buffy ducked as a chair was hurled at her head. “Spike-I didn’t do anything!”

Spike growled, wiping the tears from his eyes and shifting into his vampire guise. “That doesn’t matter, Dru thinks you did and you need to pay for that.”

She dug in her purse, desperately looking for a stake or for the needle Elizabeth had given her as Spike charged at her. When she couldn’t find anything, Buffy dropped her bag to the floor and she lunged at Spike.
***

“I. Don’t. Want. To. Hurt. You.” Buffy’s words were broken up as she pounded her fists into his abdomen and face. “Much.”

Spike grunted in response to every blow and he barely fought back. After several minutes of fighting, Buffy only had suffered a small injury to her thigh.

“What’s wrong with you,” Buffy demanded as she threw him into the wall. “I thought you were actually going to put up a bigger fight, silly me. Maybe Drusilla was right, you’re less of a demon now--.”

“Arrrrggg!”

Good, that’s a good Spike, Buffy thought with a grin before she slammed a chair into the back of his head.

“Thank God,” Buffy said after Spike’s body crumbled onto the floor. “Purse…purse.” She searched through the rubble, looking for the drugs. “Oh, got ya.” She smiled before sticking Spike in the arm.
***
 

Chapter 2

“Honey, I’m home.” Buffy pushed open the door, with Spike sprawled out over her shoulder.

“You found him!”

“Yup,” Buffy answered before dropping the vampire on the couch. “Gosh, he may look skinny but he’s one heavy devil.” She rolled her shoulders. “How long will the drugs last?”

“Not long, we should do the spell now.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now. Help me get my supplies set up,” Elizabeth demanded before rushing to her room.
***

“How is this going to work?” Buffy asked as she tied Spike to a wooden chair in the middle of the living room as Elizabeth drew designs on the floor with a chalky substance.

“We’re going to bring William to the future by bringing him to Spike’s present form.”

“That sounds confusing.” Without thinking, Buffy reached out to wipe the crushed blood that had formed around a cut she had given Spike on his forehead. “Will he remember?”

“I’m not certain.”

“Ah, huh…so where will Spike be once William takes over?”

“That answer requires a lengthy explanation and we don’t have the time.”

“Oh.” Buffy left Spike and she began lighting the various candles that were surrounding him. “And this William, he’ll be a really big bad ass?”

“I imagine so, he was known by such a title as William the Bloody. Are you getting cold feet, dear?”

“A little I guess. I just don’t want things to go wonky.”

“Wonky,” Elizabeth repeated with a laugh. “I promise we’ll have everything under control.” She stood on her feet and she wiped off her hands. “I’ll be performing the spell now, for safety reasons, I’d like for you to step into your room.”

“O-ok.” Buffy was closing her door when she heard the chanting begin.
***

“Safety reasons? I’m the freaking Slayer,” Buffy grumbled as she searched through her bags for her pajamas, it was getting close to midnight and Buffy assumed she should get some sleep before her babysitting began.

As Buffy changed her clothes, her mind went to Spike. She never thought Spike and Drusilla would ever break up. Even if she hated them both with a passion, Buffy always thought their love would last, that it would literally be eternal.

Maybe we’re all doomed. Maybe all love isn’t meant to last…besides if everyone were in love and getting their proper amount of smoochies, who’d go to all the romantic comedies? Who’d read all those books with the flowery covers with the naked muscley men on them?

“How depressing…” She said with a sigh, getting into bed.
***

Buffy woke hours later to the sound of crying and hysterical sobbing. “What?” She grabbed a stake from her bag before walking into the living room. “Elizabeth?”

“He’s crying, Buffy.”

“I can see that.” Buffy eyed Spike in distaste. “Why? About Drusilla?”

“No, Spike’s gone, he’s William now and apparently all my books are filled of lies!” Elizabeth grunted in frustration and she walked into the kitchen, leaving Buffy alone with the man who was tied to the chair.

“Spike?” Buffy stepped closer. “Ah, William?”

“Stay away from me! Or I’ll-I’ll scream and the police will come for you!”

“Don’t scream, we don’t want to hurt you. I promise,” Buffy looked at William and she was in awe at how different he seemed. He was in Spike’s clothing but there was something new about him and Buffy wasn’t sure what it was. “Um, I’ll be right back.”

“Blasted books!”

“Elizabeth, what’s going on? The spell did work, didn’t it?” Buffy walked in the kitchen and over to the Watcher who was quickly scanning her books.

“It worked, he’s human, he has a soul but he’s nothing like the human the books say he should be. I’ve been questioning him and all he does is whimper. I asked him about killing people with railroad spikes and he cries more and mentions how he hates such ‘dark and ugly business’. Bah!”

“Could he be faking it?”

“It’s possible but I doubt it.” Elizabeth frowned. “I’m supposed to be getting into the mind of an evil villain not a blubbering baby!”

“Did you explain to him what you’re doing? I’d be scared too if I were thrown into the future…”

“Yes, of course I explained everything to him!”

“Eh, Elizabeth, maybe you need to sleep for a little while, let me talk to Spike, maybe I can calm him down.”

“Ok, here.” Elizabeth handed Buffy a tape recorder. “I’ll only nap for a little while.”

“Are there any questions that I should definitely ask him?”

“Just talk to him now, try to make him comfortable. See if he’s hungry, do whatever you’d like.”
***

“William?” Buffy came into the room and she sat on the couch. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m scared out of my wits.”

“That’s understandable. Ah, so, are you hungry?”

“Will you poison me?”

“No.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Um…what if I untied you?”

“I guess that would make you more trustworthy but I’ll scream if--.”

“I know yada, yada, police, yada, yada. But you won’t be able to runaway and if even you did, I’d be on you in seconds flat. I’d hurt you.” Buffy looked William in the eye and she wondered if he was taking her seriously. “Do I need to scare you into not running away? I doubt you’d last long anyway, it’s 1998 you know.”

“1998 what?”

