Chapter 1
***

“So…you saw their faces but you can’t describe them. Why do I not believe you?”

“Well, they were human. Two eyes each, both kinda in the middle.”

Buffy felt her frustration grow. “Uh huh. And the lab?”

“Underground, I came out through an air vent. I don’t know exactly where.” Spike leaned up, checking the clock. “I’m done. Put the telly on.”

Buffy glared, ready to ask more questions. She was stepping closer to the bathtub when Giles arrived, his ‘Kiss the Librarian’ mug, full and overflowing with blood.

“It’s about time. Hope you got it warm enough, Watcher.”

Without addressing Spike, Giles handed the mug to Buffy and she took it with a sigh. “This gets more fun everyday.” She kneeled on the bathroom rug and held the blood to Spike’s mouth.

“I don’t know why you’re so dainty all of a sudden.” Spike commented, seeing Buffy’s disgusted face as he slurped the liquid loudly. “You’ve done this for Angel—you must have.”

“That’s it!” Buffy pulled the mug away and she jumped to her feet.

“Hey! Give it! I’m starving here!” He struggled to reach for Buffy but the chains stopped him from moving.

“No, I’m not putting up with you. The kitchen is closed until you can tell me something useful.”

“I’m trying to remember!” Spike spoke between gritted teeth, “It was very traumatic.”

“God! How long are you going to pull this crap?!”

“How long am I going to live once I tell you?” Spike said the words slowly, staring into Buffy’s eyes.

“Ten minutes, tops.”

“Yeah? You’re all talk, you wouldn’t kill me.”

“Giles! I accidentally killed Spike. That’s okay, right?” Buffy didn’t wait for a response before she continued on. “You know what? I don’t think you want to leave here. You don’t wanna talk because we’ll let you go. Maybe we made everything a little too comfy for you.”

“Comfy? There’s nothing comfy about being chained to a bloody bathtub and being fed fucking--”

“You want something nicer?” Buffy’s eyes sparkled as she flashed Spike her neck. “How about my neck…all bare and tender and exposed…all that blood just…pumping away--”

“Giles! Make her stop!”

“Yes cry to Giles, now who’s the Big Bad, Spikey?”

“Buffy, Spike, if you two don’t kill each other, I just may lend a hand. Buffy, get your neck away from him. Spike, do cooperate, we have no intentions of killing a harmless…uh, creature…but we have to know what’s been done to you. We can’t let you go until you help us.”

“Yeah, we can’t let a powerless, impotent...”

“Hey!” Spike growled.

“Buffy,” Giles scolded.

“Poor choice of words, huh? How about, hmmm…flaccid?”

“You are one step away, missy!”

“From what? Are you going to scold me? Maybe you’ll lick me to death? What a ferocious little puppy you are--.”

Giles looked away, annoyed and embarrassed by Buffy’s behavior. “Buffy, I fear you’re getting nowhere with your interrogation, have you thought about making him retrace his steps? Spike, do you think you could find your way to the lab?”

“It’s unlikely but I guess you just want us out of the house, don’t ya Watcher-boy?”

“Yes, more than anything.”
***

“Hang…hang on, this—this is it!” Spike looked around the grassy area. “Wait… no… yes…”

“Cool it, Fido,” Buffy tugged on the rope she had tied around Spike’s waist as a leash. “What are you talking about?”

“The lab, you ninny. Hey, no pulling!” He growled as Buffy yanked hard on the rope.

“Sorry, my hand slipped.” Sweetly, Buffy gave a fake apology.

“And you wonder why I’m not helpful.” He took a few double glances at the tree they were near. “This has to be it.”

“The commando lab is down there? Spike--” Buffy searched the ground, seeing nothing.

“The door was right here, where I escaped!” He fell to the ground on his hands and knees.

“Spike…”

“Open up! I’m going to kill you!”

Buffy watched as he clawed and tore at the ground, “Spike, there’s nothing there!”

“Let me in! Fix me…”
***

Buffy couldn’t explain it, but her heart jumped after hearing Spike’s sob.

