Chapter Thirty seven

Buffy knew she was acting like a child. She just didn’t care. Why stop here? she thought. William is well aware that I make poor choices already. No, that’s not true, she scolded herself, that’s not being very fair to myself now is it? No one is perfect, no one knows what they want all of the time and no one should be expected to always know. Her mom used to tell her, well, more like warned her, that sometimes life got in the way of the best laid plans. Buffy just didn’t know and understand exactly what she meant until now.

Oh, how wise her mother could be. Could be. Truthfully, Buffy was still pretty upset with her mother. And, well, her father too. But mostly her mother. She kind of felt let down. Parents weren’t supposed to go through things like this. They weren’t supposed to have lives and make mistakes. They were supposed to be parents. Just parents. Yes, I am learning a lot these days, Buffy thought. I am learning that my parents are human beings that make mistakes and poor choices of their own. I’m also learning how they muddle through and make it out of the messes they make. And, they’re doing it together.

It seemed to Buffy that life was a series of coming together and pulling apart. Sometimes one needed to be on the down low and ‘hide out’ and other times, they needed the comfort and solace of another. People needed people that was the way of the world. No matter what, it was what made the world go round. And, yet, other times, solitude was needed.

Maybe I should become a recluse, Buffy thought. Hide out like J.D. Salinger and write books on how screwed up others are. How lame and superficial and hypocritical people can be. Or maybe I could get a cabin and ponder society and life like Thoreau. Get back to nature and ostracize myself.

Hearing Fred laughing down the hall at something William said made Buffy cringe. And she only knew it was William talking to her because she could hear the deep timbre of his voice. Briefly she wondered if he was telling Fred a dirty joke like the ones he used to tell her to make her blush. He never cared if she laughed at his jokes, only cared if he saw her blush profusely. To him, that was better than her laughing at his anecdotes. One day she’d come in and told him a dirty joke and had taken great pleasure in seeing his jaw drop to the floor before sauntering off to her desk, feeling victorious.

Buffy couldn’t imagine Fred knowing any dirty jokes. The woman probably didn’t even swear. God, how in the freaking hell could one woman be so goddamned nice? Despite how Buffy had tried to discourage the woman from talking with her, Fred still made it a point to greet Buffy every day in that wide smile and sappily sweet voice. How did her face not hurt at the end of the day from smiling so much? Buffy entertained the idea that Fred had a tremendous dark side. Dark side like Jeffery Dahmer dark side. There was no way someone as sweet as Fred was that sweet all the time. She had to have a dark side. She probably lures unsuspecting men to her apartment and then hacks them up, Buffy mused. She’s probably got severed heads in her fridge, maybe a few body bags in her closet. Hmm… maybe I should ask Wesley if we should do a background check on Miss Fred. She’s got to be wanted somewhere.

Buffy sighed heavily and sat back. It’d been almost a week since the incident in the copy room. As well as avoiding Fred, she’d been avoiding William as well. Him much more as it turned out and boy was it a lot of work to avoid him. For one thing, her will power was not up to par when it came to William. She found that she needed at least a glimpse of him every day. However, it didn’t stop there. Somehow she was sucked into talking to him – either of her own making or his. He was not a man that took kindly to being avoided. He sought her out when she hid. He found her if she was with Wesley or talking with one of the other part time secretaries or just coming out of the bathroom. Somehow, he always found her.

So that was why she sat in her office, alone, feeling like a child for pouting over the sounds of William and Fred laughing together in the hall. She contemplated slamming her door completely shut. She discarded the idea as quickly as it came; he’d just go and accuse her of being jealous again.

The phone ringing startled her out of her thoughts.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Buffy, it’s Lindsey.”

“Oh, hi. What’s up?”

“Well, seeing as your Dad is coming back tomorrow, Lilah and I were talking about having a little ‘Welcome Back’ party for him. We thought maybe you’d like to join us.”

“You’re going to have a party for him?” Buffy asked, feeling a wave of sappiness that was creeping into her tone at a swift rate. She was so touched by the gesture, she wanted to cry.

Lindsey chuckled, “Yep. Nothing spectacular, just some food and soft drinks in the break room.”

“Still. He’ll love it. Do you need anything for it?”

“Uh, actually, yes.”

It was at that moment that William sauntered in her office, smirking slightly at her. He shut the door and made his way over to the chair opposite her desk and sat down, making himself comfortable, and watching her intently.

A light bulb went off in her head and she swiveled the chair slightly so she was turned slightly from him, but could see him out of the corner of her eye. “What do you need? I’ll be happy to help with anything, Lindsey.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw William’s lackadaisical demeanor change. He froze and immediately sat up straighter, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Buffy leaned back in her chair and twisted the phone cord through her fingers. She smiled flirtatiously, almost trying to mimic Fred’s smile and sickeningly sweet tone.

“A banner. We just need a banner. As I said, nothing spectacular, but some kind of decoration would be nice.”

“No problem, I can do that. What time should I be ready for?” That sounded a little funny and Buffy tapped down the urge to cringe. And that’s when William shot up from his chair and made his way over to her. He plopped himself down on her desk and spun her chair so that she was facing him. His eyes bore into hers. She tried to turn away, but he stuck his feet under her chair and held the chair in place.

“What are you doing?” William growled.

“Was that William?” Lindsey asked.

“Yes, it was,” Buffy said averting her gaze from William. With lightening quick moves, Buffy jumped up from her chair and bolted out of William’s range before he could grab her. The cord was stretched to the max, unfortunately, and she couldn’t move that far from him. It was comical actually, but she wasn’t finding it funny at the moment.

“Could you invite him too?”

“Sure, no problem,” Buffy said, trying to sound positive, but she was certain that came out forced.

“Great. We plan on having it around two thirty so as soon as you come in, if you could? Could you also ask Wesley and Angel to come down as well if they don’t have meetings and whatnot?”

“Of course. See you then.”

“Okay, bye Buffy, thanks.”

“Buh-bye.”

Holding the phone she turned to find a heated William. It was on the tip of her tongue to just tell him what the call was about, but remembering how he’d teased her about being jealous over Fred and remembering the laughing the two had done in the hall just moments before, she wanted him to marinate in his apparent jealousy for a while.

Which was funny – and completely contradictory – to how she had been just a couple weeks ago when he’d gone caveman on her at Envy when he’d seen her innocently dancing with Faith and Willow. Now she was encouraging it? Well, yeah. Especially after he’d made her so jealous. What was good for the goose was good for the gander.

And when had that feral look on his face started making her wet?

“What was that about?” he growled at her and shoved off the desk, stalking her.

She handed him the receiver. “Could you get that for me?” she asked, smiling sweetly at him.

His jaw was clenching again and he twisted his neck slightly, cracking it, as he took the receiver and all but dumped it back on its cradle. “What did he want?” he nearly barked at her.

She took two steps back. “Nothing,” she said nonchalantly.

“Buffy,” he said warningly.

She bit back a smile, “William,” she retorted in the same manner.

He cocked his head to the side, “Kitten wants to play does she?”

She laughed nervously and then squealed when he lunged at her. He grabbed her round the waist and hauled her up against him, her back to his front. “What was it about?”

She laughed as he tickled her mercilessly, “Welcome Back party for my Dad tomorrow at two thirty,” she gasped.

“And what does Lindsey want with you?”

“He asked if I could get the banner. You, Wesley and Angel are invited.”

He released her only to spin her around and slam his lips down on hers. He growled into the kiss which just made her wetter. His hold on her was tight and possessive, and she melted into him.

“William? You in there?” Fred’s voice wafted to them as she knocked on Buffy’s door.