“That’s the year.”

“Good Lord.”

“You won’t runaway?” Buffy fell to her knees and she worked on untying the ropes around his ankles. She knew even if he was an evil man pretending, he wouldn’t get anyway without a fight from her.

“I won’t.”

“You promise?”

“Yes.”

“Ok.”

Buffy untied him.
***

“God, you can really pack it away.”

“What?”

Buffy watched as he ate what should have been called his third full meal. “Food. You eat a lot.”

“I do.” William blushed. “It’s good, you’re a wonderful cook.”

“Oh, I don’t cook. It’s room service.”

“What?”

“Never mind. So William, are you called William the Bloody where you come from?”

“H-How do you know about that?“

Buffy hid her smile, as William’s blush deepened. She never imagined that she’d see Spike with so much color in his cheeks. “Elizabeth, the lady who was here before, she told me.”

“I don’t like her. She yelled at me and for no reason.”

“I’m sorry.” Buffy wanted to giggle, but she held it back. “We just want to know about you and about your life.”

“I don’t see why…” He said under his breath and then he confessed, “It’s a nickname.”

“William the Bloody? How’d you get it?”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“It can’t be too bad. Heck, my name is Buffy, you can imagine the nicknames I had as a child.”

“Buffy?” He said her name with a grin on his face as if the word tickled his tongue when he said it. “What a peculiar name.”

“I know.”

“Ah,” William sighed. “I don’t know why I should tell you anything but…you’ve been kind to me… the men around town the call me William the Bloody Awful Poet.” He looked down as if ashamed. “Some of my poems were stolen and read without my permission, they weren’t even my best but I’ve been teased about my writing ever since.”

“Poet…”

“Yes.”

Buffy didn’t know what to say. She believed him but she couldn’t imagine Spike as a poet. “So you aren’t a ruthless killer?”

“No! No! Why would you think that?”

“Eh, Elizabeth, she…”

“Well that woman is vile and she is guilty of slander! I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“Hey, I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding.”

“And I’m not sure that I cannot believe anything that she has told me. Being brought into the future—that’s absurd!”

“Does this place look like anything from where you’re from?” Buffy stood and she walked to the kitchen sink. “We have running water. Indoors.” She turned on the faucet and then she turned it off quickly. “Come here.”

“No…”

“William.” She glared at him and he joined her reluctantly.

“This a refrigerator.” She opened the door and motioned from him to look inside. “Touch something in there.”

“It’s cold.” William looked at the bottle of juice in wonder.

“Yup and we have a freezer that keeps things frozen…Hell, this is just one room in the house. We’ve got flushing toilets, comfy beds and TV.” Buffy laughed, “We have MTV.”

“I-I don’t know what to say…it’s improbable.”

“No it’s the future and you’re in it now, William. Magic brought you here and you’re going to be here for quite a while so you’d better get used to it.”
***

“This is a TV. This is a remote that controls the TV.” Buffy handed the remote to William. “The red button at the top, push it.”

William followed Buffy’s instructions and he jumped when the television came to life.

“Sit there, good boy.” Buffy laughed. “The television is your friend. It’s a wonderful invention you can use it to learn or to be entertained. The big arrow buttons, do you see them? Push either the one that points up or down and that will change the channels.”

“Channels?”

“Um, I have no idea how to explain them…after a while you’ll understand them.” Buffy sat next to William and she curled her feet under her. “Here’s the listing, the lodge has crap cable but we’ll find something…and hopefully it’ll be in English.”

“This is unbelievable, how-what?”

“I know I feel the same way sometimes. Uh…did you ever go to plays?”

“Yes, with my mother.”

Buffy smiled, imagining Mommy Spike. “Well most of the people on there,” She pointed at the TV, “They’re actors. Does that make sense?”

“Not entirely.” His eyes widened as he changed the channel to a cartoon.

“It’ll take a while for everything to sink in. Just try not to think about the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of everything and you’ll be fine.”
***

“Buffy?!”

“Hm?”

“Buffy, I told you to watch him, not sleep on his shoulder!”

Buffy’s eyes popped open and she sat up with a start. “Elizabeth, I--.”

“He could have ran off! He could have killed you as you slept!”

“I don’t think--.” Buffy sighed when Elizabeth cut her off again. She looked at William to see how he was holding up under her yelling. He gave her a little grin and Buffy found herself grinning back.

“I won’t hurt anyone and I won’t runaway. I made a promise and I’d never break a promise to a lady,” William spoke up during the Watcher’s rant.

Gah, Buffy thought. She felt her cheeks warm up and she knew within seconds she’d have a blush that would match William’s. I can’t believe Spike was ever like this; he’s so different, so…sweet. He called me a lady…awww.

Buffy looked away from William quickly, knowing that she’d melt if she were to look at him for much longer.

Elizabeth clearly did not believe him. “Right. Well,” she tugged on the hem of her shirt and she cleared her throat, sitting down. “Let’s get some work done. William tell me about yourself.”

“I’d rather not.”

“You can’t refuse.” Elizabeth replied. “If you do, Buffy’ll hit you a few times until you talk.”

William swallowed and he took a minute to respond. “I’ll cooperate but if I’m going to be talking, uh, I’d like to talk to Buffy.”

“Huh?” Both Buffy and Elizabeth asked at the same time.

“I’d like to speak Buffy…only.”

“Why?” Elizabeth looked at him curiously.

“Well, she doesn’t yell as much as you do and she has been very kind to me. And she hasn’t accused me of the horrible crimes that you have.”

“Buffy, let me talk to you in the kitchen, now.”
***

“What happened? I need you to be a Slayer, Buffy, not a girl with raging hormones. We need him for my research not for you to flirt with.”

“I haven’t flirted at all. I was just being nice to him. And my hormones are not raging, they’re perfectly tame.” Buffy crossed her arms and she glared at the older woman. “Maybe he’d be willing to talk to you if you weren’t so bitchy towards him.”