“I—I can’t take this!” Spike pounded on the ground as angry tears fell from his eyes. “Chained to a fucking bath tub! Being bottle-fed fucking pig’s blood from the fucking slayer! Fuuuck!”

“Spike, ok, that’s enough.” Buffy’s words came out softer than she had expected. “Let’s go.” She placed a hand on his arm and she started to pull him off the ground.

“Get off!”

“Spike--.” She flew back to the ground after he pushed her away. When her eyes focused she saw him taking off into the woods.
***

Buffy found him in no time. She walked into Willy’s bar and his crumpled form was sitting in plain sight, a beer in front of him and his head in his hands.

“Somehow I thought that would take longer.”

“Sod off.”

Buffy’s frown deepened as she closed the gap between them. “It’s time to go home, Sparky.”

“Leave me alone.”

“You know I’m not going to do that.”

“When I get this bloody spell reversed, Slayer, they’ll be finding your body for weeks.”

Buffy tensed, not at his threat but at the defeated tone to his voice. Sighing, she pulled out the stool next to him. “Excuse me, can I get a Diet Coke?”
***

“What are you doing, Slayer?”

“Sitting, and in a few minutes, I’ll be sitting and drinking. Don’t worry our originally scheduled game of ‘Kick the Spike’ will resume shortly…after my fifteen-minute break.”
***

“You’re pathetic.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

Buffy concentrated on stirring the ice of her drink, refusing to have anything that resembled a real conversation with the sad vampire. Every few minutes she gave him a random insult, and every insult had no effect on him. He agreed with every put down.

“You have any aspirin on you? One little shove and I’m nursing a bloody migraine all night. I hate to admit it but it’s not fun hitting you anymore…all the fucking repercussions…the head trauma.” Spike babbled before downing the last of his drink. It was filled moments later by the bartender. “I’m not even remotely scary anymore…I can’t bite, I can’t even flick someone in the ear.”

“Nope, you’re not that high on the scary-scale anymore especially with the tears. That ruined everything for me.” Buffy sounded sarcastic but she was being truthful.

“But I was high, wasn’t I?”

“Huh?”

“Before I was nabbed by the commandos, I was a bloody animal, wasn’t I? Yeah, I was the type that was best to be left alone…was the biggest, baddest, mother--.”

“God, conceited much?” Buffy rolled her eyes. “Sure you were an evil bloodsucking fiend before but now, you’re just formally dangerous and currently annoying.”

“Oh why don’t you just rain on my parade? I was happy there for a few seconds, skipping down memory lane….”

“I’m not here to make you feel happy, Spike.”

“Slayer, why exactly are you here?”

“I told you,” Buffy gritted her teeth, suddenly defensive. “I was taking a break but now that break is over.” She stood and put on her jacket. “We’re leaving. Now.”

“Are we? Ooo, what got you jumpy?” Spike cocked his eyebrow.

“I’m not jumpy or even a bit bouncy.” Buffy glared as Spike grinned. “Whatever you’re thinking—stop it.” Buffy grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the bar.

“Not so rough, mind the jacket, pet.”

“Do not call me that.” With a scowl on her face, Buffy let go of his arm and they walked down the empty, dark street with Buffy in the lead and Spike trailing behind.

“What would you like for me to call you then, sunshine?”

“Just shut up.”

“Because—I mean—what kind of name is Buffy anyway? Buffy?”

Buffy shivered, not used to hearing him say her given name, but she ignored her body’s strange reaction, “And Spike, now that’s a better name.”

“You wound me...”

“Spike, what the hell is wrong with you?” Buffy turned just as Spike tripped and fell to the ground. “Great. You’re drunk.”

“Am not!”

“You are.”

“Are not!”

“Stop yelling, I’m not going to argue with you. Get up.” Buffy crossed her arms and played with the thought of kicking the vampire while he was down.

