Chapter 1:

Buffy Summers showed up a couple of minutes early for her one o’clock meeting with her editor and boss Lilah Morgan. When Buffy was hired as a music reporter last fall for “Young and Hip” magazine, she instantly jumped on the chance, hoping to take a crack at journalism along with getting a minor amount of praise for her work.

After her mother’s death, she took her younger sister Dawn in and began to take care of her, even though she was already eighteen. The two sisters got along well enough, and on the weekends, Dawn accompanied Buffy to concerts and interviews that she conducted with small-time bands. They spent less time together when Dawn began taking classes at UC-Sunnydale and traded in time with her sister for parties and boys. Buffy found herself to be rather lonely on weeknights and was hoping that Lilah would assign her another project, hopefully a big one that would require a lot of time. She never could have expected what opportunity her editor was going to pitch to her that afternoon.

* * *

“Hello, Buffy,” Lilah said as she opened her office door, letting her employee walk in. “That was a fabulous article you wrote last week about that one band. What was their name again?”

“Mass Confusion,” Buffy supplied, sitting down on a chair across from Lilah’s desk. “They were a little too hard rock for my taste, but they were pretty good.”

“I was told that they’re on the cusp of becoming mainstream,” Lilah replied. “You might’ve played an integral role in that happening.” Buffy simply smiled. “It seems like a lot of the bands you’ve reported on have become famous almost overnight. That must make you very proud.”

“Yes, well, it’s not all because of me,” Buffy said humbly. “They all deserved their big break. I’m just happy I was able to interview them before it happened.” Lilah laughed.

“Well, I suppose you’re wondering why I called you in here today,” she said, clasping her hands and resting them on her desk. Buffy sat up straighter, anxious for Lilah to explain. “Have I ever told you that my cousin is the manager for a band in town?” Buffy shook her head, surprised. “Yes, it’s true. My cousin Liam O’Connor is the manager of a band called Dingoes Ate My Baby.” Buffy smirked at the name.

‘Who would name their band something so asinine?’ she thought, willing herself not to giggle.

“I think my sister has seen a couple of their shows,” Buffy said. “What about them? Do you want me to set up an interview session with them?”

“Yes, but it’s not going to be like all of the other interviews you’ve conducted before,” Lilah said with a hint of excitement in her tone. Buffy was surprised- Lilah never showed that many emotions.

“What will make this one so different from the others?” Buffy asked hesitantly.

‘It’s got to be something big if she’s being so cryptic about it,’ she thought.

“Well, the band is going on tour for a couple of weeks,” Lilah began to explain. “They’re hitting fifteen cities across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Nevada, and the magazine is interested in a reporter following them and writing about life on the road.” Buffy froze. “I’d like to give you the assignment, Buffy. I think it would be a great opportunity for you to get out and experience touring with a fairly unknown band. What do you say?” Buffy was beyond stunned.

“You want me to go on tour with this band?” she asked, trying to process it.

“It’ll give you a greater insight into what it means and what it takes to become mainstream,” Lilah said. “I wish I would’ve had a chance like this when I was your age- it might’ve allowed me to branch away from my roots here.” Buffy managed a weak smile. “What’s wrong? You don’t like the idea?”

“No, I think it’s fabulous,” Buffy said quickly. “I just don’t think it’s a good assignment for me. I mean, I have a couple of other bands I’m supposed to interview soon, and I’ve got to take care of Dawnie, and I-”

“Not to sound like a bitch, but you don’t have anything,” Lilah cut in. Buffy raised an eyebrow, surprised at her editor’s blunt words. “I can hand off your future interviews to other reporters, and I don’t see why you’d use Dawn as an excuse not to go because as far as I’m concerned, she’s not really even a part of your household anymore, now is she?”

“Dawn still lives with me,” Buffy said sternly before ducking her head and sighing. “I just don’t see her a whole lot.”

“And besides that, she’s eighteen, Buffy,” Lilah pointed out. “She can take care of herself for less than a month, can’t she?” Buffy nodded. “So, will you take it, or should I start looking for another music reporter?” Buffy looked at her boss with a defensive expression and stood up.

“I’ll take it,” she answered. Lilah nodded and waited to smirk until Buffy left her office.

‘That’s the best way to get an employee motivated for their job- allude to replacing them,’ Lilah thought before dialing her cousin’s cell phone number.

* * *

After getting off of the phone with his cousin, Liam ‘Angel’ O’Connor looked at the band sitting in front of him- Xander Harris was the drummer, Daniel ‘Oz’ Osborne was the bassist, and William ‘Spike’ Crawford was the lead singer, along with playing the bass guitar occasionally. He had managed them for over a year, and finally, they had enough funding to go on a small tour throughout the surrounding states. Angel had asked his cousin Lilah to recruit Buffy Summers, an infamous music reporter in Sunnydale, to go with them so that maybe the band would skyrocket into more fame quickly, thus making all of them, including Angel, rich. In his mind, it was the greatest plan he had ever come up with.

When Lilah called to confirm that Buffy would be joining them, he couldn’t be more pleased with himself. Now it was time to convince the band that it was the right decision for them to make. He knew one member in particular wouldn’t be happy at all with the new arrangement.

“So, what’s the big meeting about, Angel?” Xander asked, mindlessly tapping his drumsticks against his legs.

“Well, do you remember when I mentioned possibly having a reporter follow us on tour?” Angel asked. All three men nodded. “I found one, and she has agreed to come with us and write about the band and how the tour goes.” The three men in front of him looked at each other.

“You’re having some bird travel with us?” Spike asked, raising an eyebrow. Angel nodded. “Are you crazy? You want some girl to follow us around and write about us?”

“I think it’ll do wonders for the band’s popularity,” Angel explained, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, maybe it will, but the girl could expose some of our secrets or could write us up as being complete wankers,” Spike pointed out. “Having a reporter follow us isn’t a wise idea. Haven’t you seen ‘Almost Famous’?”

“That’s actually where I got the idea from,” Angel answered. Spike groaned and looked down.

“It’s not bloody right to have some girl shadow us for three weeks,” Spike said. “I veto your decision, mate.”

“What about you two?” Angel asked, looking at Oz and Xander. Xander looked at Spike and frowned.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “Maybe she’ll do us some justice and make us sound like real rockstars.” Oz nodded in agreement and shrugged. “I think you’ve got two votes for it. Sorry, man.” Spike sighed.

“Fine, we’ll have the reporter chic come with us,” Spike said, looking at Angel. “But if she gets in the way or causes any trouble, I’m sending her packing. Understand?”

“Yes,” Angel answered. “I’ve been told that Buffy Summers is nothing but professional. Maybe she’ll even make you act like more of a gentleman, Spike.” Everyone but Spike laughed at that. He shot Angel a look. “Come on, man- what’s the worst that can happen?”

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Chapter 2:
Buffy was scouring through her closet for an outfit when Dawn walked into her bedroom.

“Does someone have a hot date tonight?” Dawn asked mischievously, sitting down on Buffy’s bed.

“Yeah, with a band,” Buffy answered, pulling out several hangers of clothes.

“Do I sense a possibly orgy?” Dawn laughed, looking at her sister’s shocked expression. “Oh come on, Buffy, I’m not a kid anymore. I do know about these things.” She giggled. “I’ve heard a lot worse, too. But I never expected my sister, the prim and proper reporter, would do something so scandalous.”

“Will you shut up and help me pick out something to wear?” Buffy asked, looking at the garments in her hands.

“What’s the big deal?” Dawn asked. “I’ve never seen you worry about the clothes you’re going to wear to some band’s show.”