“Oh!” Elizabeth gasped, “I haven’t--!”

“You write down a list of things for me to ask him and I’ll do the Q&A session with the tape recorder. Until then, William and I are going to eat breakfast.” With that said, Buffy turned on her heel and marched into the living room.
***

“Sorry I feel asleep on you. The last thing I remember was trying to understand the show we were watching…I hope I didn’t lean too hard on your shoulder.” Buffy laughed before handing William the menu for room service. “Pick out whatever you want and I’ll order it.”

“I can have anything?”

“Sure. I’m going to have the pancakes myself. The blueberry ones.”

“Oh. I’ll eat whatever you have.”

“Are you sure?”

William nodded as he stared at the color photographs on the menu. “The other woman…Elizabeth, I don’t know about her…”

“Don’t worry,” Buffy said as she picked up the telephone. “She’s not that bad, you just surprised her I think. She expected you to be different.”

“Doesn’t everyone,” William grumbled.

“What,” Buffy began to ask but the person from room service interrupted her and Buffy was forced to give their order.

“Oh, nothing.”
***

“So, you’re a poet?”

“Oh, yes.” William’s face lit up. “For many years now.”

“What do you write about?” Buffy asked between bites of pancake.

“Things of beauty…love, human emotions…”

“Really? Can you tell me one of your poems?”

“No, I-I can’t remember any from the top of my head.” William blushed and he looked down. “But if I had some paper…I might be able to come up with something new.”

“Paper? I’m sure I can get you some paper. Consider it done.”

“Thank you, Buffy.”

“Hey, no problem.” Buffy shrugged.

“Buffy, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“How can I still be living in 1998? Elizabeth, she said that I was too difficult to speak in the present, what does that mean? Can a man live more than one hundred years in your future?”

Buffy didn’t answer him quickly, not sure how William would react to the fact that he’d be killed and transformed into a vampire. “Some people can live more than a hundred years but you… didn’t. Something…supernatural happened to you. William, um, what do you know about vampires?”
***

“I become a demon?” William asked the question for the third time. “Why? How?”

“Well, I can tell you all about the how but it’s the why we’re hoping you can help us with. To Elizabeth, you don’t become just a demon; ask her, she thinks you’re a legend, a vampire god or something. She’s dedicated her life to studying you.” Buffy waited for William to burst into tears or to start screaming but he remained calm and silent. “Say something, what are you thinking?”

“What am I to you?”

“Huh?” She leaned forward, not sure if she heard him correctly because he had spoken so quietly.

“If I’m a legend to her, what am I to you, now?”

“You’re Spike.” Buffy replied quickly and without a second thought.

“Are we…friends?”

“Not exactly, we’re more like enemies, we’ve been fighting for about a year actually.”

“Are you a vampire as well? You don’t seem like one…”

“No, I’m human but I can do things that humans can’t…I can um, kill vampires. I’m what they call a Slayer.”

“Slayer?” Fear filled William’s eyes, “Are you going to kill me?”

“William, you’re not a vampire.” Without thinking she grabbed his wrist. “You’re warm, you have a pulse and you’re human. You’re not a monster, not a bad man or anything like the Spike I know. You have no reason to be afraid of me.”

William looked down at their touching skin as if he was hypnotized. “I-I’m not afraid of you…you terrify me, Buffy.”

“Now there’s something every girl longs to hear,” Buffy quipped before Elizabeth came into the room, interrupting them and causing their hands to fly away from each other.

“Buffy, I have my list completed, you will ask the questions but I’m staying in the room.”
***
 

Chapter 3

William the Bloody Awful Poet.

Buffy looked at William as he named off all the people in both sides of his family.

So that’s who Spike’s been hiding all these years.

He’s so…cute.

Buffy held back her sigh. She felt like a teenybopper lusting after a celebrity.

God and it’s only been a day.

“Buffy?”

“Hmmm…”

“Buffy? Buffy!”

“Huh? What?” Buffy was brought back from her thoughts and she blushed, noticing that William and Elizabeth were staring at her. “Um, did I…miss something?”

“I just realized that we forgot a very important thing.”

“What,” Buffy asked in response to Elizabeth’s seriousness.

“Clothing.”


“Clothing, of course--uh, what? Not following.”

“William. How could I have forgotten that? I thought I had everything planned perfectly.” Elizabeth stood and she began pacing. “I wanted to avoid this.” She cursed under breath.

“What?”

“You need to take him out and buy him a few sets of clothing before sundown. He’ll need toiletries as well.”

“You want me to take him shopping?” Buffy grinned at the thought of exposing William to more of modern life.

“Yes, but you have to take special care not to bring him anywhere that Drusilla may be staying. If she were to see him…”

“Oh, she won’t.” Buffy shot up, smiling widely. “And what I buy, it’ll all be covered by the Council’s credit card, right?”
***

“Just stay close to me and everything will be ok.” Buffy considered grabbing onto William’s arm and pulling him through the tourist area but she decided against it.

“Buffy, people…people wear next to nothing in future?” His eyes bugged out as a pair of bikini clad women strolled past him.

“You haven’t seen anything yet, just wait ‘till you get introduced to the thong,” Buffy chuckled, walking faster, making William jog to catch up with her. “Look, let’s go into this store.”
***

“Ah, somehow I don’t think that these clothes are something I’d the like…” William pulled at the gaudy flowered print shirt that Buffy had picked out just for him. “Because before I was wearing something more…black. I rather liked that compared to this, this is so…loud.”

“Loud, eh? You don’t say,” Buffy bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. “What would you like to wear? I doubt there’s anything here like the stuff they had back in your day.”

“That’s very true. In many ways.” William skimmed the rack of clothes. “Do you like this?”

“Yeah, I do actually.” Buffy nodded, giving her approval of the white button down shirt. “It’ll look nice on you.”

“Thank you.”