Spike pouted as he knocked dirt from his clothing. “And I’m not drunk. Maybe just slightly…tipsy…”

“Tipsy? My ass.” Cursing under her breath, Buffy got a hold of Spike’s wrist and led him into the cemetery. “Fucking vampires, you’d think you guys would have superhuman alcohol tolerance…”

“Hey! Let go of me!” Spike struggled in Buffy’s grasp but she didn’t let him go.

“You can’t walk in a straight line.”

“Can too!”

“You can’t—never mind, just shut up.”
***

“If anyone saw me…like this…” Spike giggled. “Holding hands with the slayer…once you’re done milking me for information, I want you to kill me.”

Buffy sighed, “We are not holding hands.”

“Don’t know how you should do it…how painful and whatnot but I trust that you’ll be creative and that you’ll get the job done. Or if you like I can think of something…some poetic way of being off-ed.”

“Poetic?”

“You know, like a slayer being killed with her own stake. Like that, only different.”

“So you’re going to give up? You, who once rattled on about how much you liked living and happy meals and soccer and crap, you want me to kill you?” Buffy cringed, staring ahead as she led him through the graveyard and not understanding why she felt the need to talk him out of assisted suicide. “Sounds like you’re just trying to take the easy way out; the cowards way.”

“Coward--.” Spike’s angry complaining was cut short by a loud growl.

“Thank God,” Buffy smiled seeing the other vampire jump into their path. She ran into the fight headfirst, kicking and hitting. “Spike! Look for a stake!”

“Why would I do that? Why would I help you?”

Buffy ducked, barely missing a blow to her head. “Spike! I so…don’t have the time…to put up with you!”

“Yeah, yeah, hold on.” Spike wobbled, scanning the ground for sticks and branches, still intoxicated.

“Spike!” Buffy yelled as she tried to squirm out of a headlock.

“Oh! This’ll do.” Spike held the thickest twig he could find and he smiled proudly. “You want me to toss it to you?”

“That’d…be…nice,” Buffy gasped for air.

Spike got ready to throw the stick but he stopped himself, knowing that Buffy was incapable of catching it with the vampire attacking her. Prepared to get another headache, Spike pounced on the vampire, plucking him off Buffy and punching him in the face. “Ow! Hey! My head—it—no pain! That’s right! I can hurt demons!” Spike hit the vampire over and over, thoroughly enjoying himself. “I’m back!”

When Buffy thought she’d seen enough, she staked the vampire and it dissolved into dust.

“Hey! I was just getting started--.”

“I don’t know what’s going on but we need to tell Giles about this. Let’s go.” Buffy turned to walk away but Spike stopped her.

“What? We can’t just go back to the Watcher’s while there’s evil still afoot. That’s not very industrious of you. I say we stay out here and kick some more demon ass! What is it past your beddy-bye time? Too chicken? You’re the fucking Chosen One. Come on! Vampires! Grrr! Nasty! Let’s annihilate them. For justice—and for—the safety of puppies—and Christmas, right? Let’s fight that evil! Let’s kill something!”

“Spike, when you’re sober, I plan on using every word of that speech against you.”

“Actually,” Spike grinned holding his head. “I’m feeling much better…I’ve got a whole new outlook really. See what a spot of violence can do?”

“This means you don’t want me to kill you anymore? Darn.”

“Oh, like you would.”

“Spike--.”

“Hey, hey, no need to get shirty, pet, I’m just saying I could tell…you wouldn’t kill me even if I begged.”

“Didn’t we go over this already today? I’d kill you, Spike.” Buffy glared and she took a step closer. “In a heartbeat.”

“Keep on telling that to yourself, sweetheart. If it makes you sleep better at night…”

“Don’t call me sweetheart. Don’t call me anything.”

“I can call you whatever I bloody-well want to call you. I saved your life…princess.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why what?”

“Why’d you save me?” Buffy took another step, “You thought you were helpless. You could’ve had a front row seat in the bagging of another slayer and you—you put yourself on the line--.”

“Yeah? Well…why’d you act they way you did tonight? The drinks and the hand holding--”

“I told you I wasn’t holding your hand!”

“Well, I wasn’t saving your life!”

“What’d you think tonight was, some sort of demented date?”