“Well, I guess this isn’t just ‘some band’, Dawnie,” Buffy said, depositing the hangers on her bed. “I have something I need to tell you.”

“Let me guess- you’re pregnant with some musician’s baby and you have to tell him tonight before he goes on tour in Europe for the summer,” Dawn joked, giggling. Buffy shot her a look and took a deep breath.

“I’ve been asked to go on tour with a band for three weeks,” Buffy announced. “The magazine wants me to cover the tour and how things go for the band.” Dawn was stunned. “I’m leaving in a couple of days, actually.”

“Are you serious?” Dawn asked, shocked. Buffy nodded. “When were you going to tell me? You just thought you could spring this on me?”

“I just found out this afternoon,” Buffy said quietly. “And trust me, I wasn’t too happy about leaving you here alone that long, but if I don’t go, Lilah could fire me, and we both know how much I need my job.”

“So you’re going to follow some band around for three weeks?” Dawn asked. “You’re going to watch all of their shows, interview the band, live with them on a tour-bus?” Buffy hadn’t even thought about that.

‘I’m going to be in close quarters with this band for three weeks,’ she thought before frowning. ‘This isn’t going to be good. I can already feel the tension building, and I haven’t even met the guys yet.’

“Yes,” Buffy finally answered. “And I get to meet them tonight and hopefully get a feel for how they are.”

“Which band is it?” Dawn asked, poking through the pile of clothes Buffy had dropped off next to her.

“Dingoes Ate My Baby,” Buffy answered. Dawn instantly shot to attention, staring at her sister.

“You’re going on tour with Dingoes Ate My Baby?” Dawn asked, clarifying. Buffy nodded, confused by the look in Dawn’s eyes. “You get to spend three weeks with Spike Crawford?” Buffy raised an eyebrow.

“There’s a guy named Spike in the band?” she asked. “You’ve got to be joking me.” Dawn stood up.

“You lucky bi-” Dawn began before cutting herself off and slightly blushing when Buffy gave her a warning look.
“Can I go with you? I hardly take up any space.” She sighed, a dreamy expression washing over her face. “God, I’d give anything to be a band-aid for those guys.” Buffy looked at her sister.

“A band-aid? What am I not understanding?” she asked, crossing her arms.

“Don’t you remember what a ‘band-aid’ is?” Dawn asked, and Buffy shook her head. “It’s another name for groupies. Kate Hudson was one in ‘Almost Famous’…ring any bells?”

“What?” Buffy asked, snapping out of her thoughts. “Oh, right. Sorry, I only watched the movie for Jason Lee.” Buffy looked at her kid sister sternly. “I’m not taking you along with me just so you can sleep with some guy named Spike. He probably has more STDs than there are letters in the alphabet, Dawnie. Yuck!” Dawn laughed and grabbed a jean skirt out of the clothes pile.

“Here,” she said. “And you can wear that tight black T-shirt I like so much. You’ll look both sexy and professional.” Buffy smiled and grabbed the shirt and a pair of black heels. “Can I come with you tonight?”

“Don’t you have exams tomorrow?” Buffy asked, and Dawn smiled. “Dawn! You have to study. If you lose your scholarship, I swear I’m going to-”

“Make me work at Doublemeat Palace, I know,” Dawn said, leaving the room and going to the kitchen. Buffy took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror.

‘I really wish I wouldn’t have accepted this assignment,’ she thought, sighing.

* * *

Spike got a drink from the bar about half an hour before the show was supposed to start. Besides his usual nerves about performing, he now was plagued by the idea of having some reporter following him around for three weeks.

‘A lot can happen in three bloody weeks,’ he thought, grabbing the beer the bartender handed to him. ‘If she even thinks she can interview me one-on-one, she’s got another thing coming. My secrets are staying private- I’m not letting some chit spread vicious lies about me just so she can sell some lame magazine.’ He saw a blonde woman walk into the bar and couldn’t help but stare at her. ‘Now that’s a beautiful woman.’ She noticed him and raised an eyebrow before coming to the bar and ordering a drink. Before Spike could approach her, Angel came over to him.

“What is it, Peaches?” Spike asked, drinking from his bottle. “Are we taking a monkey on tour with us now, too?”

“Your smart-ass comments will only get you so far in the business,” Angel replied, crossing his arms. “Are you planning on getting drunk before the show? Because when you did that last week, I had a lot of damage control to do. Do you realize you insulted almost all of America?” Spike chuckled and looked at Angel.

“Well, sometimes you bloody Colonials need to remember that this blasted country was formed primarily by Englishmen,” Spike said, taking a swig from his bottle. “England is twenty times better than this place, and the ‘founding fathers’ of America just weren’t good enough for the mother country.”

“So why do you live here then?” a voice asked. Both men turned to see the blonde woman from before standing beside them. Spike smirked at her.

‘She’s got some attitude,’ he thought, appraising her. ‘And a hell of a body to go with it. What I wouldn’t give for a chance with her.’

“Can I help you?” Angel asked, snapping Spike back to reality.

“Are you Angel?” she asked, surprising both men in front of her.

“Yes, I am,” he answered. “And who exactly are you, Miss…”

“Summers,” the woman smiled, extending a hand. “Buffy Summers.” Angel shook her hand, and it was then that Spike figured out who she was. He raised an eyebrow as she looked at him. “I believe I’m going on tour with you.”
***************************************************************************

 

Chapter 3:
Spike was still stunned as he shook her hand. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was actually speechless.

‘Say something, you stupid ponce,’ he commanded himself. ‘She’s the bird touring with us. Oh god…’ He paused and smirked. ‘I think I’d like to have a go with this one.’

“It’s nice to meet you,” Spike said. “I’m Spike Crawford.” Buffy smiled.

“I assumed as much,” she said. “My kid sister told me a little about you.” Spike smiled proudly.

“Did she now?” he asked. “What exactly did she tell you?” Buffy looked at him.

“That you’re a womanizer,” Buffy said, and Spike’s smile instantly faded. “But that’s not keeping her from having a crush on you.” She looked at Angel. “Kids these days. You think they’d learn to go for the good guys.” Spike stared at her.

“Who says I’m not good?” he asked, his tone both defensive and suggestive. She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

“Let me go look in a tabloid- I’m sure I can find a girl who knows from her one-night stand with you,” she replied. Angel couldn’t help but laugh at the fierce blonde woman.

‘She’s got spunk,’ he thought. ‘And she’s not afraid to put him in his place. Thank god for my cousin.’

“Well, Spike, you’ve got a show to do soon,” Angel said before Spike could launch a counter-attack against Buffy. “Go ahead backstage, and I’ll see you in a moment.” He shot Buffy a withering glare before storming off to the backstage area. Angel smiled at her. “I’m sorry about him- he can be kind of an ass.”

“So I noticed,” she said, returning his smile. “But he’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Good,” Angel replied before looking at his watch. “I have to get back there, but feel free to have a drink and relax. I have a feeling the next few weeks are going to be a non-stop whirlwind.” He noticed a redhead emerging from the backstage. She came over to him and smiled. “Buffy, I want you to meet Willow Rosenberg, Oz’s fiancé.” Buffy smiled at the woman and shook her head. “Willow, this is the reporter I was telling you about.”

“Oh,” Willow said, looking at Buffy. “It’s great to meet you. I love reading your articles in ‘Young and Hip’.”

“Thank you,” Buffy said sincerely, motioning for Willow to sit on the stool next to her.

“Well, I’ll let you two talk,” Angel said. “And I’ll see you after the show, right, Buffy?” She nodded, and he politely excused himself before leaving the two women alone.

“So, you’re engaged to the bassist?” Buffy asked conversationally, thankful that Dawn had given her the basic information about the members of the band.