“Gosh, I don’t even have to look at you to know you’re blushing. I can hear you blushing.” Buffy kept her eyes down as she took more clothes off the rack. “That has to be embarrassing.” She gave him the shirts and pushed him into the dressing room. “Hurry, we still have to find you a tooth brush somewhere. Oh and try these on.” She tossed a few pairs of pants over the door.

“Ow!”

“Sorry! Are you--” She laughed and stood tiptoes trying to peek through the slats of the dressing room door and making sure he was alright. She pulled back with a quiet gasp when she saw flashes of his bare skin. “Ok.” Blinking twice, she looked around the store to see if anyone had seen her peeping.

“I’m fine, Buffy,” William answered with a laugh.

“That you are,” Buffy said to herself. She glanced at the entrance of the store, needing somewhere to focus her eyes instead of being tempted to take another look through the door.
“Oh, my God,” she exclaimed in a whisper. “William let me in!”

“W-why?”

“William!” Buffy banged on the door and put her hand on the knob. “Open it or I will.” When he didn’t respond, Buffy used her strength turn the door, breaking the handle and letting herself into the dressing room.

“Buf--.” William tried to sheik her name but Buffy held a hand over his mouth.

“Shhh,” she said holding a finger to his lips. “Just stay quiet, ok?” Buffy grinned, looking down; William was protectively covering his naked torso from Buffy’s eyes. “You can finish getting dressed or changed or whatever, I won’t look… I’ll just be over there,” she innocently pointed to the door. “Until she’s gone.”

“Who?”

“Drusilla.”
***

Her body buzzed as she listened to the ruffling of clothes behind her.

Buffy closed her eyes, briefly picturing the bare thigh she’d been treated seeing to minutes before.

Now that’s just going to kill me…of course there’s nothing under his jeans. Big Bad Spike, why would he wear undies? Must be an ego thing.

Buffy’s eyes popped open when Drusilla and her ugly companion edged closer to the back of the store.

I still don’t get that. She picked antler boy over Spike? Well, he was Spike…

She tried to think up something mean and cruel to say about the vampire but nothing came to mind. Her head was overwhelmed with William.

Buffy held her breath, hearing William zip up his pants.

“Ah, Buffy?”

“Yeah?”

“Help.”

Buffy turned, seeing that William had gotten himself caught in the sweatshirt that he was trying on. “How,” she paused to giggle quietly, “How did you mange to do this?”

“I don’t know.”

Shaking her head, Buffy walked towards William and she decided he was the most adorable creature she’d ever met. “You’re so cute.”

“Well…um…”

“You don’t have to say anything. Ok, the first thing we need to do is free your arms.” Buffy led his arms through the right holes and then she smiled up at him, lightly holding his wrists. “There. Together we conquered the nasty shirt.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” She gave his wrists a squeeze. “Let me check to see if the mega bitch is gone. We need to get back.”
***

“It’s your hair that people will recognize the most, so I picked this up.” Buffy put a baseball cap on William’s head. “There, the hat with the sweatshirt will make you look a little different from Spike, at least from a distance.” William grinned and Buffy continued. “And I bought me a sundress too…among other things. Don’t tell Elizabeth.” Buffy winked at him as they walked along the beach making their way back to the lodge. “I figure we can get you shampoo and other stuff at the hotel. Don’t worry, William, we’ll have you smelling good in no time.”

“I smell bad?” William asked but then he looked as if he wished he could take the question back.

“No, you smell fine.”

“You smell like nothing I’ve ever smelled before.”

“William…” Buffy didn’t know what to say.

“Sorry, I know that isn’t something you’d like to hear…from me…but it’s the truth. You smell heavenly Buffy.”

Buffy looked ahead and she silently thanked God for the darkness that successfully covered her blush from William’s eyes.

Shit, maybe his blushing is contagious, she thought. Oh God, he’s still talking…

“And I’ve tried to compare it to flowers and to other lovely scents from back home but my mind stays blank.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing really…just my perfume.”

“Now, don’t be modest, Buffy. It’s you, I know it is.”

“You’re…sweet.” Buffy tried to control her pounding heart. “Did you tell this to all the girls that you hit on back in your day?”

“Buffy, I told you, I didn’t hit anybody. I don’t--.”

“Oh, hey,” Buffy touched his arm after seeing panic in his eyes. “Hitting on people doesn’t exactly mean beating people up, I mean, God, what would’ve they called it? I want to say courting but I don’t know if that’s the right word. Ah, are you telling me things that you told all the girls--.”

“There weren’t any girls, I mean, I only have talked to two girls in my lifetime and one is my mother and you now make a third.”

“Was the other girl Drusilla?”

“I don’t know who Drusilla is.”

“Ok,” Buffy paused as they reached the door of the lodge. “The other girl your girlfriend?”

“No.” William looked down and Buffy knew someone had hurt him deeply.

“Why don’t you have a girlfriend? I’d think that all the girls would flock to a guy that writes poetry--.”

“Don’t you think if I knew that I’d do something? That I’d change or try to adapt to what they wanted? If I knew what was wrong with me, I’d change in a instant.”

“I…sorry, I--.”

He stepped back and avoided her eyes. “No, I’m sorry. I snapped at you. I was unreasonable.” “I just…that’s just a question that I’ve been stewing over for years. Buffy, I don’t know why girls don’t like me.”

“William, there’s nothing wrong with you.” She stepped closer and it felt wonderful to see that he didn’t move away. “In fact, I don’t know what’s wrong with girls in the eighteen hundred and whatever but I can say that in just one day, I like you. William, I really like you.” She touched his face and William closed his eyes as if savoring her touch. “God, William breathe, don’t pass out on me.”

“I’ve never felt this way before,” William confessed with a sigh.

“I hope it’s a good feeling.” Buffy leaned forward and she kissed him on the cheek. “Let’s go inside.”
***
 

Chapter 4

William is not Spike. Spike is not William.

William was killed by Spike. I hate—ok, maybe hate is strong word, I really dislike Spike. A lot. I don’t hate him but I certainly don’t like him as much as William.