“Did you?”

“No! Of course not!”

“I didn’t either!”

“Thank God!”

“Exactly—but without the God part!”

“I hate you!”

“I hate you more!”

The couple panted and glared at each other with hate and disgust shining in their eyes. “That’s not possible,” Buffy spit out the words. “There’s no way that you could--.” In flash, Buffy was in Spike’s arms and his mouth was on hers. She felt like she should gag and push him away but she didn’t, she couldn’t. Buffy found herself moaning and pushing against his body and desperately wanting to feel more of him. “What…what’s going on,” she whimpered between endless kisses.

“I don’t know.” Spike sounded as confused as Buffy did. “I—you’re amazing. Buffy, ah, will you marry me?”

“What? You’re kidding, right?” Buffy felt as if she had no control over her body. Her hands slid into his coat and under his tight shirt. Shivers traveled through her as her fingertips breezed over his stomach.

“I wish I was…but--.” Spike ripped his mouth from Buffy and he fell to his knees. “Please, Buffy? Marry me?”

“It’s just so…so sudden. I—I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say yes, and make me the happiest man alive.”

“But you’re not alive.”

“Buffy,” Spike scowled at her playfully and kissed the top of her hand.

“I think this is a spell.” Buffy murmured before cupping the sides of his face and kissing his forehead. “But, oh Spike, of course I’ll marry you.”

“You picked up on the spell too?” Spike smiled while slipping one of his rings onto Buffy’s thumb. “This’ll do for awhile, won’t it, kitten?”

Buffy nodded while helping him back to his feet. “I love it! We should go back and tell Giles the happy news. Well…unless you want to still kill things. It’s up to you, honey. I didn’t say it before, but I’m really happy that you can kill demons. I was so worried about you before…you were breaking my heart.”

Spike said nothing, he looked into her eyes and he kissed her deeply. They stumbled back, their limbs tangling and their tongues mingling. “Buffy…I love you.”

“I know…” Buffy gasped, her heart tightening. “I love you so, so, much, Spike.”

“Let’s not go to the Watcher’s,” he whispered into her skin after kissing his way down her neck.

“But, baby--.”

“Let’s go back to your place.”

“Willow.”

“What about her?”

“She’s my roommate, remember?”

“Mmmm…what about your house?”

“Mom’d kill me and you know it. Why don’t we just go see Giles and then maybe I’ll stay the night…we can get rid of him and have some fun in your bathtub.” She giggled and stood on her tiptoes so she could nip at Spike’s ear. “How does that sound?”

“Delicious.”
***

“There’s so much to decide. Ceremony, guests, reception…”

“Well, first thing I’d say, we’re not having a church wedding.”

Buffy laughed as she rang Giles’ doorbell. “I’ll remember that and we won’t have a daytime ceremony either, I don’t want a big pile of dust for a hubby. That would lead to a very boring honeymoon.”

“We’ll have nothing like that.” Spike leaned into Buffy’s back suggestively. She gasped and blushed, the bulge in his pants poking her. “Our honeymoon will be anything but boring, love, you can count on that.”

“Oh…stop…” Buffy closed her eyes as he rubbed against her. “Uh…”

“You like that?”

“Uh, yeah.” Buffy moaned deeply but then the front door opened and she jumped away. “Giles! Hey!”

“Buffy…sorry it took so long for me to reach the door. Something’s happened. I need your help actually. I can’t see very well and everything’s blurred. I’m certain it’s a spell of some kind, because…well…Buffy, are you and Spike holding hands?”

Buffy ignored Giles look of confusion, “What do you mean a spell? Because Spike and I, we thought something was wonky earlier…but do you remember about what, baby? I can’t remember…”

“Nope.” Spike followed Buffy and Giles into the house and he sat on the couch. “Whatever is going on, a general reversal spell will do the trick, love, it’ll make everything rosy again”

“B-baby? Love…ah, Buffy? What is going on?”

“Oh, you can tell, can’t you? Look,” she flashed her ring at Giles. “Spike and I, we’re engaged!”