Buffy froze and all but shoved William away from her; Fred’s voice having brought her back to reality. She glared at William, trying to get her breathing in control and was pleased to find him doing the same.

“Buffy--?” he started.

“Your assistant is looking for you,” Buffy said, her tone clipped.

He stared at her, his eyes boring hotly into hers. “This isn’t over.”

“Oh but it is, remember?”

William started for her just as Buffy yelled, “Come in Fred!”

If the look on William’s face was any indication, she was in big trouble. If he catches me, she thought wickedly.


 

Chapter 38:

Buffy made it out by the skin of her teeth from William hunting her down. And the only reason she made it out was because he had a phone call from a needy client.

She was actually disappointed. Before Fred had interrupted them under the pretense of having a "question", which Buffy was sure was a lie, she'd been having fun. Was it strange to say she'd had fun goading him? Was it wrong to admit it'd turned her on to see him get all growly? Not that she wanted to make it a habit, because really the trade off of having to put up with witnessing him be all chummy with Fred was not enjoyable at all.

She forced herself to quickly get her homework done and meet up with ‘the gang’ after. The alternative was to make herself available for William if he really did want to give her a talking to. She wanted to give him a talking to as well. Though, she thought, somehow she didn't think William would take kindly to her accusing Fred of being a closet psychopath. She'd just have to get some proof first then.

“What did I tell you?” Faith said, smirking at her. She looked quite content with herself.

“Aren’t you a regular Jessica Fletcher?” Buffy drawled.

Faith shrugged and popped a peanut in her mouth, “Is he bangin’ her?”

“Faith!” Willow exclaimed.

“Honestly,” Anya jumped in, shaking her head. “I prefer the term ‘boink’. It’s much softer.”

Faith narrowed her eyes and pointed at them all, “I’m just sayin’ what you’re all thinkin’.”

“He’s not ‘bangin’ her, Faith,” Buffy said, shaking her head, “William wouldn’t do that.”

“Why not? It’s not like you guys are together. It’s not like he has something to go home to at night. It’s not like he’s getting any from you. You guys broke up – something in which he he made final when you put it in his hands. He was giving himself some playing room; making it seem as if you were the fucked up kid who doesn’t have her head on straight. Now he’s got some new chick workin’ for him—“

Buffy shook her head vigorously, “William doesn’t get involved with his assis—huh.”

Faith gave her a knowing look, “I rest my case.”

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Willow jumped in. “Could it be that William and you were meant to be? That he saw something special in you—“

“Oh Jesus,” Faith rolled her eyes.

“Hey!” Willow said indignantly.

”You remember what she told us about his last assistant right? She was a nut job. No guy wants to bang a nut job and have her go psychotic on them. He would have ended up strapped to the bed like that dude in ‘Misery’. Then Buffy comes along. Young. . . bouncy—“

Buffy laughed, in spite of it all, “Bouncy?”

Faith shrugged, “Well, ya know what I mean.”

“Unfortunately.”

“So you come along and he thinks ‘cha-ching’. I’ve got myself a girl that’s practically a teenager still. Young and nubile – hey, how’s that for a college word?”

“Oh Jesus,” Buffy muttered and rolled her eyes.

“And the love part?” Willow challenged.

Faith gave her a look, “You’re kidding right?”

“You don’t believe in love because Robin left you,” Anya said matter- of- factly.

Faith glared at her, “I do believe in love. Look, I’m just trying to help Buffy out here. Trying to save her some heart ache.”

“I hurt him first,” Buffy murmured.

“Now you’re going to let him hurt you last. Fuck that.”

Buffy shook her head, “Nope. It’s not like that.”

“Then how is it then? Let’s say that I am full of shit. Then what? How long is he going to wait for you Buffy? Forever?” Faith sat back, stacking her hands behind her head. “No guy is going to wait that long. As far as I can tell, he’s lining up in his next conquest. Making sure his bed will be warm once you’ve gone.”

“She’s technically already gone,” Anya pointed out.

“But, he still has hope she’s coming back,” Willow told her.

“I see. Then I agree with Faith.” Anya frowned, “I think.” Then she nodded, “I do. It’s possible subconsciously he’s lining up Fred to be his mate—“

“Mate? Honestly, who says that?” Buffy asked, annoyed.

“Psychology majors who focus on interpersonal relationships,” Willow jumped in.

“So, he could have found some attributes in this Fred that he likes and has subconsciously chosen her as your replacement when it is clear to him that you are not coming back,” Anya finished.

Buffy reached out and took the rum and coke Faith had been nursing and thought she might be in need of new friends.

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

First thing after class, Buffy headed straight over to her father’s office and snuck to the breakroom to start the set up for her father. Their receptionist let Lindsey and Lilah know that she had arrived while she began set up.

Having things to do kept her mind off all the stuff-- crap-- Anya and Faith had been spewing the night before. What if William was setting his next ‘mate’ up in Fred? No, she told herself, he wasn’t. He wouldn’t. He loved her. He loved her still. Right? But for how long?

And honestly . . . Did she deserve a man like William who was willing to wait for her the way he was?

“I don’t even fucking know what he means by all that ‘I trust you’ crap. He trusts me. He has faith in me – what the fuck does that mean?” she muttered as she stabbed the banner with a thumbtack and pushed it into the wall forcefully.

“I don’t know what the banner did, but I’m sure it’s sorry.”

Buffy jumped, nearly falling off the chair she was standing on. Just in time Lindsey made it to her and steadied her by grabbing her hips. “Whoa, girl. You all right?” he asked, releasing her.

Buffy nodded, her heart hammering with her almost fall. “Yeah, I’m okay. You scared me!”

He chuckled, “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Tell you a secret.”

“What?”

“I’m afraid of heights.”

Lindsey grinned, “Tell you a secret too.”

“What?”

“So am I.”

She grinned down at him.

“I know you’re not hitting on my girl MacDonald.”

The pair looked over to see William coming through the door, looking out of this world gorgeous. Truthfully, he looked the way he did every day in his suits, but there was something about him today that made him look even more scrumptious. The word ‘mate’ and the name ‘Fred’ popped up in her head at that moment and she felt the sudden urge to cry.

Lindsey held up his hands, “Wouldn’t think of it. If you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to get Lilah and start herding up the staff.”

Sauntering out, Buffy looked down at William, “Are Angel and Wesley coming?”

“They are. Need some help with that?”

“I need to get the middle and the other end.”

“You’re afraid of heights; you want me to do it?”

Buffy shook her head, “Nope. As small a feat as this is, it’s all part of my master plan.”

“To get over being afraid of heights?”

“Exactly.”

“Maybe you should just focus singularly on not being afraid,” he whispered.

She stepped down, “Huh?”

He shook his head, “Nothing.”

Moving the chair, she had William hold the banner up to her and she set about tacking it in place. “Is Fred holding down the fort?” she asked nonchalantly, making sure to not look at him as she asked. She knew, just knew he was smirking in triumph.

“Yes, she is,” William murmured just as Buffy felt his hand glide from the bottom of her calf to where her skirt stopped mid thigh.

She gulped, feeling goosebumps break out over her skin and a certain heat coil inside her.

“We didn’t get to finish our talk,” he murmured. “You left and then I couldn’t get a hold of you.”

“I was out,” she squeaked as his hand caressed her thigh.

“Mmmm.” His hand went further up until it was under her skirt, his fingers outlining the panties on her bottom. “Are you wet, Buffy?”

She was having a hard time breathing and concentrating so how he expected her to speak she did not know—

“Looks good. We’re just going to set the food up on the table and round everyone up,” Lilah said, coming into the room. William moved with lightening speed and Buffy was sure Lilah didn't see, or if she had, she didn't let on. “Hello, by the way,” she said and smiled.