Mmmm…William.

Buffy smiled widely.

Ok, I don’t think I could like anyone was much I’m liking him right now.

Buffy rolled on her stomach and she sighed, “It doesn’t matter damn it, William could turn into a rock tomorrow or be the descendant of a slimy demon that eats puppies and I wouldn’t care. I’d still like him. Guess I need to follow my own advice.” Buffy took her pillow and she covered her head with it. “Carpe diem… seize the day, holy crap I want to seize the whole freakin’ month, I want to seize William.”
***

“Hey, good morning.” Buffy stepped out of the bathroom in her robe and with her hair wrapped in a towel. William was no longer sleeping and he sat on the sofa with a notebook in his lap and a pen in his hand. “You figured out how to use the pens I bought. I was going to give you a demonstration today.”

“It was difficult but I prevailed.” He grinned. “Besides writing utensils did exist where I come from.”

“Pfft, oh, I so knew that.” Buffy batted the air. “I’m just disappointed. I was practicing in the shower how I’d teach you, it went something like: this is a pen and this is a pen cap… it would have been very informative, trust me.”

“I hate to disappoint you, Buffy.”

“That’s ok. I’m counting on teaching you how to turn on the shower later because every one of them seems to be different and burning always happens. What are you writing?”

“A journal, I want to record this whole…experience and I plan on adding some poems here and there.”

“That sounds nice.”

“And once I’m gone, I guess,” he shrugged, “you can use it for your research. I still find it baffling that you both went through so much trouble to learn about me.”

Buffy tried not to frown, suddenly reminded that William wasn’t going to be staying around forever. “I bet you’re looking forward to going back especially since we drug you here. But it wasn’t really my idea; it’s just my job to help Elizabeth and—and I’m totally rambling—William do you want to go back? Do you secretly hate me for participating in this whole mess? Oh God. Do you think this is a mess?”

“Buffy?”

“Sorry, temporary insanity.” Buffy panicked, feeling embarrassed, seeing William’s look of confusion. “I’ll be back. I-I need to change.”
***

“I miss my mother.”

Buffy stopped combining her hair and she put down her brush.
“The door was open so I…”

“That’s fine, you can sit if you want. You and your mom close?”

William nodded and he sat next to her on the edge of her bed. “She’s sick and I’m the only one that takes care of her. I’m worried that something may happen while I’m here. She shouldn’t be stressed and I fear that me not being here for a month will be harmful to her health. If it weren’t for my mother…”

“You don’t have to explain. If my mom were sick…I’m so sorry. Maybe I can talk to Elizabeth about getting you home sooner because I think she wanted in-depth, gory horror stories and since you don’t--.” Buffy stopped and she licked her lips. “Have. Any. Maybe you can leave sooner.” She spoke slowly, biting her lip and tilting her head as she looked at William, her eyes drawn to his mouth.

Pretty lips…pretty blue eyes…pretty…he’s just…pretty. Sure he looks like Spike but that’s beside the point, the point is…he’s William.

“William?”

“Y-yes?”

“This could sound selfish but I don’t want you to leave too soon. I’d like to get to know you more and not just as Elizabeth’s walking research paper. I want to know you more personally and,” she shrugged, ”maybe if you want, you can get to know me too.”

“Personally,” William croaked. “Are you sure?”

“Only if you want to, do you?” Buffy leaned forward and she placed her hand on his. “I do.”

“You do?” William opened his mouth in shock. “Really?”

“William, you’re not answering my question,” she teased, threading her fingers with his.

“I-I—yes. Yes. Very much so.” He swallowed, nodding.

“You aren’t going to pass out are you? You look woozy and white as a sheet. Do you need to lie down? Take deep breaths.”

“Buffy…I’ve never…”

“Are you going to kill yourself every time something new happens to you,” Buffy asked with a laugh. “Or do you think you’ll weasel your way into some CPR-type kissage.”

“What? No! No!”

“Because if you wanted…kissage—a kiss, all you have to do is ask. I can be very reasonable like that, you know.”

William looked down and Buffy ran her hands over his burning cheeks. She pressed her mouth to the side of his face and then to his lips, kissing him lightly. She pulled back and smiled, seeing that William froze with his lips slightly parted and his eyes closed tight.

“William, you ok?”

“I-I’m—thank you, Buffy.”

“You’re welcome.”
***

“You slept in today.” Buffy sat next to Elizabeth and she sighed, still buzzing from being with William. He was in the shower and she couldn’t wait for him to come out of the bathroom.

“Yes, I needed it. I think things with William aren’t as horrible as I first assumed. It just makes Spike the vampire more complex to know that he was once a harmless, pitiful human. Even a poet.” Elizabeth snorted into her coffee. “William the Bloody Awful Poet.”

Buffy frowned. “He’s not pitiful and there’s nothing wrong with him being a poet. And we’ve never read any of his stuff; people who weren’t his friends called him that. People, they can be cruel you know.”

“You’re very smitten with William. It’s poetic: a slayer falling for a human that will eventually become a vampire and try to murder her--.”

“That’s poetic? It sounds like old news to me or a bad rerun,” Buffy snapped. “I’ve had people I love turn on me and it sucked. And for so many reasons what’s going on with William and me will not end up the same way. Besides William wants to go home and I think you need to find a way of sending him. His mother is sick and it’s not right to keep him here. What else can you ask him? I can already tell you everyone on his family tree from memory--.”

“His mother is sick? I should ask him about it…” Elizabeth thought out loud and Buffy glared at her.

“You’re terrible.”

“No, I’m good at what I do. The Council wants a thorough study on Spike and that’s what they’re going to get and it’ll blow them away. I want every detail of his life recorded.”

Not knowing what to say, Buffy stood and she walked back into her room, disgusted.
***

Buffy yawned before glancing at the clock.

Damn, these interrogations are getting boring. I want to know about him but not like this. If we could get out of here, that would be great. I’d love to have a real conversation with him.

“Elizabeth?”