“You’re kidding.”

“No, that’s what I thought too, but when he asked me, I said yes. I love him, Giles, and Spike loves me. I know you probably think I’m crazy and I’m sure you don’t approve, and my father…he’s not that far away, I mean, he could—but when I get married, that day will be about family—and I would like for you to be the one to give me away, Giles.

“Oh, Buffy!” Giles was touched for a moment but then he shook his head, “Oh! For God’s sake! This is nonsense. Something is making you act this way. Don’t you realize what you’re doing?”

Buffy swallowed, thinking of the perfect words as she glanced at Spike who was watching television. “I’m planning on marrying the man I love. We fought for all these years, and then…sometimes you just look at someone, and you know…it’s like we’re drawn together…Giles, I feel sparks when I’m around him, it’s amazing. I think maybe we fought because we couldn’t admit how we really felt about each other…how much we loved each other.

“He’s gonna have to take a bit of time to get used to it, kitten.”

“I know, baby, they all will.” Buffy walked past Giles and sat in Spike’s lap. She played with the buttons of his duster that was modestly shielding his tented pants. Winking, her hand rested on his erection.

“Naughty girl,” Spike pulled Buffy’s head down for a kiss as she stroked him through his jeans.

“Mmmm…have I told you how good you taste?” Buffy whispered, licking her lips. “How you feel? So, so, good…” Her hands inched to the button of his jeans but she stopped when she heard a crash behind them. “Giles, are you okay?”

Giles stood, a broken scotch bottle at his feet and an empty glass in his hands. “I rather think not. I seem to be rather…rather…blind. Completely, in fact.”

“What? How could this happen?” Buffy kissed Spike quickly on the cheek before walking over to Giles and waving her hand in front of his face.

“A spell…it has to be a spell, that’s the only reasonable explanation for my eyes and for…for everything.”

“Ok, don’t worry, we’ll fix it. I’ll call Willow. Spike, help Giles for me.”

“Are you…helping me?” Giles shifted uncomfortably when Spike guided him into the living room.

“Yeah.” Spike poured a glass of scotch for Giles and one for himself. “It’s what Buffy wants…”

“Spike, you…you really are set on marrying Buffy? I thought you hated her, earlier today…”

“Just a lover’s spat, mate.”

Giles leaned back and he rubbed his eyes. “Of course…”

“Well, now that you’re comfy, I’m going to join Buffy in the kitchen.”
***

Buffy could sense him before he wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t get a hold of Willow. I warmed you some blood, ninety-eight-point-six degrees on the dot.” Buffy pulled the thermometer out of the mug and twirled in his arms. She slid the thermometer between his lips. “Good?”

“Perfect, sweet.”

“How are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

Buffy nudged him between his legs as he finished his drink. “Everything ok down there? I feel like we keep on getting interrupted…”

“Oh, pouty, you worried about me?” Spike put his mug aside and he put his thumb to her mouth. “Look at that lower lip…gonna get it…”

“No, wait,” Buffy covered her mouth and she dug through the pockets of her jeans. “You have icky blood breath. Here.” She popped a mint in his mouth and one into her own. “Now you may get my lip.” She pressed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him slowly.

“Buffy…” He inhaled her scent; his hands went under her jacket and onto the small of her back. “You know…the Watcher being blind…it could have its perks.”

“Especially when we’re both feeling very…perky.”

Spike chuckled, “Too bad he can’t be deaf too…just imagine the possibilities…”

Buffy’s heart skipped a beat, “Uhg, imagining—but that’s a horrible thing to say, Spike. We have to help him.”

“We will, in fact, let’s go get supplies for that reversal spell. Can’t have Mr. Magoo spoiling our happy day, yeah? You go say your goodbyes to the Watcher, love. I’ll meet you outside in a few.”
***

“I feel bad leaving him.” Buffy took a hold of Spike’s arm and they began walking towards the magic shop. “So…did you have fun in the bathroom, honey?”

“Were you spying on me, kitten?”