“For three months now,” Willow smiled. “He’s really great. I’m sure he won’t be any trouble at all on the road.”

“Not like Spike, right?” Buffy asked, smirking. Willow nodded and ordered a drink.

“Xander’s a sweetheart, too, but you’ll have to beware of his two girlfriends,” Willow said. Buffy raised an eyebrow.

“Two?” she asked, taking a sip of her Cosmopolitan.

“Yeah, two,” she affirmed. “Cordelia Chase and Anya Jenkins. Cordy can be very high-society, but she’s generally pretty nice. And Anya… well, she’s a character.” Buffy smiled. “She speaks very succinctly and can be brutally honest sometimes.” She paused. “I should probably warn you that she talks openly about her sexuality. It can be kind of disturbing at first, but you’ll get used to it.”

“Thanks for the information,” Buffy said, trying to process it all. “Are they going on tour?”

“No,” Willow said, shaking her head. “Cordy is a model in Los Angeles, so she’ll probably only go to their concert there. And Anya runs the occult store in town, so she can’t be gone for three weeks. She’ll probably show up after she closes the store tonight.”

“Anyone else I should be aware of?” Buffy asked with a light tone.

“Yeah,” Willow said, taking a deep breath. “Drusilla.”

* * *

“And who exactly is that?” Buffy asked.

‘And what kind of name is Drusilla?’ she asked herself.

“She used to date Spike,” Willow began to explain. “They moved here together from England, and after they broke up a couple of months ago, she started to appear at random shows. She’s a little unstable, to tell you the truth. I don’t know if she’ll go to any of their stops on the tour, but you should probably be prepared just in case. Xander and Oz hate her, and I think Spike finally is over her.”

“Wait- did she dump him, or was it the other way around?” Buffy asked curiously.

“She was cheating on him,” Willow answered, and Buffy felt slightly sympathetic towards him.

‘It always seems like the guys are the ones who cheat,’ she thought. ‘And he’s a punk rocker- I would’ve just assumed it was him who did the cheating. That’s so horrible.’ She paused. ‘And it probably explains why he’s such a jerk now.’

“Is it safe to assume that Spike is single?” Buffy asked. Willow smiled.

“Yeah, he is,” she answered. “And I’m sure you’ll get to see all of his conquests the morning after.” Buffy instantly felt nauseous.

“Got to love groupies,” Buffy replied, sipping her drink. Willow patted her hand.

“But other than dealing with Spike, I’m sure you’ll have a great time,” she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, isn’t it?” Buffy looked at her. “And besides, you’ll have the guys looking out for you over the next three weeks. I’m sure you’ll be safe, and if one of the guys gives you any trouble, send him my way, okay?” Buffy smiled at the other woman.

‘She’s such a sweetheart,’ Buffy thought. ‘Her and I will get along great for three weeks.’ She paused. ‘Wait a second…’

“I just realized something- are you going on tour with the band, too?” Buffy asked, and Willow shook her head.

“I have to teach a summer class,” Willow answered. “Looks like you’ll be the only girl on the bus.”
 

Chapter 4:
After the show ended and the club closed, the band and Angel came over to the bar. Spike looked at Buffy with an unreadable expression, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Something wrong?” she asked, drinking her second Cosmopolitan. He ordered another beer.

“You want to live on a tour-bus with us for three weeks?” he asked, crossing his arms. She frowned.

“No,” she answered simply. “I don’t want to live on a bus in general, and especially not with you.” He scowled. “But it’s my job, and it means a lot to me.”

“Hi, I’m Xander,” the brunette drummer said, shaking Buffy’s hand. “So you’re the reporter who wants to see how us rock stars live?” She couldn’t help but smile at him. “Do you promise to portray us honestly?”

“I’ll be sure I’m nothing but honest about you,” she said before looking at Spike. “But I probably won’t be so nice when it comes to you.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the group. She raised an eyebrow.

“Are you drunk or something?” he hissed. “What the bloody hell is your problem? You don’t even know me and you’ve been nothing but a bitch to me since the first moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Because I don’t like you on principle,” she shrugged. “Guys like you and girls like me don’t mix well.”

“And what kind of guy am I?” he asked, letting go of her arm. “Enlighten me.”

“You’re the all-powerful lead singer who uses women to get off and doesn’t give a damn about them,” she said sternly. “All you care about is fame and power. How wrong am I, Spike?” He frowned and took a step back from her.

“Think whatever you want, Summers,” he said. “But I’ll prove you wrong about me.” She raised an eyebrow as he walked back to the group to grab his black leather duster before he left. She sat down again and ducked her head when everyone looked at her.

“I think this tour is going to rock,” Xander said, looking at Oz. Willow smiled while Angel laughed, and all the while, Buffy couldn’t stop thinking about what Spike had said to her.

* * *

A couple of days later, Buffy woke up and went through her normal morning routine before waking up Dawn and eating breakfast. When the doorbell rang minutes later, Buffy opened the door to find Spike standing there.

“Hi,” she said, surprised. “I thought Xander was going to help me carry my bags down to the bus.”

“He’s fast asleep already, luv,” he replied. “Figured I could probably be of some help.” She raised an eyebrow before heading towards her bedroom. He followed her and saw the pile of bags she had resting on her bed. He couldn’t help but indiscreetly look around the room while he was in it.

‘I might not ever see it again,’ he thought. ‘Although I’m going to try my hardest to make it happen.’

“So, I’m sure you’re excited to leave,” Buffy said, trying to make conversation. “Since you don’t like Sunnydale.”

“I don’t hate it, by any means,” Spike shrugged. “I just like London better.” She nodded and grabbed two of her bags. “Let me take those, pet. You can take the small one.” She shook her head. “Those bags combined are bigger than you- let me take them.”

“Fine,” she said, handing them off to him. He frowned and looked at them.

“What the hell did you pack?” he asked. “I don’t want to say bricks because that’s so cliché, but what’s in these?”

“A girl has to bring shoes for every possible occasion,” she smiled, and he raised an eyebrow. She retrieved her last bag just as Dawn opened the bathroom door, covered only in a towel. She saw Spike and shrieked before slamming the bathroom door. Both Buffy and Spike laughed, and he couldn’t help but notice how adorable she was when she laughed. “So, you’ve now met my sister.” Dawn emerged a moment later, completely clothed. “I’m heading out, Dawnie.”

“Okay,” she said, staring at Spike. He extended a hand, which she promptly shook. “It’s an honor to meet you, Spike.” He smirked. “You promise to take good care of my sister?” He looked at Buffy and smiled.

“Yeah, I think that can be arranged,” he said, winking at her. She frowned and hugged her sister.

“Take care of yourself, too,” Buffy said. “You have my cell phone number, and I have all of the emergency numbers on the refrigerator. No parties, no boys, no alcohol, no drugs- got me?”

“Yeah,” Dawn said, crossing her arms. “I’ll be sure that happens somewhere else instead. Sounds good?”

“You’re so funny,” Buffy said sarcastically, kissing Dawn’s cheek. “Alright, I’ll see you in three weeks then.” Buffy and Spike walked to the door, and Dawn watched them leave before closing the door and smiling.

‘Oh yeah, the tension definitely is already crackling between them,’ she thought. ‘I can’t wait to hear if it explodes.’

* * *

After Buffy got settled on the bus and unpacked, she set her laptop up and sat on her bunkbed, the one above Xander. Oz and Spike had the ones across from them, even though Spike said he liked to sleep on the king-sized bed in the back of the bus. Angel was walking around, talking on his cell phone. Buffy got up and looked out the window, watching scenery fly by them as they headed towards Tucson.