“Hello,” Buffy and William said at the same time. And so people started filling in, bringing the food they couldn’t fit in the fridge. William helped Buffy down from the chair and moved it to the next stop and helped her back up.

He grinned up at her, “Trust me?”

She smiled saucily, “I better be able to. You’re the only one keeping me from meeting the hard floor.”

His grin faded, but only slightly and his eyes twinkled. “I’ll catch you. Everytime.”

She met his eyes and found herself trapped by his words and their meaning, not to mention the wealth of emotion pouring out of his eyes.

“All right, I think we’ve got a party now!” Lilah announced. “I’ll get the guest of honor.”

Quickly, Buffy tacked the last part of the banner in and William swept her from the chair, clear off her feet and planted her on the floor, kissing the tip of her nose before putting the chair back from whence it came.

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

Buffy had met her father’s assistant only a handful of times over the years, and so it was only natural that she was curious about the woman now in light of what she knew. The woman, named Hannah, was shorter than Joyce. Where Joyce was a sandy blond, Hannah was a red head with a short bob. She was also plump where Joyce was tall and slender. However, she was pretty, all in all. There was an aura of sadness around her and Buffy wondered if her father had any plans to kindly ask her to leave considering what had happened between them and would no longer be happening or if the woman was going to leave on her own. Buffy was busily trying to asses the situation and didn’t notice William was standing right next to her until he leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“What are you doing?”

She started and then calmed, looking up at him, “I’m checking out Hannah, my father’s assistant.”

“God, have you decided you’re a lesbian now?”

Buffy couldn’t help it, she started to giggle and then laugh. William joined in with her and it earned them a few funny looks their way, but they paid no mind.

“No, you dork,” Buffy told him quietly when they had calmed.

“Oh,” he said knowingly and nodding. “You think he’s having the affair with her?”

“No, he was –“ She stopped abruptly and scanned the room. She looked up at William whose mouth was hanging open in barely concealed shock. “I can’t tell you here,” she told him apologetically.

He closed his mouth and grabbed a carrot off the veggie dish on the table and popped it in his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. He shrugged. “No problem. You can tell me over dinner.”
 

Chapter 39:

She smirked at him, “Dinner huh?”

He grinned at her, “Yup.”

That sounded funny coming from him and she giggled again. She batted her eyes at him coquettishly, “What time shall I be ready?” she joked.

“How bout after work little lady?” he said in his best southern accent.

“You can come by and pick me up at my office,” she said and slapped his hand away from the carrots playfully so she could grab one. At the last minute, deciding to get him back for earlier when he had his hand up her skirt, she dunked the carrot into the ranch dressing and made a big show of sucking the dressing off, sliding it in and out of her mouth and closing her eyes as if it were the best thing she’d ever had in her mouth.

“Buffy,” William moaned as if in pain.

“Buffy, I know you’re a ‘woman’ now and all, but a father does not need to see his daughter doing that with a vegetable.”

Buffy’s eyes flew open to find her dad standing there. God, that wasn’t mortifying or anything. She heard William snicker beside her and she elbowed him.

“Hi Daddy, how do you like your party?” she asked, trying to will her blushing away but to no avail.

Hank grinned, “I love it. Were you behind this?”

“Not at all. Well, I got the banner, but it was all Lindsey and Lilah.”

“Well thank you pumpkin,” Hank said and kissed her cheek. He turned to William and stuck out his hand, “Madden, good to see you as always.”

“Same here Summers,” William said, feigning professionalism while all the while grinning like a chesire cat and shaking Hank’s hand enthusiastically.

“I hate to break this party up and all, but I’ve got some clients that are waiting quite impatiently for me to get back to them,” Hank told them, “How do I graciously get out of this one?” he whispered.

Buffy giggled, “Daddy, you’re a big time attorney and you can’t handle simple social grace?”

Hank shrugged, “No shame in asking for help. Right William?”

William nodded, “Right, Hank.”

Buffy gave them both odd looks before answering her father. “I think you should make a speech about how grateful and touched you are for this little shindig and then make a joke about you have clients impatiently waiting for you that you must get back to.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do,” Hank smiled and sauntered off.

“Your father has changed a lot,” William mused.

“You mean since the heart attack?”

“No, not just since then, but maybe I’ve noticed it more since then. It’s been a slow change, but sped up since the heart attack. He’s much softer than he used to be. The man I knew was too proud to ask for help and didn’t rely on anyone. I see him more and more now giving some of that power away. Your relationship with him has changed, hasn’t it?”

Buffy nodded, “Sure has.”

“And with your Mum? Despite the affair--?”

“Well, she had it first.”

“Oh God, we have lots to talk about.” He grinned down at her and slung an arm across her shoulders. “Come on kitten, the sooner we get some work done, the sooner we can play.”

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

It might have seemed odd to some, in fact, he even considered how odd it was, but while he wanted Buffy back in every capacity – wanting all of her, he was having fun. This was the best ‘break up’ he’d ever had.

He had had the idea of introducing a bit of dating to the table, the kind of going out to dinner and ‘hanging out’ they used to do before they consummated their relationship. There was innocence and fun flirting with them back then and he wanted to bring that back to remind Buffy how much they’d had and would continue to have together.

Somehow, things had skewed a bit and they’d gone off course and William wanted to get it back on track. He couldn’t immediately introduce the dating aspect because knowing his girl; she would have been suspicious and put him off. So, with some flirting and carefully placed innuendo – and oh man, having Fred around was a perk he hadn’t bet on – he’d managed to get her to go out with him. She was so close he could feel it. And he knew she wasn’t aware of it, but her confidence in herself was back. Buffy flirted and teased before, but not to the extent she had been as of late. There was a sexy, saucy edge to her lately that was driving him completely wild.

The saucy minx had played with him; trying to make him jealous thinking something was happening with Lindsey. He knew she wasn’t interested in Lindsey, he knew she was just pushing his buttons – and it worked. Oh boy did it work! Just the thought of any man coming on to Buffy had his blood boiling. She might not be ready to see it or admit it, but she was just as much his as he was hers. And it wasn’t her that he didn’t trust. It was everyone else he didn’t trust. He knew she was quite oblivious to when men were checking her out, but he wasn’t.

But Fred, oh Fred, she had helped bring this side out in Buffy. She was jealous and trying not to show it, though it showed in every glance Buffy threw Fred’s way, in every heated glare she rested on him when she caught them talking.

He wondered how long it’d be before Buffy figured out that the only man Fred was interested in romantically was Wesley. Wesley and Fred had undeniable chemistry just standing next to each other and saying nothing. If Buffy would open her eyes a little more and give Fred half a chance, she’d see it.

He grinned thinking if he mentioned to Buffy that she was acting like Dru, that’d snap her out of her unneeded jealousy. The look on her face alone would be priceless.

Coming to her office to ‘pick her up’, he noted with satisfaction and joy the bright smile she bestowed on him when she found him standing there, leaning against the door frame. “Hello, pet.”

“Hello, William,” she said with a playful lilt to her voice. “Just finishing up here,” she told him, clipping some papers in a file.

“Take your time, I like watching you work.”

She gave him a funny look.

He grinned and strolled into the room, plopping himself in a chair leisurely, watching her. “But I like watching you do anything.”

“Well, no, that’s not true. You hate it when I crack my back.”

He made a face, “That’s just gross.”

“Like I like it when you crack your neck!”

“You crack yours!”

“Yeah, but we’ve been over this William.” She pointed at him, “Gross,” and then she pointed at herself, “Not gross.”