“Yes,” she answered, annoyed that Buffy had interrupted.

“I think William needs a break and some fresh air. Don’t you, William?”

“I’ve been talking for a long time,” he nodded in agreement.

“But…” Elizabeth frowned and she thought quickly for an excuse. “You shouldn’t run about the island. What about Drusilla?”

“What about her? It’s noon, the sun it at it’s highest. I’ll take a stake. Come on William, let’s go. We’ll be back in an hour.”
***

“I live with my mom. My dad left my mom a few years ago and they were divorced.” Buffy explained as they were walking along the beach hand-in-hand. “I go to high school in Sunnydale, California and I have a great group of friends. They help me with all my Slayer duties. I love them. There’s Xander, who’s great, very funny. And Willow, who I think you’d like. She’s really smart and she can be shy sometimes too. Giles is like my father figure. He’s my Watcher, he’s like Elizabeth but a lot nicer and not with a stick up his ass.”
“I’ve never heard girls talk like you do, when no alcohol is involved.”

“Do you not like the way I talk,” Buffy asked curiously. “Can you understand everything?”

“Mostly, you talk wonderfully, it’s just very unique.”

“As long as that’s a good unique, I won’t get offended. Let’s sit.” Buffy pulled him down and they sat on the sand. “Have you ever seen a view like this?” She scooted closer to his side and she stared ahead at the sunlight shining on the water. “It’s beautiful.”

“No and it’s not nearly as beautiful as you are.”

Buffy grinned and she rested her head on his shoulder. “Tell me about the other girl.”

“Who? Why?”

“Because I’m curious. I’m guessing that you liked her and I want to know if I’m right. For her not to snatch you up she must have been either stupid or blind. Maybe both.”

“She wasn’t. She was perfect and I thought I loved her. I thought she felt the same way because she’d talk to me and none of the others would. But she turned out being just as bad as the others. Worse.”

“Hey, I don’t want to upset you, you can stop. I’ve heard enough,” Buffy said, detecting pain in his voice.

“No, it’s alright. I wrote poems about her and how I felt about her and she was embarrassed and she said that she didn’t appreciate me writing about her. It’s understandable but I couldn’t help it. She was my muse, my inspiration.”

“But she isn’t anymore?”

“No, she said some things to me that I’ll never forget. I can’t believe I loved her. She’s such an ugly person. She proved to be nothing like what I imagined her to be.”

“I think there’s something wrong with her. I know it.”

“Do you…is someone waiting for you in California, Buffy?”

“He’s waiting but he’ll be disappointed when I get back. We had a fight before I left for Brazil and I broke up with him. We just got to the point where we couldn’t be around each other anymore and I knew I had to end it.”

“How long were you together?”

“About two years and there was constant drama. Everyday we had to face the end of the world and it really put a strain on our relationship.”

“Have you seen a number of demons and evil beings? That must be very dangerous.”

Buffy grinned, happy to change the subject. “I’ve seen my share of uglies but I can take care of myself.”

“I still can’t believe how you broke that door.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet.”

“If we are enemies and since you’re the Slayer, why didn’t you kill me? You must’ve tried.”
“I did, but something always went wrong.”

“Am I really that different from Spike?”

“Well,” Buffy paused and she took her head off of his shoulder. She hooked their arms together. “Spike talks way different and he calls people by nicknames: pet and love. He uses tons of slang, some words; I have no idea what they mean. He loves to think of himself as a bad, rude man and he brags all the time and he’s so annoying--.”

“He’s nothing like me.” William decided.

“You both eat a lot,” Buffy offered. “But you need to remember that I’ve only seen one side of him. He could act really different around people he doesn’t hate so much, like Drusilla.”

“I don’t think I could possibly hate you, Buffy. Can you finally tell me about Drusilla?”

“I…I don’t know especially since you haven’t met her yet. I could say something that could mess up everything, future-wise, you know?”

“I understand,” William said, not hiding his disappointment well.

“Wait,” Buffy shifted so she could see him better. “Ok, I’m going to tell because I think you need to know, ok? Sure you may have not been a hit with the human girls back in the day but Drusilla was after you from the moment she first saw you. What year is it back home?”

“1880.”

“That’s the year.” Buffy mumbled, feeling jealous. “You’ll meet her and you’ll stay with her for many years, William. In fact in Elizabeth’s books, Spike and Dru are like the vampire super couple.”

“She’s a vampire?”

“She makes you into one too.” She touched his hand. “I don’t want you to be afraid of her or anything when you go back because if you don’t become a vampire...I don’t know what will happen. But I do know that Spike is one happy guy and that he enjoys his unlife.”

“She kills me?”

“Yeah,” she searched his eyes, “I hate to say it but it’s kinda not a bad thing. Because if you don’t become a vampire, you’ll never meet Drusilla and she’s the love of Spike’s life and you’ll also never meet…”

“You?”

“Not that meeting me is a highlight in your life but I know I’d be disappointed to never meet Spike, not matter how much of a pain he is. He helped me save the world once and he’s been the subject of some of my most famous jokes.” She smiled, running her fingers through the side of his hair. “Love the hair, it just begs for me to think up new and improved dumb blonde jokes.”

“Buffy…”

“Yeah?” She played with the soft skin behind his ear.

William leaned into her touch, “Can you kiss me again?”

Buffy grinned at his straightforward question and his pleading eyes, “I’d love to. I’m just going to move a little closer, ok? If I make you uncomfortable just tell me.” She scooted onto his lap and William eyes bugged out. She wrapped her arms around him and asked, “This ok?”

“Yes,” he sighed in a low voice. Soon he rested his hands on her lower back. “You make me so happy Buffy. I never thought I’d meet someone like you,” he whispered into her hair.

“You make me happy too.” Tilting her head up, she kissed the corner of his mouth. She then kissed him again, gently sucking on his upper lip. “William…”

“I don’t know what to do. I’ve nev--.”