“Enjoying the view, pet?” Spike asked, smirking. She looked at him and smiled.

“I’ve never been out of California before,” she said, shrugging. “This is kind of exciting for me.”

“Arizona should be cool,” he said. “I’ve heard it can be extremely hot, but then again, so is California.”

“But isn’t Arizona supposed to have prettier scenery?” she asked, looking outside again. He looked up and down her body, grinning.

“That’s debatable,” he answered. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and he chuckled before going to the front of the bus.

‘It’s going to be a long trip,’ she thought, returning to her bunk bed.
 

Chapter 5:
After passing the border into Arizona, Buffy began to write up preliminary questions she wanted to ask everyone when she interviewed them. Xander noticed what she was doing and went to sit beside her at the table in the main part of the bus.

“So, Buffster, when are you going to interview me?” he asked, smiling. She laughed and closed her laptop.

“I thought I’d wait until after a couple of stops,” she said. “That way, you can talk about your perception of the tour and how it’s going.” He nodded and saw Spike talking with Angel in the back of the bus.

“So, I couldn’t help but notice the other night that you don’t get along with Spike,” he said casually. “Why not?”

“He just doesn’t strike me as being a nice guy,” she shrugged. “He’s the lead singer of a band- those guys aren’t the ones girls should befriend.” He chuckled.

“You’d be surprised,” he replied. “Spike’s one of the most stand-up guys I know. Sure, he can be an ass sometimes, but it just adds to his charm.” She raised an eyebrow. “I know you’re not fond of the guy, but maybe you should give him a chance to surprise you. We’re all sharing a bus for the next three weeks, and as fun as it is to see you piss him off, I have a feeling he’s going to start biting back, and I don’t want to see your feelings get hurt.” She gave him a small smile.

“Thanks,” she said. “You seem like the protective-brother type. Have any siblings?”

“Nope, I just care a lot about girls,” he answered, smiling.

“Yeah, I heard that you’re dating two women,” she said. “Do they know that?”

“Yeah, and surprisingly, neither of them seems to care that much,” he said. “I only see Cordelia every once in awhile because she’s always working, and Anya seems open to it because I think she wants a threesome eventually.” Buffy blushed. “A girl can dream, right?” He winked at Buffy before getting up. “Well, whenever you want to interview me, you know where to find me.” She giggled as he went back to his bed and lay down.

Spike saw Xander leave the table where Buffy was and walked over to sit across from her just as she opened her laptop again. She frowned.

“What can I do for you, Spike?” she asked, looking at her computer screen as she began typing.

“Oh, such a good question,” he smirked, watching the blush that crept into her cheeks. “What’re you writing?”

“Questions for the interview sessions I want to conduct with you all,” she answered. He frowned.

“You really expect me to answer your questions honestly?” he asked, crossing his arms. She looked at him.

“If you don’t, I’ll write whatever I want as your answers,” she warned. “I can make you seem like even more of a jerk than you already are.” He scowled.

“What’s your vendetta against me?” he asked. “Is it your mission to piss me off?” She reflected back to what Xander had said and sighed.

“I don’t know,” she answered, going back to typing. “Something about you just doesn’t seem right.”

“I bet you say that to all the guys,” he joked. She giggled quietly. “So there is some humor in you, luv. Good to see. Doesn’t make you seem like such a cold-hearted bitch anymore.” She looked at him, her jaw slightly dropped.

“I’m not a bitch,” she said defensively. “I just don’t deal with other people’s BS.”

“Yeah, and if you actually took the time to learn about me, you’d find out that I’m not such a bad man,” he replied.

“I guess you’ll just have to prove that to me,” she said, standing up and grabbing her laptop before heading to her bed and sitting on it, closing the curtain beside her to seclude herself from everything around her.

* * *

By the time they arrived in Tucson, the boys were excited to play their first show away from Sunnydale. Buffy watched as they carried their equipment and instruments into the club they were going to play in. She couldn’t help but notice how muscular Spike seemed, even though he was lean.

‘Bad thoughts, Buffy,’ she mentally scolded herself as she caught herself staring at him. She got dressed up in the club’s bathroom before sitting down at the bar and ordering a soda. She had brought her laptop in and continued to brainstorm questions while the band and Angel set things up. Spike watched her from the stage and smiled.

‘She’s the most beautiful fireball I’ve ever seen,’ he thought before helping Oz bring in his drum-set. Angel noticed who Spike was looking at and smiled to himself.

‘Maybe she’ll make him settle down,’ he thought. ‘That is, if we can ever get them to be civil and if he’ll stop sleeping with random girls every night. She could be good for him.’

He walked over to the bar and sat down beside her. She looked at him.

“So, how do you like being on the road so far?” he asked. She shrugged and sighed.

“It’s something different,” she answered, drinking some of her soda. “I’ve never really traveled before, but I like it.” He nodded and ordered a beer.

“Is everyone treating you alright?” he asked. She nodded and closed her laptop. “Including Spike?” She smiled.

“He’s being his usual self,” she answered. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“That’s what you tell me,” he chuckled, looking at the guys moving around onstage. “He’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“That’s kind of what Xander said before,” Buffy said, looking at him. “It almost seems like you guys are trying to hook him and I up. Why is that?” Angel smirked.

“Maybe because we are,” he said, and she instantly frowned. “Give him a shot, Buffy.”

“Why?” she asked quietly, looking down.

“Because it seems like you both could use each other,” he said, winking at her before walking away. She watched him before opening her laptop again.

‘What the hell did he mean?’ she asked herself as she began writing more questions for the upcoming interviews. ‘I could use Spike and vice versa? How come that doesn’t sound good?’ She paused, sighing. ‘No, I don’t want Spike, and I definitely don’t need him in my life. This is just an assignment for my job.’

But somewhere inside, she knew that she was enjoying herself and the time she spent on the bus with the band, and even though Spike wasn’t her ideal guy, he sparked something in her that no one else ever had before.
 

Chapter 6:
After the show ended, Buffy ordered another drink from the bar, knowing that it was going to be a while before the band was ready to leave. As she sat down on a stool, a brunette man approached her and sat beside her.

“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked, smiling at her. She raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

“I don’t accept drinks from strangers,” she replied, looking away from him once again.

“I’m Larry,” he said, extending a hand towards her, which she hesitantly shook. “I’m not a stranger anymore, so can I get you a drink?” She sighed and nodded.

“Sure, why not?” she replied, ordering her usual Cosmopolitan.

“So, are you a fan of the band?” Larry asked casually, taking his beer from the bartender.

“I guess,” she answered, shrugging. “I’m on tour with them, writing an article for a magazine I work for.” He seemed surprised. “It’s a long story.”

“Yeah, I bet it is,” he replied, chuckling. “So, what’s your name, little lady?”

“Buffy,” she answered. “Buffy Summers.” He smiled and took a swig of his beer. “Are you a fan of the band?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “I am now. I never heard of them before tonight, but I thought I’d take a chance on them. Turns out, they’re pretty good. The lead singer has a really distinct voice, which I dig.”

“Yeah, everything about Spike is distinct,” she replied, seeing him walk onstage to grab his water bottle before retreating backstage once again.

“Are you two an item?” Larry asked, smirking. She looked at him with wide eyes. “Sorry, but the way you looked at him…it’s almost as if you’re in love or something.” She felt sick at the mere suggestion of loving Spike.

“No, there’s nothing going on between him and I,” she answered. “If anything, we’re enemies.” She quickly drank her Cosmopolitan before ordering another one.

‘Yuck- me loving Spike? Like that’d ever happen,’ she thought.