He laughed and she laughed along with him. “Okay, I’m ready Mr. Madden,” she told him and grabbed her coat.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait.”

She froze, “What?”

He came round the desk and took her coat holding it out for her to slip into.

“Suck up,” she teased him, slipping into her coat.

“Maybe, but I really wanted an excuse to do this,” he told her as he swept her long hair aside and nuzzled her neck from behind. He delighted in the shiver that went through her as well as the sound of her breath hitching. He forced himself to break away after kissing the back of her neck quickly, though what he wanted to do was bend her over her over the desk and take her.

Coming around to her side he held out his arm for her to take. “Mi’lady.”

She grinned up at him and took his arm, surprising him by briefly resting her head on his shoulder as they made their way out.

***********

“Wow,” William said when Buffy had finished telling him all about Hank and Joyce.

“I know.”

“And how do you feel about it all?”

She frowned and moved the food around on her plate. “I’m stunned. I never would have guessed my Mom, ya know? I feel so bad for my Dad too. I’ve been kind of avoiding talking to her about it. Though at the same time, it’s not my place to, either is it? I mean, it’s their life and their decision.”

William grinned, “Doesn’t stop them from invading your life though does it, even though it’s your life.”

“True,” she laughed airily. “What do you think?”

“I’m with you on them being adults and as adults making their own decisions. However, you’re at the age now Buffy where you can sit down and have a frank discussion with your parents if something is bothering you. I’m not saying go in there and start flinging accusations and placing blame, but just having a chat about it. You don’t have to know every intimate detail about what’s happening, but maybe by opening up the lines of communication you’ll be able to better understand what’s happening and not feel so . . . “

“So . . . blech about it?” she grinned.

“Exactly.”

“You know, I had a feeling that’s what you’d say.”

He smiled, “You just wanted to hear me say it then?”

“Well yeah.”

He nodded, taking a sip of wine. “Sometimes it helps to have another perspective. Makes you feel not so alone. Gives you the sense that you’re not alone.” He sat back, relaxed. “And you’re definitely not alone.”

She smiled shyly at him, “I know.”

“So maybe that’s why Hank’s been changing so much.”

She cocked her head to the side in question.

“Well,” he began, “He’s had to see that taking things on by himself and not communicating with Joyce led to problems. He took for granted she’d always be there to support him. He forgot that he needs to support her and their marriage too. It’s a two way street.”

She seemed to ponder that for a while in silence, eating her dinner and sipping her water. “Will?” she said after a while.

“Yeah?”

“You’re not . . . I mean, you and Fred are just . . .?”

He leaned forward, looking directly in her eyes. “What do you think?”

She stared at him for a long time, right in the eye. In the past, she’d look away from him quickly, not being able to meet his gaze for very long, but right here, she held it, didn’t move from it. Then, she sat back.

“I know,” she finally said.

“Sure?”

She nodded, “Yes. Positive. I trust you.”

He smiled, “And I trust you.”

She rolled her eyes, “Let’s not go there again.”

He chuckled, “Tell me more about what’s going on sweetheart.”

“Only if you promise to catch me up on all the crap TV I’ve been missing.”

“Deal.”
 

Chapter 40:

“It amazes me to no end that you watch The Office,” Buffy told Wes a few days after her dinner with William. Her and Wes were in the copy room, sipping on coffee and chatting when the discussion had turned to the previous night’s episode of The Office.



“Why?” Wesley asked curiously.



“It just doesn’t seem like your type of show I guess,” she shrugged.



“I have a sense of humor, Elizabeth.”



She smiled, “I know that. You have a wicked sense of humor. I just—“ she stopped because at that moment William and Fred made their way in and in deep conversation about something which sounded work related – Thank God, Buffy thought. Just because she trusted William did not mean she trusted Fred. She was keeping her on the girl and still looking to expose her severed-heads-in-the-fridge fetish at any moment.



The pair stopped as soon as they noticed Wesley and herself and Buffy smiled warmly at William. He grinned back at her, “Hello, luv.”



“Hi.” They stood there, William and Fred facing off with Wesley and Buffy. Buffy couldn’t help but snort at the looks of it. “Is this the Jets versus the Sharks? William, you gonna start snapping your fingers and doing a little dance?”



William burst out laughing. “What are you two doing? Slacking off?” he asked, nodding towards them.



“We were talking about last night’s episode of The Office. Did you know that Wes is a fan of that show too?” Buffy explained and turned to Wes. She opened her mouth to say something to him when she noticed the expression on his face. It was a look she’d never seen before – wait, scratch that. She’d seen that look before. On William. That unabashed tender expression mixed with awe and joy. And she’d seen it directed at her from William. She followed the trail of his gaze and found that it rested on Fred. She was amazed even more to discover Fred standing there, smiling sweetly, with a loving expression on her face, her eyes were positively twinkling.



Buffy cocked her head to the side thoughtfully and wondered if she’d ever looked at William that way. Her eyes traveled to William, looking to him in question. He smiled knowingly at her.



Clearing his throat, William reached out and grabbed Buffy’s arm lightly, “Buffy, there was a file I wanted to ask you about. Seems a letter’s gone missing and was wondering if you could help me locate it?”



She nodded quickly, adamantly, “Of course, yes, of course,” and allowed William to drag her from the room after she dumped her empty coffee cup in the trash.



They laughed like children down the hall and once inside his office, she shut the door behind her and exclaimed, “Oh my God, did you see the look on his face?”



“I’ve been seeing that look for quite a while now, kitten,” he said, amused, and leaned slightly on his desk and crossed his arms.



“How have I missed that?”



William shrugged, “Well, one reason comes to mind. . . “



She swatted him playfully on the arm and he chuckled, grabbing her arm and bringing her closer to him, wrapping an arm firmly about her waist.



“I want to play ‘Emma’,” Buffy announced.



He shook his head, “Buffy, I don’t know that that’s a good idea—“


“Oh come on! I know Wesley, I think fairly well by now, and he’s not going to do anything about it. He might be a lion when it comes to his work, but he’s a lamb when it comes to other –“



He cut her off with a kiss that left them panting and rested his forehead against hers.



“And – and I know,” Buffy tried to continue softly, “he won’t pursue it.”



“You never know. If he decides he wants it bad enough and is willing to damn everything else to get it, he might.”



She pulled back slightly. “Even his work ethic? The one you had too . . .”



William nodded, “Even that. And she works for me, not him.”



“I worked for you,” Buffy whispered.



“You did,” he leaned in and nuzzled the side of her face. “But God, I wanted you so bad I was willing to damn everything else to get you,” he said hoarsely.



“William,” she said on a breathy sigh and wrapped her arms around him, holding onto him tightly, burying her face in his neck.



His arms came around her and he held her tight. “Did I overwhelm you?” he asked softly.



She took pause, pondering that question before answering him. “No,” she said, the surprise in that answer evident in her voice. “No, you didn’t.” You made my heart soar, she thought.



The voice in her head berated her, Why don’t you tell him that?



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



Buffy and William climbed to the top of the mountain, and once there, he led her by the hand to the edge of the cliff at the top. They were both panting from the exertion of climbing as he waved his hand out, showing her the brilliant colors of the mountainside, and the valley down below with its vibrancy and life spread out before her.



“Wow,” she breathed. She looked up at him and he grinned down at her. Releasing her hand, he jumped. She opened her mouth to scream ‘No!’ to yell at him to come back. “Come back,” she managed on a whisper.



She watched in wonder as how William seemed to float, soar really, like a bird to the bottom where he landed softly, gently. She stared at him, able to see clearly the blue of his gaze, the love shining in those depths.