“No, no, of course not.” She smiled and squeezed his hand. “So, uh, did you think about me? When you were…in the bathroom?”

“Every minute, like always.”

“Oh…but…always?”

“You’re blushing, it’s cute.”

“I’d understand recently because of us getting married and all, but…always?”

“Since the day I saw you dancing.”

“No wonder Drusilla left you.”

“Hey!”

“Oh!” She panicked, afraid that she’d hurt his feelings. “I’m sorry! That came out wrong, it’s just that—I know she hurt you but…if you were thinking about me…I think…”

“Buffy--.”

“No, I’m trying to explain, give me a minute--”

“It doesn’t matter now, really, all that rot with Dru. I’ve moved up, love, and for the better too.”

Touched, Buffy rested her head against his upper arm as the walked. “We both have.”

“You can say that again.”

“They’re in our past now, Drusilla and Ang--.”

“Stop right there, don’t even say that wanker’s name.”

“Ooo, jealous much?”

“So much that it makes me quiver. I can’t even think about that bastard without getting queasy. I could vomit right now at just the mention of tall, dark, and forehead.”

“Do vampires puke? I’ve always wondered about that.” Buffy stopped and she turned to face him. “Spike, you have nothing to worry about. I’m yours now. Angel means nothing to me.”

“Hey! You said his name!”

“Oh shut up.” Yanking on the lapels of his jacket, she pulled him in for a passionate kiss that left them both panting. “I love you, Spike, not Angel. I’m with you and I think: Angel? Angel, who? Ok? Don’t you believe me?”

Spike nodded and kissed her again.
***

“I can’t believe the magic shop was out of Tagas root.” Buffy swung their connected arms, unconcerned.

“Ole Rupes isn’t going to be a happy-camper knowing we can’t cure his total and incapacitating blindness until tomorrow.”

“They’ll get more root stuff tomorrow. I’m completely on top of everything.” She stopped in the middle of the street, staring at a window display of a wedding gown. “Oh, Spike look. Isn’t it beautiful?” She led him over to the window, mesmerized.

“You’ll look gorgeous in that, pet.” He laughed softly, holding her while she stood in a trance. “You can try it on…”

“But the store is closed,” she pouted. “I guess we can come back tomorrow night…Look! We so need that cake topper!” She pointed to the plastic bride and groom figurine that was also in the display. “Aren’t they just the most perfect little us?”

“Don’t know…” Spike squinted, “The groom, he’s clearly human, insipid, too dull…”

“Oh but we can handle that easily with a little touch of red paint to the mouth, it can be the blood of the innocent or something.”

“That’s my girl..” He grabbed the back of her head and pulled her close but froze when he heard someone calling Buffy’s name. “Whoever it is tell ‘em to sod off. We’re having a moment here.” He grumbled before pressing his mouth to hers.

“Hey, Buffy?” Riley ran to the couple and he eyed Spike suspiciously. “Who’s your…friend?”

“This is—honey, get off—Spike.”

Riley put out his hand and Spike snorted, tightening his hold on Buffy.

“Spike…” Riley laughed as if his name were a joke. “Have we met? You seem familiar. Do you go to school?”

“No.”

“He’s a little too old for school, aren’t you, baby?”

“Buffy, why don’t you tell the boy the good news?” Spike nuzzled her hair while glaring at Riley.

“That tickles,” Buffy giggled as Spike brushed his lips softly against the skin beneath her ear. “Riley, Spike and I are getting married!”

“You’re what?”

Buffy felt Spike’s body tense up and she heard him hiss. “We’re getting married, I know it’s hard to believe but--.”

“That—that would be an understatement.” Riley frowned and he ran his fingers through his hair.

“Hey, mate--.”

“I can handle this, Spike. Riley, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad. I just don’t think I understand.”

“No, you’re mad and I don’t know why. You didn’t think there was something between us, did you?”

“No! Er…I really…wow. I don’t know what to say.”

“Then be a good boy and say nothing,” Spike spoke dangerously. “Run along and maybe you’ll get an invite to the wedding.”