* * *

As Spike was about to leave the backstage area, he heard the crowd chanting, “Fight! Fight!”

‘Buffy,’ he thought as he quickly walked to the main part of the bar, seeing her standing beside a brunette man who was shouting at a tall black-haired man. ‘If she causes trouble everywhere we go…then she’s exactly like me.’ He chuckled to himself before once again becoming serious and walking over to her. As he grabbed her arm, she looked at him with a surprised expression, and he noticed that her eyes were glossy. ‘Shit, she’s drunk.’

“Come on, pet,” he said calmly, trying to pull her away from where the arguing men were.

“No,” she replied, trying to break away from him. “I’m on Larry’s side. I need to stay.”

“He can take care of himself, luv,” he said, managing to pull her into the backstage area.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, slightly slurring. “I’m supposed to help my friends out.”

“I highly doubt that guy was your friend,” Spike said, and Angel, Oz, and Xander watched the two blondes curiously. “In fact, I’d bet my guitar that you won’t even remember his name tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll just write it on my hand,” Buffy said, grabbing a pen and beginning to write on the back of her hand. “Wait, what was it again?” She looked at him pensively, and he started laughing at her.

“Yep, just as I suspected,” he replied. “Come on, guys, let’s head out. Queen Buffy needs to get some rest.”

“I’m a queen?” she asked excitedly. “Do I have a crown?” He looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Just how drunk are you?” he asked, and she giggled. “How many drinks did you have?”

“At least three,” she answered cheerfully. “They’re just so pretty! Do you like those pink drinks, too?”

“No,” he answered. The other guys walked outside to the bus first, and Spike led Buffy behind them. “You’re going to have one hell of a hangover in the morning.”

“Blasphemy!” she replied loudly, and he looked at her, amused.

‘I think drunk Buffy is a lot more agreeable than sober Buffy,’ he thought. ‘Too bad this isn’t healthy for her.’

“You’ll watch out for me, right?” she asked, looking at him with a hopeful expression, which surprised him. “I thought you told Dawnie you’d take care of me?”

“Yes, I told her I’d make sure you’re okay,” he said, nodding. “And the first step to you being okay is to make you drink a lot of water so you don’t dehydrate.” She frowned. “Sorry, pet, but you’re the one who chose to get plastered.”

“I want to go to sleep,” she replied before yawning. “Can I rest now, Spike?” He saw the drowsy look on her face and smiled softly.

“Sure, princess,” he said, helping her get on the bus. He managed to steer her towards her bunk bed, and she obediently lay down. “Aren’t you going to change into pajamas or something?”

“Unless you’re willing to help, I don’t think I can take off what I’m wearing by myself,” she said, and as much as the thought intrigued Spike, he couldn’t allow himself to take her up on the offer.

‘I’d feel like I’m taking advantage of the situation or something,’ he thought. ‘And that’s not exactly going to win her over, now is it?’

“Just sleep, pet,” he said, running his hand over her hair. “Good night.” She yawned and closed her eyes, almost instantly dozing off. He smiled and saw the other guys walking around the front part of the bus.

“So, anyone up for getting a drink?” Spike asked, looking at his friends.

“I’m going to check in with Willow,” Oz said. “But you guys go on ahead. I’ll make sure Buffy’s okay.” Spike looked at him graciously before walking off of the bus, Angel and Xander behind him.

* * *

When Buffy woke up the next morning, she fought back the nausea that coursed through her and the pounding headache that she was greeted with instantly.

‘Good going, Buffy- get drunk the first night of the trip,’ she thought, carefully standing up and going into the small bathroom. She looked in the mirror and frowned. ‘Not only do I look like death, but I’m still wearing what I was in last night. Great.’ She pulled her hair into a ponytail and went to go get clothes. She realized that the bus was moving and sighed. ‘Yep, the world doesn’t stop just because you’re battling the hangover from hell. What happened last night?’ She remembered several small details, like meeting some guy at the bar, ordering several drinks, potentially starting a bar fight, and Spike bringing her to the tour-bus. She raised an eyebrow at the thought. ‘Spike helped me last night. And as much as I don’t want to, I should probably thank him. Who knows what I could’ve done last night if he hadn’t stepped in. ’ She went to the bunks and saw that he wasn’t sleeping. She saw the other guys sitting in the front of the bus talking and frowned. ‘Where the hell is he?’

Almost as if on cue, a brunette woman walked out from the back bedroom, quietly closing the door behind her. Buffy stared at her and realized where Spike was.

‘He brought a one-night stand back with him last night, probably after I passed out,’ she thought. ‘And why is she still here if we’re moving on to the next venue?’

“Hi, I’m Bree,” the woman said, extending a hand to Buffy. She paused before shaking her hand.

“I’m Buffy,” she replied, surprised by how upset she was that this woman was on the bus.

“Can you point me towards the bathroom?” Bree asked, straightening out the clothes she had obviously just thrown on. Buffy pointed to the door and watched as the woman walked into the bathroom.

With an angry sigh, she walked to her bunk and sat down.

‘That bastard doesn’t deserve a thank-you,’ she thought, grabbing her laptop. ‘What he deserves is to be castrated.’

When Bree walked out of the bathroom, Buffy looked at her.

‘She’s not even that pretty,’ she thought. ‘Why did he pick her?’

“So, Spike told me you’re a reporter,” Bree said, sitting on the bunk across from her. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah, it’s a nice job,” Buffy replied, trying to keep the edge out of her voice. “So, are you staying on tour with us?”

“No,” the other woman answered, and for some reason, Buffy felt relieved. “I’m getting off in Phoenix. My dad lives there, and Spike offered me a ride on the bus, so I jumped on the opportunity.”

“Yeah, lucky break,” Buffy replied, looking at her laptop’s screen.

“If anyone’s lucky, it’s you,” Bree said, smiling. “You’re on a bus with four incredibly nice guys.” Buffy looked at her. “I’m sure there are tons of girls out there who’d die for a chance like this.”

“Yeah,” Buffy said quietly, looking at the screen again. “I’m one lucky girl.”

***************************************************************************



 

Chapter 7:

After arriving in Phoenix hours later, Buffy was more than grateful to get off of the bus. Every time Spike had even looked at her, she turned her back on him or walked to her bunk, closing herself off. Her plan of ignoring him completely went perfectly, and when she exited the bus, she jumped on the chance to get even farther away from him.

Spike didn’t understand why Buffy was acting the way she was. He thought she’d be thankful that he’d looked out for her the night before, but instead, she was unresponsive and kept herself away from him. When they arrived at the bar they were supposed to play in, he saw Bree off before going into the bar and watching Buffy head towards the bathrooms, letting herself into the one for women. He looked around and made sure no one was looking before he let himself into the women’s bathroom. She shrieked as he entered, which caused him to chuckle before locking the door.

“What are you doing?” she hissed, still in shock that he was in the bathroom with her.

‘And thank god there’s no one in here,’ she mentally added.

“Why’ve you been ignoring me?” Spike asked, crossing his arms. “You’ve been giving me the brush-off all day.”

“I have my reasons,” she answered simply, letting herself into one of the stalls so she could change into an outfit more suitable for the show.

“And what would those be, luv?” he asked, leaning back against a wall. “Is this because of Bree?”

“The one-night stand who was a fixture on our bus all day?” Buffy asked, hoping that she didn’t sound jealous.

‘Because I’m not,’ she thought quickly. ‘At all. I don’t want to be another notch on his headboard.’

“So that’s what this is all about?” he asked, smirking. “You’re angry because there was another bird on the bus, taking the spotlight off bitchy Buffy?”