“Don’t say it. Just do what you want. I want you to learn on your own. Experiment, you can’t do anything wrong, I promise.”

“O-ok.” He moved his hands to cup the back of her head and he pulled her in for a slow and careful kiss. When he experimentally slid his tongue in her mouth, Buffy moaned and William grew more confident. He took his time; insistent on exploring everything she was offering him.

“Yum.” Buffy whimpered, snuggling into William’s body. Her heart was beating dangerously fast. Her body was buzzing and the area between her legs was burning.

“What?” William pulled his mouth away and Buffy whined.

“You taste good. You kiss good. Need more. Now please.”

“Oh,” William made a goofy smile as Buffy reached for him again.
***

 

Chapter 5

“William…we…need…to…stop…” Buffy gasped for air between endless kisses. They had made it to the front door of the lodge but neither of them wanted to go inside too soon. “Don’t want to, but we need to.” She put her hands on his chest and she gently pushed him back.

“But Buffy--.” William pleaded.

Buffy gave him another quick kiss on the lips before keeping her distance. She began smoothing his ruffled hair and she wiped the sparkling lip-gloss that was smudged on his face and neck. “I ravished you good, didn’t I? How do I look?”

“Equally ravished. Beautiful.”

“You always say the nicest things. Suck up,” she teased before taking his hand and dragging him inside.

“You took a very long break.” Elizabeth said as soon as the couple reached the living room.

“We lost track of the time,” Buffy replied truthfully. “You should go out there Elizabeth. Have some fun, let your hair down for just one night.”

“Do you and William want to be alone?”

“It’d be nice but we don’t want to get rid of you. You just seem to be all research and no play.”

“That’s because I’m here to research--.”

“But to research, you must eat. I saw a cute restaurant that I know you’d love. They have those drinks with the little umbrellas, you know the kind of drinks I saw you slip when you thought I was asleep on the plane.”
“Well,” Elizabeth blushed. “I guess I could take a night off. We have collected a lot…and you do seem rather desperate to have William all to yourself.”

Buffy squeezed William’s hand. “What can I say? Smitten, remember?”
***

As soon as Elizabeth left, Buffy sat William down and she showed him how to order their dinner. “Pick out whatever for the both of us and then I want you to change into the best clothes you have.”

“What are you going to do?” William looked disappointed as Buffy turned and headed to her room.

“Change.”

“For what?”

“Our date.”
***

“So, what do you think? Fun?” After eating Buffy dragged William into the living room.

“Yes, I’m having a good time.”

“Good. Sometimes I forget how a date should be, you know? It’s nice not to take a romantic stroll through a graveyard or bandage up each other’s sexy wounds... So, do you know how to dance?” Buffy asked as she pressed play on the little stereo that she had taken from Elizabeth’s room.

“No.”

“I’ll teach you.” She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “The secret to slow dancing is: it’s all about the holding and the swaying.” She pushed her full body against his and began moving leisurely to the music. “You can touch me,” she whispered, noticing that he was in a dazed state with his arms at his sides. “I want you to.”

William croaked something Buffy couldn’t understand and then he put his hands on her hips.

“Please, please don’t pass out on me, William.” She nuzzled under his chin. “You don’t have to be nervous,” she whispered, pressing soft kisses into his neck and under his jaw. William groaned weakly, gaining the courage to touch her bare back. Buffy knew that it was the sundress that she was wearing that had made him shy again.

And he could be embarrassed, Buffy thought suddenly, feeling the bulge in his pants poke her stomach.

“Buffy, I think I should…”

“Kiss me, please? Please William?” She begged, pushing herself even closer to him. She rubbed him up and down and then flashed him an innocent smile, as if she were clueless to what she was doing do him.

William then surprised her, kissing her harder than he had earlier on the beach. It made Buffy whimper and automatically respond, pulling his head closer and threading one of her hands in his hair. With the other hand, she searched for his and she entwined their trembling fingers.

“Oh…oh…” he moaned, breathless between bruising kisses. “Oh, Buffy.”

“I know.” Buffy nodded, unable to get enough of him. She wanted to taste more of him, feel more of him and see more of him.
I just want him. I know everything’s moving quickly but it feels so right, so good.

“Buffy, I-I need to breathe.” William gasped, ripping his mouth away. He rested his forehead against hers as he panted. “This may sound crazy but—please don’t get upset or runaway…I think I love you, Buffy.”

“You…oooh,” Buffy cooed, pleasure filling her body and her heart as he pulled her in for a tight hug. “I’m not going anywhere,” she told him softly.

“You aren’t insulted? Repulsed? Nauseated?”

“No!”

“I’m so—thank God,” he said, flashing her a thankful grin. “I thought you’d be appalled and tell me I was crazy to feel so strongly so quickly.”

“William, you’re so…” Buffy sighed, stroking the side of his face with her thumb. “God, I feel the same way.”

“You do?” William tilted his head and he looked at her in disbelief.

“Yeah, there must be something in the water here, I mean, because at home this would never happen, there’d weeks of angst and drama--.”

“Oh, come on. Say it. Say the words, Buffy.”

“I…I love you too, William.” She shrugged, nervously and she opened her mouth to make another joke.

William cut her off, attacking her with kisses. They both stumbled back until William lifted her off her feet with a grunt.

“What? William?” Buffy giggled, wrapping her legs around his waist.

“Don’t know, it just felt like the right thing to do at the moment.” He smiled up at her, taking his nose from where it had been in her cleavage.

“Ok, Mr. Innocent, let’s go that way. Carry me into my room.”
***

“Now what?”

“I don’t know; you’re the one that decided you should carry me around.” Buffy laughed and she tugged on a handful of his hair. “Put me on the bed, please.”

William did as he was told and then he sat next to her. “I still can’t believe this is happening.”

“I know.” Buffy lay back on the bed with her feet dangling off the edge of the bed. She smiled when William did the same. “Now it’s my turn to say it, I’ve never felt this way before,” she said, finding his hand and holding it as they stared at the ceiling. “It’s going to be hell letting you go home.”