Lifting an arm he reached out his hand to her and she heard him, clear as a bell call to her, “Jump. Come with me. Join me.”



She stepped to the very edge of the cliff, the tops of her shoes just going over the edge. She looked down to William and he was waving his hand, encouraging her to jump.



Without warning, she burst into tears, sobs that racked her body and made her heart and soul ache. She shook her head and coiled back from the edge, sinking down the rocky terrain under her, and whimpered, “I want you with me.”



The sound of her own voice crying out woke Buffy from her slumber and she jerked up in bed and touched her face, feeling the tears track down. Her heart thundered in her chest and she glanced at the clock. Two a.m. She started to reach for the phone, feeling the sudden desperation to hear William’s voice. She snapped her hand back and lay down, shutting her eyes, she willed herself to calm and return to sleep.

 

Chapter 41:

Except she couldn’t go back to sleep. She was wide awake and the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to hear his voice.



Picking up her cell, she pressed the quick redial of his number and gulped, hoping he wouldn’t be mad.



“Hello?” his deep voice, rough with sleep, answered.



“Hi, it’s me.”



“Buffy?”



“Yeah.”



“What are—you’re not drunk again are you?”



“Nope, not at all. Did I wake you? If I did, then just forget I called and I’ll –“



“No, no, you didn’t wake me. I was up. Just watching some TV and thinking about going back to sleep.”



“Oh.” A beat. “Were you watching Skinemax?” she teased.



He chuckled, “No, I had my wank earlier.”



“William!” she admonished on a loud whisper.



“Well? You’re not here to take care of things for me,” his tone was light and teasing.



She giggled, “Such a dirty boy.”



“Want to come over and be dirty with me?”



“I had a dream.”



Silence. “Dream? A Martin Luther King, Junior type dream or a dream as in you were sleeping and ---“



“Dream as in I was sleeping. And if I said ‘I have a dream,’ that would be more Martin Luther Kingesque, wouldn’t it?”



“Suppose so. So, what is it a good dream starring yours truly or a bad dream? Need me to slay some demons for you luv?”



Sitting up in bed, in the pitch black she smiled at his willingness to slay any and all demons for her. “You were in it.”



“Oh? Was I doing something naughty?” Another beat. “Buffy, did you call for phone sex?”



She giggled, “No, William, I didn’t.”



“Oh,” he sounded disappointed.



“Sorry. I called because I felt I had to share the dream with you – or rather should share it with you …”



“What happened?”



She explained the dream and up until the moment she called him.



“I’m glad you called,” he said softly, “Makes me think you trust me.”



“I do trust you.”



“Then why didn’t you jump and join me in the dream?”



“I don’t know. It’s a dream William, I can’t be held accountable for what I do in my dream.”



“Except it mirrors your life at the present moment, doesn’t it?”



She sighed, “Yes.”



“So . . . “



“There’s something missing.”



“In the dream?”



“Yes.”



“And that is . . .?”



“I don’t know that part yet.”



“Seems pretty cut and dry to me.”



“It would seem that way, wouldn’t it? I have found over the past few weeks that nothing is cut and dry.”



“I miss you, Buffy.”



“I miss you too.”



“And I trust you.”



“I trust you too.”



“Least I didn’t get a grumble that time,” he said and chuckled almost nervously.



She yawned then, feeling suddenly very tired.



“Sounds like you’re ready to go back to sleep kitten.”

“I think I am. Aren’t you?”



“I think so. Think I might have to have a wank again. . . “



She giggled.



“Can I see you tomorrow? How about lunch?”



“That sounds great. Meet you at Panera Bread at one?”



“Definitely. If you have any more dreams, let me know, okay?”



“Will do. Night Will.”



“Night luv.”



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



Buffy sat at Envy the next night with her friends, not feeling the good cheer they were dead set on expressing.



Since her ‘break – up’ with William, that honestly didn’t seem like much of a break up, Buffy found herself missing William over the weekends. More than missing him really. She found she tried to come up with excuses to drop by his penthouse or call him. Nothing seemed believable enough, so she never ended up doing it though the desire was there.



They’d gone out that day for lunch as planned and she thought back to the time they’d been spending together through the week and such, and she felt the definite shift in their time together. She no longer felt insecure about expressing her affection for him and willingly gave him kisses and touched him when she felt the desire to.



And she talked to him about everything. About being an attorney and asking him if he had doubts, ever, about it. She admitted to him that as of late, she’d been having doubts about whether law was really where her passion was, or if the need to succeed in school and make her father proud drove her.



After talking with William and returning to bed the night before, she had the dream again, three times to be exact, but each time it changed. In one, William floated out before her, urging her to jump in his arms, the next, she held onto him before he could jump and the next after that, she’d jumped and awoke instantly.



Now, she wasn’t stupid. She knew the dreams were symbolic of her relationship with William. But she felt it went beyond telling her to just jump already. There was something else, something . . . just something. If it were just a simple ‘Jump and I’ll catch you’ dream, it wouldn’t bother her so much, for she’d understand it. But she wanted William with her in the dream. Wanted him beside her and became distressed when he was not.



She hadn’t shared her dreams with her friends, instead deciding that this was something she needed to figure out on her own and Faith, well; Faith was a bitter young woman that only wanted to compare William to Robin to drag Buffy down with her. William was not like Robin at all and she could tell Faith that until she was blue in the face, but the girl wouldn’t listen. So, Buffy opted to keep her mouth shut and her opinions to herself. It was the only way she could tolerate her.



So now, Buffy sat, missing William and wishing that their day together hadn’t ended.



There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste



There was no escaping it. She loved him. And she didn’t want to escape it.



She’d known for a long time that she loved him. And now, in true Hollywood fashion, she didn’t want to sit there a minute longer and deny herself the pleasure of being in his company. She stood and started gathering her things, her outward calmness belying the fact that her heart was pounding and could feel herself start to tremble.



I haven't got much time to waste
It's time to make my way
I'm not afraid of what I'll face
But I'm afraid to stay
I'm going down my road and I can make it alone
I'll work and I'll fight till I find a place of my own

Are you ready to jump
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hand
get ready to jump



Buffy’s attention jerked and she stopped, listening. It seemed that since her break up with William, she couldn’t escape the word ‘jump’ and everything having to do with jumping. It seemed that when the universe had something to tell you, it bellowed to make sure you heard it.

We learned our lesson from the start
My sisters and me
The only thing you can depend on
Is your family
Life's gonna drop you down like a limb from a tree
It sways and it swings and it bends until it makes you see



Are you ready to jump
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hand
get ready to jump



Are you ready?

There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that you wait
The more time that you waste



Buffy jumped from her chair, her dream making sudden complete and utter sense to her. Of course! The whole reason why she kept whimpering she wanted him with her in her dream, why she didn’t just ‘jump’, making sense to her.



She didn’t want to jump alone. He would be so proud of her to have figured it out! Shrugging quickly into her coat and grabbing her purse she flagged Willow down and the red head came over, panting from dancing.



“What’s up?” she asked.



“I’m going.”



“Buffy, no, don’t leave—“

Buffy shook her head, “I’ve got to. I’ve got see William. I’ll call you tomorrow!” She spun and started weaving quickly through the crowd.

I'll work and I'll fight till I find a place of my own

It sways and it swings and it bends until you make it your own

I can make it alone



Are you ready to jump
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hand
get ready to jump



She felt like Harry in when Harry Met Sally when he was running to catch Sally at the New Year’s Party. She had to get to him.



She was out of breath by the time she made it to his building and the bell boy let her up immediately, sensing her urgency. She rode the elevator, feeling she could have run and been there much quicker than this was taking.