“What?” she asked, angry. “That’s not it at all.” She pulled on her clothes quickly and walked out of the stall, and she noticed that Spike was looking somewhat hungrily at her body. “What’re you looking at?”

“Nothing,” he said, snapping out of his trance. “But you owe me a debt of gratitude, pet.”

“Gratitude?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “For what?” She knew why, but she wasn’t about to give him the pleasure of thanking him.

“For not letting you become a bar floozy last night who helped start a fight,” he answered, watching as she combed through her wavy hair with her fingers.

“I did no such thing,” she answered before putting on lip-gloss. He stared at her lips and felt a strong urge to throw her up against the wall and have his wicked way with her.

‘I doubt anyone would notice,’ he thought, pondering the idea.

“It was all Larry’s fault,” she added before looking at him, smirking. “Ha! I remembered his name!”

“Bollocks,” Spike replied, smiling. “Xander told you, didn’t he?” She pretended to be outraged before nodding.

“But I couldn’t resist the idea of taking your precious guitar away from you,” she said, walking towards the door. She opened the lock but paused before opening the door. Keeping her back to him, she took a deep breath and said, “Thank you for last night, Spike.” He smiled as she walked out, watching her go to the bar.

‘That girl drives me bloody crazy,’ he thought. ‘But in a delightfully good way.’

* * * * *
After the show, Xander and Oz walked over to the bar, sitting on both sides of her.

“Where’s Angel?” she asked, confused. “And Spike? Is something wrong?” Xander frowned.

“Drusilla made an appearance tonight,” he answered, ordering a beer. “She was in the front row, which really threw Spike off of his game. And somehow, she managed to get backstage, thus prompting a fight to erupt between the three of them.”

“What does Angel have to do with it?” Buffy asked, ordering a soda.

“He slept with her the week after they broke up,” Xander replied, and Buffy was stunned.

“Angel slept with a girl who was dating Spike?” she asked. “Are you kidding?” Both Xander and Oz shook their heads. “Wow. That explains why Spike and Angel don’t seem to get along all of the time.”

“Spike’s over it, and Angel has confirmed numerous times that it was just a one-time deal,” Xander said. “But yeah, there’s still a little tension between them.” He took a gulp from his bottle. “Which only gets aggravated when the dark bitch appears.”

“Is everything alright, though?” Buffy asked, becoming concerned. “Do you really think it’s a good idea for the three of them to be alone right now, with no mediation from outside parties?”

“It’s better to let them deal with it on their own,” Oz said quietly. “There’s not much we can do.”

“And it’ll end like it always does- Dru will leave, Angel will retreat to the bus to brood, and Spike will get himself drunk before passing out on the bed in the back of the bus,” Xander said, shrugging. “We just let these things take their course.”

It was seconds later when Spike stormed out from the back and left the building. Buffy raised an eyebrow.

“Maybe he’s skipping the drinking phase,” Oz suggested, watching as Angel and Dru began to walk toward them. “You might want to go, Buffy, before she gets here.” Buffy nodded quickly and left, going to the bus. Spike was scouring through the mini-fridge, pulling out travel bottles of Jack Daniels.

“Spike?” she asked quietly, worried.

“Go away, pet,” he said, opening a bottle and drinking it in one gulp. She frowned. “I’m serious, just go away.”

“Do you maybe want to talk?” she offered, sitting one of the couches. He scowled and drank another bottle.

“About what? About my ex-girlfriend? No thanks,” he answered. “I’ve already spent thousands on therapy that hasn’t worked, so why would talking about her with you help at all?”

“Because I might be able to offer some insight or something,” she said, trying not to be defensive.

“I don’t want your bloody insight,” he replied. “You’re a woman, just like her, and all you’ve ever done to me is be a bitch, so sorry if I don’t want your sodding help.” She stood up and scoffed.

“Fine,” she said, angry. “If you want to get trashed, go for it- I don’t care, Spike. You love living the life of a rock-star, don’t you? The alcohol, the girls…are drugs involved, too? Because I don’t want to forget them on my list.”

“Fuck off,” he said sharply, glaring at her. She pushed past him, going to her bunk bed and laying down.

“Bastard,” she muttered as she closed her eyes, biting back the tears that were forming.
***************************************************************************


 

Chapter 8:

When she woke up, she was glad that the bus was in motion, heading towards their next destination- Las Vegas. They wouldn’t be arriving until nightfall, but she didn’t really care.

‘I’m going to Las Vegas,’ she thought, giddy. ‘This is something I’ve dreamt of doing for a long time. It’s sad to think, though, that my job is the reason I’m finally traveling to it. I should probably e-mail Lilah and check-in with her soon, too.’

She saw that Spike’s bunk was empty and walked to the back of the bus, quietly opening the door that closed the bedroom off from the rest of the sleeping area. He was asleep on the bed, partially covered by a sheet. She gasped slightly as she realized that he was naked, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t tear her eyes off of him. His muscular arms, pectorals, abdomen, and legs were drool-worthy, and she was finding it difficult to not look at every inch of his exposed skin.

‘He has such an amazing body,’ she thought, unconsciously licking her lips. ‘I guess I can understand why Dawnie likes him so much. His personality isn’t desirable a lot of the time, but his body makes up for it.’

“Going to stare all day, pet?” he asked, his eyes still closed. Her eyes widened.

‘Oh my god,’ she thought. ‘This is both creepy and embarrassing. Why did I remain in here in the first place?’ She paused. ‘Oh right, because I was looking at that delicious body spread across the bed.’ She closed her eyes for a moment. ‘You need severe help, Buffy.’

“How did you know it was me?” she asked, quickly looking down, praying that she wasn’t blushing.

“Because none of the guys come in here when I’m sleeping,” he answered, slowly opening his eyes to look at her, taking in the pajamas she was still wearing. They weren’t considerably sexy, but her ruffled hair and rumpled clothes were making him smile.

“Sorry,” she said, heading towards the door.

“No, stay for a while,” he said, patting the space beside him on the bed. She raised an eyebrow. “Come on, luv, I don’t bite.” She giggled and sat next to him.

“Don’t you have a hangover?” she asked, not looking at him for fear that she’d stare at his body more.

“No,” he answered. “I only had about ten of those little bottles, and that’s not enough to get anyone drunk.” He looked at her. “Except for maybe you, kitten. You seem like a lightweight.” She frowned. “But I remember what I said to you last night, and I’m sorry for being such an ass. You were being nice, which I appreciate, and you didn’t deserve anything that I said to you.” She looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “Dru just pisses me off, and I took it out on you. I really am sorry, luv.”

“It’s okay,” she said quietly. “You’re not quite forgiven, but I’ll get over it. The snarky side of you just adds to your charm.” He chuckled and stretched out, which caused Buffy to once again look at his body.

“So you think I’m charming now, do you?” he asked, watching her as she perused his body. “If you want to touch me, baby, I’m all for it.” She blushed and stood up. “Oh come on, I was just kidding.”

“You’re a pervert, Spike,” she said, walking to the door. “And get dressed already. It’s almost noon, and I don’t want to eat while your naked self is walking around.”

“Liar,” he chuckled. “But fine, whatever you’d like, princess. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” She closed the door behind her as she left before leaning back against it and closing her eyes, berating herself.

‘What’s going on with you, Summers?’ she thought, somewhat upset. ‘You’re dancing on a dangerously thin line.’

* * *

Buffy was sitting at the table in the main part of the bus, putting the finishing touches on the questions she was going to ask the band. Spike sat across from her, eating some chips.

“Want some?” he asked, offering the bag to her. She shook her head, smiling.