“Okay…it’s late…and I’m—I’m tired now.” Riley looked at the couple, befuddled as they kissed and cuddled. They acted as if he wasn’t there. “I think I’m going to go far away and be…away.”

“Have a nice time. Don’t come back.” Spike smirked between kisses. His hand traveled to Buffy’s breast and he gave it a light squeeze, marking his territory, before Riley turned and walked off.

“And you said you weren’t scary without biting.” Buffy moaned, leaning into his touch. “Riley was terrified. He didn’t even say goodbye.”

“You’re just saying that…buttering me up so I’ll do more naughty things to you.” He laughed at Buffy’s moan when he rubbed his thumb over her pebbled nipple. “But seriously, has he been bugging you, Buffy?”

“He likes me and he wants me to date him. He’s really nice but…”

“But?”

“I’m getting married,” Buffy said excitedly. “And…”

“And?”

“He’s nothing compared to you, the man I love.”

“Good answers, princess.”
***

“Don’t laugh, but I always pictured our first dance as being to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ It’s such a nice song and the words are very us.”

“Are they?”

“Don’t look so scared, mister. ‘I’d be nothing without you’…’you’re my hero’…’you’re everything that I’d like to be’…gah, it’s very romantic.” Buffy stopped, “Spike? Do you remember there being boards on the windows?”

“Don’t recall the demons either.” Spike pointed to angry mob that was gathered outside Giles’s house. He ran towards the group, ready for a fight.

“Spike! Be careful! Wait for me!”
***

Spike and Buffy burst through the front door minutes later, both panting. “What the hell is going on? The demons just keep on coming and coming.” Buffy commented as she pushed a bookshelf to barricade the door.

“I could have taken them all, but no, you had to drag me away,” Spike complained as he helped Buffy move more furniture. “I still hurt, you know.” He rubbed where Buffy had socked him in the arm.

“Oh my God, really?” Buffy ran to him, tears in her eyes. “I hurt you? I didn’t want to, I swear. You were just so into the fight and I got so worried…here, I’ll kiss it and make it better…”

“Ewww! Giles, you weren’t lying!” Xander screamed in disgust. He and Anya were standing, watching in horror.

“Oh, hey, guys.” Buffy gave them a little wave. “Did Giles already tell you? About the wedding?”

“Yeah and I’m still trying to get past the how, what, and how of it all.”

“Xander, I know it must seem sudden but…”

“Don’t waste your breath on him, pet.”

Buffy looked at Spike lovingly and she petted where she had hit his arm. “Xander, you’d better get used to the idea of Spike being my husband…I love him so, very much.” She mouthed the end again, lost in Spike’s eyes. They kissed.

“Can I be blind too?”

“Me too?” Anya chimed in after Xander.

“I know…wait…married…I know something…what is it?” Xander struggled, hitting his head. “Everything’s so familiar…demons…blind…work, brain—work!”

“This is the crack team that foils my every plan? I am deeply ashamed,” Spike whispered in Buffy’s ear, making her giggle.

“Oh! Oh oh! Willow!” Xander jumped to his feet. “Something about Willow and her griefy-poor-me mood swings—so, so tired of it. She came around because she was upset about Oz leaving and she couldn’t find Buffy. She told me I was a demon magnet a-and that you two should get married!”

“And…that I didn’t see anything.” Giles added, coming to the realization. He had been lying on the sofa with a cloth over his eyes, just listening to the group. “She did the spell…to have her will done. Whatever she says is coming true.”

“You mean a spell made Spike propose?” Buffy frowned, “I knew the moment was magical but—I hate thinking that we had no control…”

“Don’t then,” Spike spoke so only Buffy could hear. “You know how I feel about you, maybe the witch just gave us an extra push.”

“Riiight, you’re marrying Spike because you’re so right for each other.”

Buffy glared but her eyes filled again with tears.

“Buffy,” Spike took her attention away from Xander. “You can’t deny what’s between us: the heat, the desire, the passion. Something's happening to me…I can't stop thinking about you...and I know it has nothing to do with a spell, I felt it before, long before today. I’ll do anything for you Buffy, anything you want, and if that means turning my back on the whole evil thing, I’ll do it—anything for you. Buffy. I love you and I think I always have.”