She was damn near crawling out of her skin by the time she reached his floor and burst through the doors before the elevator doors had time to open all the way. She ran down the hall to his door, out of breath by the time she finally got there and knocking urgently on his door.



The door opened and he stood there, in black sweat pants and a black tank, his hair all . . . bleached blonde.



“Buffy, are you all right?”



She gaped at him, “Your hair.”



He grinned, touching a hand to his hair gingerly. “You like?”



“I love!” she exclaimed, still trying to catch her breath.



“I did it because well, I won’t lie, I know you liked it and –“



“I love you!” she blurted out.



He froze, his eyes widening. “What?”



“I was at the club and I was missing you and it hit me. Though, not with the force I thought it’d hit me, because honestly William, I’ve loved you for so long already. You were--” she gasped.



“Buffy, stop, come in and catch your breath. Did you run here?”



“Yeah, I did. And we really need to talk about the slowness of that elevator.”



He laughed and pulled her in, helping her take off her coat and then pulling her up to the living room where he sat down with her on the couch.



“Start from the beginning. I don’t want to miss a moment of this,” he urged her.



“You were right.”



“About?”



“About me and the whole box thing.”



“Continue.”



“You’re right. I did try to put it all in a box – my feelings, that is. I tried to make it all neat and tidy and put labels on it, but you can’t. You can’t do that when you love someone. And I love you so much and . . . and it’s larger than life and it’s all over the place and you know what? I like it that way. I like it because it works. I like that you’re not just my lover –though we haven’t been as of late—but you’re my best friend, William. You’re the one I want to talk to when I’m upset; you’re the one I want to run to when I have good news. You’re the one I want to share things with.”



She stood then and started to pace, clearly on a roll. “I’ve known it for a long time, I have, I was just being . . . “



“Stubborn?” William supplied.



She shook her head, “No, well, okay, maybe that, but dumb mostly. Okay, thickheaded—“


“Which is the same as stubborn,” he said, his eyes twinkling.



“Shut up,” she grinned. “I was scared of what I felt. Not you. I was afraid of just letting myself go. I was afraid of what would happen if I did. I’m so . . . in my head. I’m like my father, I over think things and analyze everything to death.

But with this mess with my mother, my dad learned that one person cannot do it alone. You need to work on things together. It doesn’t just take one person to jump, it takes two to jump.”



“I jumped already—“



She shook her head, waving at him to stop talking and he chuckled. “I figured out my dream.”



“Oh?”



“Yes, thanks to Madonna.”



“Madonna? The singer or Christ’s mother?”



“The singer.”



“Okay,” he said slowly, “Have you run into her recently or --?”



“I was at a club with the girls and this song came on and it was talking about jumping and being able to do it on your own and she said ‘take my hand’ and ‘get ready to jump’ and it all fell into place,” she rushed out.



“And?”



“My dream, in my dream – which I didn’t tell you about the last three I had last night after I talked to you. In one dream, you were floating out before me, urging me to jump in your arms, the next, I held onto you before you could jump and the next after that, I jumped and then I did that jerky thing when you wake up. . . See, the thing is William, I can jump. I can do it and I’ll know you’ll be there to catch me. But in my dream, I want you with me when I jump. I don’t want to jump by myself, I want to jump with you. I know just like you’re doing when you jump that we’ll soar and float and fly like a bird, but I want to do while I’m holding your hand and standing right next to you. Like my Dad and my Mom, it takes the two of them together to work on a relationship, not just one doing all the work.”



He was beaming at her, but not saying anything. “So, does that sound good to you?”



“Say it,” he whispered huskily.



“I love you, William.” She held out her hand, “Jump with me?”



Bolting up from his seat, William swept her up in his arms and smothered her in kisses and she giggled, trying to smother him in kisses as well.



“I knew you’d figure it out,” he told her hoarsely, “I knew if I was just patient and waited for you, you’d come to me.”



“I’m a little slow—“

“Stubborn.”



She grinned, “Stubborn.”



“Say it again.”



“I love you William.”



“Use Spike and say it again.”



She laughed, “I love you, Spike. Does that mean I have to call you Spike from now on?”



Waggling his eyebrows, he tucked his tongue behind his teeth, “Maybe just on special occasions.”



“Can one of those special moments be now?” she asked suggestively. Soon, she was squealing in laughter as he growled and tossed her over his shoulder, carrying her to the bedroom.

**Song by Madonna: Jump**
 

Chapter 42:

Carting her into the bedroom, William tossed Buffy playfully onto his bed. She giggled with delight and maneuvered herself back against the pillows, kicking off her shoes and socks along the way. Watching and waiting for him while propped up on her elbows, she grinned at him and bit her bottom lip as he whipped off his tank top and sent it sailing across the room.

Bending one knee on the bed, William started his prowl to her, crawling like a sleek cat to her causing Buffy's panties to become undeniably wet watching him. When he was within arms reach she reached out to him and pulled him in, wanting to feel him on her, having missed the sensation of having his weight resting on her. She kissed him deeply and wasn't sure who moaned into the kiss, but didn't care either. Starting at the curve of his back, she glided the tips of her fingers up his back, feeling the muscles under his skin ripple.

"Mmmm. . .I love you," she murmured into his mouth, feeling his hot breath against her mouth.

He grinned, "I'll never tire of hearing that."

She grinned, "You might. I might have to say it a lot."

"Please do."

"And then you have to say it back."

"I love you, Buffy."

"Mmmm . . . I won't ever tire of hearing that."

He chuckled and started nuzzling her neck, causing a shiver to run through her and her nipples hardened instantly. He caressed her side with his hand and inched up until he was covering her clothed breast in his hand. She arched into him, wanting the clothing off and wanting to feel his skin on hers.

"Kitten want something?" he teased, nibbling on her shoulder.

"Yes, you," she told him. She reached down, tugging off her gauzy flowered shirt. "Want to feel you," she pouted slightly.

He reared up, eyes hotly on her, and helped her when she sat up slightly to take the offending garment off until she just had on her cream laced bra. She started to reach behind her to unhook it and he stopped her, swatting her hands away lightly.

"I want to," he said hoarsely. "Missed you. Missed unwrapping you for my eyes and my eyes alone."

She nodded and swallowed as he skimmed his hands across her belly and on the undersides of her bra to the back where he unhooked it with nimble fingers. Her breast sprang free as the bra loosened and he slid his hand over her shoulders releasing the straps.

When the bra was gone, he stared at her breasts and lunged at her, pressing her back to the bed and laving one nipple with his tongue while palming the other and then repeating the same action for her other breast. Her nipples were hard and each time his roughened tongue went across her nipple, she felt her pussy clench. She moaned and slithered a hand between them, wanting to feel his hardness in her palm.

Spreading her legs wider, he rocked himself into her, and hit her clit in just the right spot, sending sparks of pleasure rocketing through her.

"What do you need, luv?" he asked.

"I need to feel you . . . more of you," she told him and slid her hand inside his sweat pants and watched in fascination as his eyes shut in rapture at the feel of her hand gliding down, down - there it was! She could feel the pearl of moisture that had gathered right on the tip and she swirled the head with it before fisting her hand down his shaft.

"Ahhh. . . Buffy," he moaned and gasped at the same time.

"Will, please. . . "

His eyes flew open. "Please what, baby?"

"I want you in me. I want you inside me, please." She was damn near begging but blast if she cared.

"Wanted to take it slow," he murmured, "Savor it."

"We have our whole lives to savor it, I want you now," she said urgently.

He beamed at her, "Our whole lives eh?"

She nodded, taking her hand off his cock and pushing his sweats down, "Yep, our whole lives."