“No thanks,” she answered. “But I appreciate the olive branch you’re trying to give me.” He chuckled and looked out the window. “So, can you believe we’re going to Vegas?”

“Sin City?” he asked, grinning. “I think it’ll be a good time, especially with you there.” She blushed and looked at her laptop’s screen. “Besides, I heard the Bellagio is an amazing hotel.” She nodded, still typing. “We have two suites.” She looked at him, surprised. “So if you want to stay with me, you’re more than welcome to.”

“So I can see the skanks you bring home at four in the morning? No way,” she replied, focusing once again on the questions she had assembled.

“There’ll be no other woman but you in my room,” he replied, and when she realized how genuine he sounded, she looked at him. “So, what do you say, luv? Will you share a room with me?”

“It’d be safer if I was with Oz,” she replied. “I know he’ll be on his best behavior because of Willow. Plus, this way, you three can get your groove on with some of the lovely ladies of the Strip.”

“Didn’t I just tell you that I don’t want to bring any girls back with me?” he asked, trying not to become frustrated.

‘Do I have to come out and bloody say it? I want her, and if she doesn’t know that, then she’s blind,’ he thought.

“I heard the words, but I don’t know if I should believe you,” she replied, standing up. “Can we talk about this later? I’m supposed to interview Xander in about five minutes.”

“Fine,” he said, frowning. “But I’m claiming one of the suites for you and I, Buffy.” She took one last look at him before going to sit with Xander on one of the couches.

‘Because no matter what, things are going to change in Vegas,’ he thought before returning to the back bedroom.
***************************************************************************


 

Chapter 9:

Buffy stood out on their room’s balcony, looking out over the main strip of Las Vegas, taking in all of the lights and buildings around her. After a day of dealing with Spike, interviewing both Oz and Xander, and writing a long e-mail to Lilah, Buffy was grateful to be off of the bus and in a suite that was larger than her apartment.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Spike asked, appearing beside her, holding two champagne flutes. She raised an eyebrow before taking the one he was handing to her.

“What’s this for?” she asked, looking at him. He smirked.

“Have to start things off right, don’t we?” he asked. “Besides, I wanted to make a toast, luv, if that’s alright.”

“Whatever you want to do,” she said, looking at him, surprised. “What’re we toasting to?”

“To new friendships,” he said, looking intensely into her eyes. She smiled before gently clinking her champagne flute against his. They both took sips of the bubbly liquid before looking at the city again.

“I can’t wait to get down there,” she said, excited at the thought of walking up and down the streets of Las Vegas.

“We could hit one of those drive-through wedding chapels,” he offered, looking at her. She giggled and shook her head. “Oh come on- it’d be fun. We can get divorced in the morning, even.”

“That’s just because you want to have a honeymoon,” she replied, walking back into their suite.

“With you? Yes, I do,” he answered, and she could’ve sworn that he was being serious. “Well, luv, what do you say? Shall we go out on the town?”

“Yes, please,” she replied, putting down her empty champagne flute. “Should we go get the guys?”

“They’re already in a casino,” he said, chuckling. “It’s just us tonight, if that’s okay.” She smiled.

“As long as we don’t miss the water show tonight,” she said. “That’s supposed to be breath-taking.”

“Luv, we’re here for the next two nights,” he replied. “We can miss it tonight.”

“Yeah, but you’re playing tomorrow night, and if I miss it because of you, I’m going to be very angry,” she said, grabbing her purse. “Understand?”

“We’ll see what happens,” he replied, smiling when she shot him a glare. “Let’s go- the city awaits.”

* * *

“You must be a bloody good luck charm,” Spike said as they walked into their suite. “Doesn’t making over three grand in one night make up for missing the stupid water show?”

“No,” she pouted, sitting down on one of the beds. He smiled. “Am I getting any of the money you won?”

“Maybe if you’re a good girl, you will,” he said, winking at her. She stifled a giggle before walking to the balcony and going out onto it. He followed her and watched the moonlight cascade over her.

‘She’s so beautiful,’ he thought as he stood beside her. ‘I just wish she was mine.’

“So, are you excited to play tomorrow night?” she asked conversationally, still looking at the city surrounding them.

“Yeah,” he answered. “New venues are always fun to try.” She sighed, smiling contently. “You seem happy here.”

“I am,” she replied, looking at him. “I’ve wanted to come here for so long that it seems surreal right now. Thank you guys for choosing to play here.”

“You’re welcome,” he said. She looked around again, and as his hand made contact with hers, they both were surprised when she didn’t pull it away. Instead, she laced her fingers with his and smiled softly, deciding not to look at him for fear that he’d have a smug expression on his face. But on the contrary, he was somewhat stunned that they were holding hands in peaceful silence, and the look on his face wasn’t smug- it was tender.
He decided to be bold and tilted her chin so that he could look at her, and as he leaned down to kiss her, she brushed her lips against his for a moment before backing away.

“Good night, Spike,” she said quietly, walking into their suite and going into the bathroom to change into pajamas. He smiled and lit a cigarette, deciding that maybe hooking up with Buffy wouldn’t be impossible.

Meanwhile, she was in the bathroom, getting ready for bed, angry with herself for kissing him.

‘What was I thinking?’ she berated herself. ‘He’s not the guy for you, so stop thinking about any possibility of dating him. It’ll never happen.’ She sighed and walked into one of the bedrooms, pulling the covers back so she could lay down. She slowly closed her eyes, ignoring her thoughts so she could fall asleep.

Minutes later, Spike stood in her doorway, watching her as she slept.

‘She looks so bloody peaceful,’ he thought. ‘And so young, so innocent. Who would think that the girl laying there is such a spitfire during the day?’ He smirked and quietly walked towards her bed, lightly kissing her forehead. She stirred slightly before turning on her side, facing away from him.

“Good night, kitten,” he whispered, walking towards the door.

“Night, Spike,” she replied, and when he looked back at her, she was still asleep, or so he thought. As he left the room, she opened her eyes and smiled.

* * *

While the band and Angel were preparing for the show the next afternoon, Buffy went out shopping and saw as many of the sights as she could. The money Spike had given her from the winnings he had earned the night before paid off everything she purchased, and when she realized that it was almost five o’clock, she left the mall in Caesar’s Palace and made her way back to the Bellagio to get ready.

Spike was still gone with the band, so she got dressed in a new outfit she had bought and waited around for them to come back. When the phone rang around 6:30, she was surprised to hear Spike’s voice.

“I’m sorry, luv, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to make it back to get you,” he apologized. “But I arranged a ride for you. It’ll be waiting downstairs for you at 7, okay?”

“Sure,” she answered, slightly sad that he wasn’t coming for her. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

“Bye, pet,” he said, hanging up. She sighed and worked on curling her hair to pass the time.

When seven rolled around, she took an elevator downstairs and walked outside, only to be greeted by the sight of a black limousine out front, the driver waiting beside it.

“You must be Buffy,” the man said, extending a hand. “I’m Riley Finn, your driver this evening.” She grinned.

‘No way,’ she thought. ‘Spike did this for me?’

“Hi, Mr. Finn,” she replied, smiling. “You’re taking me to see Dingoes Ate My Baby?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, opening the door for her and letting her get in. As he closed the door, she looked around the limo, still in shock. He got behind the wheel and turned to look at her. “Your husband must really love you.”

“We’re not married,” she replied, still smiling. “And I don’t think he loves me, either.” He began to drive towards their destination, and as Buffy looked through the tinted windows, she couldn’t help but grin.

‘He did this for me,’ she thought. ‘Maybe he’s not such a bad guy after all.’
***************************************************************************



Chapter 10:

After the show ended that night, Angel went out to the bar area and saw Buffy sitting on a stool, drinking a soda and talking to a woman who was sitting with her.