“But that won’t happen for weeks.”

“But it’s still going to happen.” Sighing, Buffy turned on her side and curled her body against his. “You’re not the only one who fallen hard and fast. There’s a part of me that wants to push you away, the part of me that knows when you leave, it’s going to break my heart.”

“Buffy,” William said, reaching for her but she resisted.
“But then there is also this louder and hornier part of me that wants to enjoy every moment that we have.” Tucking her hair behind her ears, Buffy leaned over and she kissed him sweetly on the lips. “Which part should I listen to, William,” she asked, her mouth so close to his that their lips brushed as she spoke.

“I deeply prefer the second.”

“Me too.” With a sigh, Buffy situated herself so she could rest her head on his chest. “But what about your mom? I’ll feel evil and selfish if you stay the whole month.”

“Has Elizabeth told you that there’s a way for me to go back sooner?”

“No, but--.”

“Ask her again and if there isn’t a way for me to return, I’ll stay because I have to and --.”

“But--.”

“And because I don’t want to. Buffy, I’ve waited all my life to be just noticed by someone and now that I’ve found the love I’ve been writing about and hoping for there’s no way I’m leaving you willingly.”

Buffy blinked, William’s words sending trails of warmth through her body. “Oh, my, God. I…you’re so…can you hold me, William?”

Buffy smiled, content, as William wrapped his arms around her.
***

Buffy woke up later once she heard the sound of Elizabeth returning to the lodge. Careful not to wake William, Buffy left him snoring lightly on her bed.

“How was the night off?”

“Good, I had a good time. You?”

“Yeah.”

“You must’ve, I see that William is no longer sleeping on the couch.”

“Well, he—no, he’s going to be sleeping in my room until he goes back,” Buffy decided suddenly.

“Alright, but when the month comes to a close you may want to put him back on the couch, I’d hate for you to wake up with Spike in your bed,” Elizabeth replied with a smirk.

“Yeah, yeah. Elizabeth, did you look for a way to send him back early? Is it possible?”

“I did and it can’t be done. The spell must wear off.”

“That’s kinda weird, but I’m not going to complain. So have a little more than three weeks right? Maybe four?” Buffy keep her face emotionless but she felt like jumping in joy.

“That sounds about right and if you’re interested, I’ll be compiling my research for the next few days.”

“Ok…um, what does that mean exactly?”

“I’ll be typing in my bedroom and William will be free to do whatever he pleases.”
“Oooh. Well. I. Should…” She said the words quickly, taking breaths in between, trying to control her excitement as she pointed towards her bedroom. “Bye!”

Elizabeth shook her head, watching as Buffy ran back to William. “Take care of him, I may need him for more questions later!”
***

Buffy ran her finger over his eyebrows and down the slope of his nose. She was outlining the curves of his lips when he woke up.

“Buffy?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it morning?”

“Nope, would you like to get under the covers with me?” Buffy crawled to the top of the bed and when she was comfortable; she patted the space next to her.

William sat up and he scratched his head, “Are you sure?”

“Yup, but only if you take off your shoes before you get in.” She chuckled as William looked down as if he had forgotten that he wasn’t barefoot. “And if you take off your shirt, you’ll be more comfortable without it.”

“Is that right?” William eyed Buffy suspiciously as she grinned, batting her eyes. “And is what you’re wearing under there more comfortable too?” He noticed that the dress she had been wearing earlier was tossed in the corner of the room.

“You’ll just have to come over here and see for yourself.” Buffy teased, watching as he slipped off his shoes. She held her breath as he started to pull his shirt over his head.

And girls dump this guy? They cheat on him and run away…they’re idiots.

She put her hand to her mouth causally, making sure she wasn’t drooling. “God, you’re handsome.”

“You think so?” William looked down and a blush coloring his cheeks. “I don’t usually look like this. My hair…” He pointed to his head as he got into the bed. “It used to have some color to it.”

“Brown?”

William nodded, “In fact I wasn’t this pale either.”

“That’s what happens when you stay out of the sun for a hundred years, you get pasty.” Buffy watched as he rolled to face her, pulling the bedclothes high around his neck.

“A hundred years without ever seeing the sun…I can’t even imagine that.”

“I know; you can’t do things that normal people can do. Like, uh, going to the zoo or on a picnic, that kinda stuff.” Buffy made a face, trying to think of more things that he’d miss once turned. When her mind stayed blank, she reached for the lamp next to the bed. Because of her movements, the blankets fell from her shoulders, exposing her nightgown to William. As Buffy turned out the light, she heard William take a deep breath. She then snuggled back into the covers and she continued, “Maybe we should do more outdoorsy stuff for the next few days. Elizabeth’s giving you some time off.”

“Oh?”

“Yup, she’s starting to write, and I asked about you going home and she said it can’t happen. I guess you’ll be sticking around for a while. Until the spell dies off.”

“I’m glad.”

“Me too.” Buffy looked ahead blindly, wishing the room wasn’t so dark. “William,” she asked after several minutes of silence.

“Yes, Buffy?”

“Would you mind moving closer? I was so comfortable before—but I understand if you don’t…” Buffy stopped; William was already making his way to the middle of the bed. “Hey that was easy.” Buffy went into his arms, her heart beating fast as she rested against his bare skin. Pillowing her head on his chest, Buffy realized that William’s heart was racing too. “You know, I’m new to this. I’ve never had a real boy in my bed before and it’s very nice. Very cozy.” She ran a hand down his upper body and then she kissed his collarbone.

“I love you.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” She draped her leg possessively over his body. Then she felt him kiss her hair. “When should go to sleep,” Buffy said, sighing as he moved to kiss her temple and then her forehead. “Because…ah, sleeping is important.”

“In a minute.” William promised before kissing her mouth.

“One minute.” She agreed, responding wholeheartedly to his kiss. “Ok, on second thought maybe I could spare an hour or two, how ‘bout you?”
***

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