"Pet, let me help," he said and shucked off his sweats and she shucked off her pants. He stilled her hands once more.

Lying back, she watched him, quivering as he 'unwrapped' her once more. When her panties were off, his mouth was on her pleasure center humming with delight as he sucked up her juices. So aroused was she for him that it wasn't long before he sent her careening into an orgasm which he greedily suckled up.

"Now, Will, please," she begged breathlessly, reaching down and tugging on him.

Wiping his mouth on the inside of her thigh, he prowled up her once more, grinning. When she felt his cock touch her slit she lifted her hips, aching to receive him.

He slid his length up and down her slit, teasing her and gathering up moisture on his cock. His hands were on either side of her head and his arms were extended as he hovered over her, grinning, knowing he was teasing her.

"Need something pet?"

She tried to glare at him in her haze of want, "If you don't give it to me, then you're not getting it either. Get in me."

"I love it when you're bossy," he said huskily and positioned himself at her entrance and lunged forward, giving a moan of completed satisfaction. "Fuck, you feel so . . . perfect."

"Mmm..." she moaned and reached for him, wanting his body on hers. She kissed him hungrily, sucking his tongue into her mouth as he started to move faster and harder. She met his every thrust, every parry, needing the release and the feel of him, the glide and stroke of every move. She felt, in a word, complete.

"I love you," she said breathlessly.

"I love you," he replied just as breathlessly and his pace quickened. "God, pet, I'm not going to last long. Been too long without you and. . . . .argh. . . you feel so good."

She nodded, dotting his face with kisses as he strained to hold back. "Yes, yes, yes,” she breathed, and wrapped her legs around his waist, pushing him deeper inside her. “More, more, more. . . “

“Such an insatiable little girl,” he rumbled deeply.

“Only for you,” she told him, and brought him down closer so she could bite his ear and whisper into it. “I love you,” she whispered and he started going faster. “I love you,” she said again. She was so close, just . . .

“WILLIAM!” She screamed, coming all around him and then he was roaring her name through the blood rushing in her ears.

He collapsed against her, panting into her neck and she could feel his heart racing against her and she shifted so that their hearts were together, beating together.

Then she burst into tears.

He moved his head up, still in a haze and pushed some damp hair from her face and wiped her tears with his fingertips. “Baby? What’s this about?”

“I wasted so much time,” she wailed and buried her face in his shoulder.

“Buffy?”

“I’m sorry I put you through all that,” she whimpered.

“Buffy, baby, look at me, luv.”

She moved her head back to gaze up at him.

He wiped away her tears and smiled gently at her, “Buffy, I’m not mad or upset with you at all.”

“Yeah, not now.”

He laughed and rolled them to their sides, keeping himself inside her. “Baby, I knew you’d come back. I knew it that day in your office when we talked about it all. That’s why I said I trusted you, I knew you’d come back.”

“I know, but,” she wiped at her eyes,” I still feel bad.”

“Don’t,” he said firmly. “Don’t. I don’t want you feeling guilty and feeling like you have to make anything up to me. We’re together now and we go forward now.”

She nodded, wiping the last of her tears away, “Jump together?”

He smiled, “Exactly.” He rolled onto his back, taking her with him and placed her on top of him. “Now why don’t you jump up on here and . . . ?” he said, leering at her.

Buffy burst into giggles and collapsed against him.

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

Later, they lay entwined on his bed, his head pillowed on her breast with his arms wrapped around her. Buffy was playing with his hair, twirling the spiky and curly locks in her fingers, marveling at how soft it was after bleaching.

“Did it hurt?” she asked.

“The bleaching?” he asked, stroking her soft skin gently.

“Yeah.”

“Little bit. I used Sweet N’ Low. Trick I learned to make it not hurt so much.”

“Hmm, interesting. I like it.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. You didn’t have to do it for me.”

“Well, truthfully, I did it in part for you,” he admitted sheepishly.

“Oh?”

“It’s kind of symbolic for me actually.”

“Oh?”

“That day we were in your office talking and I told you the break up was staying on until I had all of you? I got my rocks back that day.”

“Got your rocks back?”

“Yeah, I felt so confident that I was doing the right thing and that you would come back to me, that I felt …”

“Like the king of the world?”

He chuckled, causing her breasts to shiver under him. He was mesmerized by that for a moment and she poked him to keep talking.

“Yes,” he continued “I felt sure. Certain. When I changed and rebelled when I was younger, I became my own person, independent from my father. I found my own path. A rebirth of sorts. So bleaching my hair back to this represents that for me. And now,” he peered up at her, “here you are.”

She smiled and caressed the side of his face, “I did notice a change in you that day. You were flirting with me and we were supposed to have broken up.”

He grinned. “Well, haven’t you been noticing over the past few weeks that it hasn’t been a typical break up?”

She nodded, “Yes, we were . . . dating.” She laughed airily. “Sneaky devil.”

He nodded, “Exactly. It was all part of my plan to get you back and make you see what we had.”

“I feel like I got my rocks back too,” she said softy.

“You did. You’ve become so much more confident in yourself, Buffy. You’re confident in you; in us . . . you’ve got your rocks back.”

“Should I color my hair too?”

He shook his head, “No, I happen to love these goldilocks,” he said huskily and reached out, twirling a strand around his fingers.

She smiled tenderly at him. “You know when I think I knew?”

“When?”

“When we were up talking that one night and you told me stories about you when you were younger. Thinking back, I think I fell before then, but that was when it was done deal.”

“You know when I knew?”

“When?”

“When I went out with Darla.”

She laughed, “That bimbo from the coffee shop?”

He nodded, “I was trying so hard to not fall under and I was out with her and all I could think of was you, and how I didn’t ever want to go out with another bird, ever, unless it was you.”

“Oh Spike,” she murmured, her eyes twinkling, “I love you.”

“I love you too Buffy,” he said, smiling, his eyes twinkling back.

“Snuggle with me,” she ordered and brought him down next to her, wrapping herself around him, pressing a kiss to his bare chest.

“Do your parents know where you are?”

“No, I never bothered to call. I’m supposed to be out with Willow, Anya and Faith.”

“Ugh, Faith.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I really don’t like her.”

“Well,” Buffy started thoughtfully, looking up at him, “She’s not that bad. I actually feel sorry for her.”

“How so?”

“Because she hasn’t figured out how to get her rocks back yet. She’s a lost little girl. She’s in misery and she doesn’t yet realize she doesn’t have to stay there. She was hurt badly and I think used terribly by someone that wasn’t as invested in their relationship as she was and believed them to be. She’s bitter because of it, but only because she’s hurting.”

He regarded her contemplatively, “Maybe psych is your calling if you’re not sure about law?”

“I’m thinking criminal psychology.”

“Oh God,” he groaned.

“What?”

“Now I’m gonna have to worry—“

She chuckled, “Not just yet.”

“So, do your friends still hate me?”

She gave him a funny look. “Hate you? They don’t even know you.”

“I know.”

“Will, does it bother you that you never met them? I mean, really met them?”

He shrugged, “Maybe a little. Since they are who you spend your time with when you’re not with me.”

“Honey, I never thought of it that way. I wasn’t hiding you or anything. I didn’t know them all that well before because I was with you all the time. I never thought of it that way.”

“I like the red head.”

“Willow.”

“Yeah, she seemed all right. And Anya.”

“Then we’ll all go out and you can meet them all proper like,” she smiled. “Sides, I want to show off my hot boyfriend.”

He grinned rakishly, “Hot huh?”

She rolled her eyes, “You know you are.”

“Still nice to hear it once in a while; especially since you’re a Goddess.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would,” he murmured and leaned in, nuzzling her neck. “I would.”