“Hey,” he said, smiling at both of the women. “Spike wanted me to come and get you, Buffy.” She stood up and grabbed her purse.

“Well, it was nice to meet you, Darla,” she said, shaking the other woman’s hand. “Enjoy your time in Vegas.”

Angel led Buffy backstage to where the guys were talking, their equipment surrounding them.

“Hey, pet,” Spike said, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Did you enjoy the show?”

“You guys were great,” she said, smiling at all of them. “And thank you for the ride here- I definitely wasn’t expecting something so posh.” He chuckled and kissed her temple, which didn’t go unnoticed by the men standing close to them.

“So, should we head back to the hotel?” Spike asked, looking at everyone. “I think they’re having the fountain show in about twenty minutes.” Buffy’s eyes lit up. “And I’m afraid I owe the girl a chance to see it.”

“Then I guess we should go,” Xander said, smiling at the two blondes, who led everyone outside of the club. He looked at Angel and asked quietly, “So, when do you think they’ll hook-up?”

“Tonight,” Angel grinned. “I’d bet my life on it.”

* * *

When they returned to their hotel, Buffy and Spike leaned against the railing that surrounded the perimeter of the fountain, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

“I have a confession,” Spike said quietly, looking at her. “I purposely had the show end when it did so that we could make it back here to see this.” She smiled widely at him.

“Thank you,” she replied. “Today has been perfect, Spike, and even though I don’t want to admit it, you are the primary reason it’s been so wonderful, so thank you.” He kissed her temple as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

More people began to assemble, trying to get a front-row spot for when the show would begin. Spike decided to stand behind Buffy, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him.

“Is this alright?” he asked quietly, kissing her shoulder. She nodded, smiling.

It was only minutes later when classical music began to play, filling the space around them with its beautiful melodies. The fountains began to go off, perfectly synchronized with the music that accompanied it. Buffy watched in awe, grateful that she was able to experience something so unique.

‘And I’m with a guy who seems to really like me, so that’s a plus,’ she thought.

Spike rested his chin on her shoulder as he watched the water shoot up into the night sky. She leaned back into him and put her hands on top of his, which were resting over her stomach.

“It’s beautiful,” she said quietly, mesmerized by how magnificent the show was.

“Yeah, it is,” he replied, smiling. “But I’ve seen things more beautiful than this.”

“Liar,” she said, giggling. “There’s no way you’ve seen something more beautiful than this.”

“Sure I have, luv,” he said, kissing her temple. “You’re far better than any water show.” She blushed and looked down. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Buffy. You’re beautiful, intelligent, sweet, spunky…you’re perfect.”

“No, I’m really not,” she said, not allowing herself to look at him.

‘Focus on the water, Buffy,’ she thought. ‘Don’t think about anything else but what you’re watching.’

“Listen to me, pet,” he said, turning her around to face him before putting his hands on the railing behind her, one on each side, trapping her between it and his body. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman, and there’s nothing about you that I don’t like.” He grazed her cheek, looking into her eyes. “You’re perfect for me.”

“And when did you decide this?” she asked quietly, looking down. “Before or after you slept with Bree?” He raised an eyebrow, smirking. “What?”

“You think I slept with her?” he asked, amused that she seemed jealous.

“Didn’t you?” she asked, looking at him with a confused expression.

“No,” he answered, and she strangely felt relieved after hearing the admission. “We spent all night talking about our pasts and how horrible our home lives were, that’s all.” Buffy looked at him.

“You swear?” she asked. “You didn’t do anything with her?” Spike smiled.

“I promise you, luv,” he said, leaning down to kiss her softly. “You’re the only woman I’ve been interested in since the first moment I laid eyes on you.” She smiled and turned around again to watch the end of the show. “Do you have any feelings for me?”

“I think I do,” she answered quietly, smiling as the water stopped and the music ceased to play. As the crowds dispersed, Buffy and Spike walked hand-in-hand into the hotel, taking the elevator up to their floor.

* * *

As Buffy opened their suite’s door, her heart stopped and she gasped as she looked around the room, lit by candles that were placed on every available surface. Spike looked at her with a soft expression as she turned to look at him.

“Did you do this?” she asked quietly, still in shock. He took a deep breath.

“Nothing but the best for my girl,” he said, leaning down to kiss her. She returned the gesture and wrapped her arms around his neck as they kiss intensified. Without breaking the kiss, he led them into their room and shut the door with his foot. He broke away for a moment to breathe. “Buffy, I just wanted a romantic night for us. Nothing has to happen unless you want it to.” She saw the insecurity in his eyes, and in that moment, her entire opinion changed about him.

‘He’s not always a cocky rock-star,’ she thought. ‘He’s insecure like the rest of us. He puts up a façade all of the time, but when something really matters, he lets it crumble.’ She grazed his cheek and looked into his eyes.

“And if I want it to, it’ll happen?” she asked, hoping that she didn’t sound as nervous as she was beginning to be.

“If you’ll give me the privilege of being with you tonight, I’ll take whatever you willingly give me,” he answered, wrapping his arms around her. “All I ever think about anymore is you. It’s like you’re surrounding me, pet.” She smiled, slightly blushing. “Will you give me this chance tonight?” She took a deep breath before meeting his eyes once again.

“Yes,” she answered simply, taking his hand in hers and leading him towards his bed. She sat down on it and looked up at him as he came to stand right in front of her.

“Not to sound like I was expecting us to try anything tonight, but I had the bathroom set up, also,” he said quietly. She smiled up at him and put her hands on his hips.

“We can go in there later,” she replied. “But if we’re going to do this, I want it to be right.” She paused and smiled. “Right here.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, running his hand over her hair. “And not about choosing between the bed and the whirlpool tub we have.” He took a deep breath. “Do you want to do this?”

“Yes,” she answered, standing up to slowly pull his t-shirt off, looking at his naked torso before running her hands slowly down it, stopping when they reached the button of his jeans. “I know I wasn’t exactly nice to you in the beginning, but you’ve proven to me that you’re not the man I thought you were.” He smiled slightly. “I’m sure I want to do this.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her gently, delighting in the fact that she was willing to give him a chance.

‘Something I’ve wanted since day one,’ he thought, looking at her and seeing the anxious look in her eyes. He kissed her again, resting his hands on her hips and slowly running them up her sides, under her shirt. He slid it off and tossed it aside, looking at her newly revealed skin and reveling in the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra, completely exposing her upper body to him. He couldn’t help but smirk as he gently cupped her breasts in his hands, watching as she shut her eyes for a brief moment and making a quiet sound from the soft contact.

“Did you know this would happen?” he asked, looking into her eyes, intrigued. “That you weren’t wearing anything beneath your shirt?”

“No,” she smiled. “Just hoped for it.” He chuckled before picking her up and laying her down on the bed, holding himself up above her, looking into her gleaming eyes admiringly.

“Minx,” he whispered, kissing her once again. “I’m only going to ask once more, kitten- are you sure?” She ran her hands down his abs to his jeans and popped open the button before sliding down his zipper. She slowly slid her hand inside of his jeans and gently stroked his erection, grinning as his eyes rolled back and the sound of him groaning filled the room. He looked down at her with lust-filled eyes.

“Does that answer your question?” she asked, smirking. He chuckled and kissed her, running his hand up her bronze leg until it reached the apex of her thighs, feeling how wet her lace thong was. She arched her hips up, craving more contact from him. He pushed her thong aside and gently slid his finger inside of her, earning a low moan to escape her lips.

“Yes, it really does,” he answered before he leaned down to kiss her passionately.
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