She rolled to her back and pulled him on top of her, “Then you’re my God. And as my God, I want you to make love with your Goddess.”

He smiled, “Happily.”
 

Epilogue:

One year later

"Look at them," Buffy whispered to William; leaning into him slightly at the table they were sharing with Wesley, Angel and Angel's wife Cordelia.

"Look at who, luv? Angel and Cordy? I've had to look at them all night. They make me want to heave."

Buffy giggled. "No the other couple in the room that might make you want to heave."

"Aside from us?"

"Surprisingly."

William followed Buffy's gaze to Hank and Joyce on the dance floor, heads bent and bodies pressed together. They were in their own little world as they swayed to the music. They were beaming with joy, the love they felt for each other radiating off them. That's going to be Buffy and I one day, William thought. He looked over at her, the dreamy expression on her face and smiled lovingly at her.

"You did a great job on their anniversary party, luv," he told her.

She grinned and sat back, "Thanks. You helped you know."

He quirked a brow, "If helping meant you chose the opposite of everything I picked out-which you asked my opinion on everything from the bloody decorations to the DJ - then, yeah, I guess I helped."

Buffy laughed and Cordy, having overheard, laughed too. The brunette leaned forward, "I do it too," she assured Buffy. "Drives Angel batty."

Angel and William exchanged knowing glances and Wesley stood. "Elizabeth-"

"Wes, you can call me Buffy now."

Wesley continued on, her comment whizzing right by him, "It has been a wonderful party, but I must get home to the Misses and our little tot."

Buffy grinned, "How many times have you called home tonight to check up on them?" she teased.

Wesley's eyes sparkled with humor though his expression was serious, "Every half hour for the past two hours. Fred is fine and sends her best by the way. Apparently little Aaron ate and has been napping since."

Cordy nodded, "That's what they do when their two weeks old. Sleep constantly. Thankfully our Liam is out of that stage."

Angel snorted, his arm draped across his wife's chair, "Thankfully? He's a toddler, Cordy, he used the walls as a coloring book the other day. Remember how you called screaming at me to get home to talk to 'my son'?"

Cordy shrugged, "I got over it."


Angel shook his head and chuckled to himself. He looked up at Wesley, "Enjoy the quiet now."

Cordy slapped him playfully, "Don't scare him. He looks as white as a sheet!" she admonished her husband, gesturing towards Wesley.

Wesley did indeed look nervous and cleared his throat, "Well then. I shall be on my way to enjoy the quiet now."

The table laughed and William called out, "Tell the wife we said hello!"

Buffy moved so that she was closer to William and he draped an arm across her shoulders and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "You ready to go, luv?"

She nodded, "I think so. You?"

"Yeah, I think they've got it all from here."

Buffy nodded and smiled, kissing his cheek.

"Do you want to say goodbye to them?" he asked, meaning her parents.

"No, look at them. They're in their own little world. I don't want to take them out of that."

William grinned and stood, taking her hand and helping her up along the way. "It just dawned on me that I haven't danced with my girl much tonight."

"You can make it up to me at home."

"The Ramone's have done some great -"

"Don't even think about it, mister."

After wrapping her soft pink shawl about her shoulders, William and Buffy bid Angel and Cordy a good night and made their way home. Home being William's penthouse.

William had asked Buffy to move in as soon as the fall semester was over, and Buffy had readily agreed. It made sense since they'd spent barely a night apart since she'd confessed her love for him. She embraced their relationship with both arms and hadn't once looked back. William was amazed by how easily he could say things such as 'marriage' and 'kids' and 'forever' in front of her in regards to their future and she didn't even bat an eye. He knew she knew he did it to test her, to see if she'd flinch or coil back; his own insecurities at times getting the best of him, but she never did.

The only thing she had put up a fuss about was helping him pay for his penthouse. He told her he had it covered, but she stomped her foot and didn't budge until he worked out a deal with her. Since she was still in school and only working part time, the deal was she'd pay for groceries and over the summer when she picked up more hours; she could help him pay some of the utilities.

He'd had to discipline himself to let her do her studies and not try to distract her. It was tempting, but she'd admonished him that since she'd changed her studies slightly, he needed to give her space. She was still in law, however, she put the focus on criminal law and gathered up a minor in criminal psychology. On those nights when she was busy studying, he'd take a walk, or watch TV until she could join him.

He watched her as she settled in his car, letting out a kittenish sigh, and he smiled to himself. Tonight was the night, he thought.

He was going to propose.

He was nervous and yet excited. He knew in his heart that Buffy was going to say yes. His nerves however, weren't convinced. He was careful to make sure she never suspected as his girl was proving to be quite the detective. When he tried to plan her surprise 21st birthday party, she'd become suspicious of his secretive behavior and investigated until she'd discovered what he was up to. He'd been crushed at first to find out she was on to him, but she felt so guilty about it, he didn't give her too much of a hard time about it.

But this, she had no idea. He made sure of it. Knowing his girl was not heavy into jewelry, he'd chosen a simple ring with a small diamond. One thing was for sure, his girl wasn't going to be singing "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend's" and demanding Tiffany's anytime soon. Nope, little things made her happy. It worked out well since little things made him happy as well. He was perfectly content to come home with her and cuddle up on the couch reading books together or just sitting and talking while rubbing her feet.

She still went out with her friends and had girl's nights and even had them over from time to time to entertain. William didn't mind. As it turned out, he really did like Willow and Anya. Faith, well, he could do without most days, but the girl had started getting softer. Buffy said it was because she was seeing through them that healthy relationships were possible and that they weren't going through a phase, they truly did love each other.

William watched her as she changed and he made it as far as taking off his dress shirt and wife beater. She had changed into the soft rose colored satin Capri pajama bottoms and matching Cami before going to the bathroom and closing the door behind her. He chuckled to himself. She made it clear to him the day he’d come in while she was on the can tinkling that he was never to come in the bathroom while she was on the toilet under any circumstances. She’d been positively horrified. He’d explained he was well aware of the business that took place in a bathroom and she didn’t want to hear it. She did, however, let him come in the bathroom to pee while she was in the shower and then she would chatter on loudly, not wanting to hear him actually pee. He liked to sometimes play with her and not respond to her ramblings. Then he’d dutifully laugh when he got a shouted “Spike!” or “William!”

Going to the closet, he went to his boots in the back and slid his hand inside, grabbed the velvet box, and extracted it. When he heard her coming, he shoved it in his pocket and watched her as she padded to the bureau with the mirror and grabbed an elastic, pulling her hair back in a pony tail.

“I don’t know why I didn’t do this first before washing my face. Now my hair’s all— Will?”

He came up behind her, taking the box out of his pocket and hid it in his fist as he wrapped his arms around her.

“Will? You okay?”

He nuzzled her neck and then whispered in her ear, “I love you.”

She smiled, “I love you too.”

Moving his hand he held it out before her and flipped the box open. “Marry me.”

She gasped, and looking in the mirror, he could see her eyes welling up in tears. She stared at the box, not moving, her mouth in a perfect ‘O’.

“Say something,” he urged on a whisper.

“Oh my God.”

“Is that a good ‘oh my god’ or a bad—“

“It’s . . . wow, it’s so beautiful! How did you do this without me knowing?”

He laughed. “Say it. Say you’ll marry me. Be my wife and stay with me. Forever.”

She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly. “Yes, I’ll marry you. I’ll be your wife and stay with you—“

She never got to finish just that one word because his lips were on hers and then, tossing the box onto the bureau, he maneuvered her to the bed.

It was at least a couple hours until Buffy actually got to put the ring on.

 

The end