“Oh, God--.” Buffy burst into tears and she clung to him.

The others stared on confused and wondering what was being said.

“Er…people, Willow is out there and she probably doesn’t know what she is doing…” Giles spoke up, breaking the uncomfortable silence that was peppered with the sounds of smacking lips, sobs, and sighs.

“Yeah, we gotta find her, before somebody gets hurt.” Xander nodded in agreement.

“Or before Buffy and Spike forni--”

“Anya!” Giles and Xander groaned at once.

“What?”
***

Buffy and Spike trailed behind Anya and Xander as they walked down the hallway in Stevenson Hall. Since her emotional outburst, Buffy had remained silent. She wanted to find Willow and reverse the spell as soon as possible because she was dying of curiosity.

“How are you holding up, love?”

“I’m okay, just a little anxious. I’m just afraid that when the spell wears off, everything will be ruined…what if…what if you decide that you don’t want to marry me anymore? I don’t think I could handle that.”

Spike started to reply but they had reached the dorm room. The group pushed open the door and a large dark burnt circle was in the carpet.

“This is burned,” Buffy said after touching the scorch mark.

“D’Hoffryn. Bastard. He’s opened a portal here.”

“Who?”

“D’Hoffryn,” Anya explained, “He made me a demon 1,120 years ago.”

“Great. Why would he attack Willow?”

“I don’t believe he did. He can’t really. He can only come to women who are in pain. I’d been dumped, I was miserable, doing a few vengeance spells—boils on the penis, nothing fancy, when he came to me.”

“Please skip ahead.” Xander squirmed.

“D’Hoffryn heard about me and he offered to elevate me.”

“Meaning,” Buffy frowned not liking the sound of what Anya was saying.

“He made me a demon.”

“Oh God, Willow.”

“Can’t you summon the demon?” Spike asked. “Get him to stop before anything happens to the witch?”

“Yeah, we’ll just have to find a crypt.”

“Good. Let’s go.”
***

“Should we tell them?” Buffy asked Spike as they walked through the graveyard.

“Might as well, pet.”

“Tell them what?” Xander asked, “You’re not pregnant are you?”

“Xander.” Buffy gave him a dirty look. “Eww. That is so not even possible.”

“Just like we thought that you and Spike weren’t?”

Buffy ignored his comment. “We found out that Spike can--.”

“Hey, demon!” Anya pointed.

“Fuck, that’s a lot of demons!” Xander exclaimed.

“Do you think we can take them all, Spike?”

“Probably not, there’s too many, pet. I don’t know if I can protect you.”

“Ok,” Buffy nodded. “Run!”
***

Spike and Buffy helped Xander block the doors while Anya started chanting.

“Buffy, we don’t have much time…they’re gonna bust through…” Spike gritted his teeth as he pushed the doors closed but the demons on the other side were restless at trying to charge their way in.

“Anya, chant faster!”

“We come in supplication. We bend as the reed…in the flow of the, uh…No wait...” Anya looked up as the demons made their way into the crypt. “We—come in the flow of the, uh…Ugh!” She dodged a demon that was running at her. Taking a deep breath she continued, “Blesséd be, the name of D’Hoffryn …”

“Spike!” Buffy screamed, seeing him being knocked onto his back. With a grunt she pushed her way to him, not noticing that Willow had suddenly appeared in the room. “Are you okay, baby?” She touched his face, “Are you hurt?”

“Slayer…” Spike smirked before pulling her in for a kiss.

Buffy melted against him in an instant. “Mmmm…Spike…”
***

“Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken.” Willow grimaced as thunder crashed and lightening flashed. Suddenly all the demons disappeared.

“Spike…Oh—oh, ugh!” Buffy pulled away from Spike’s arms in horror.

“Oh, bloody hell!”

“Spike lips! Lips of Spike!” Buffy wrinkled her nose and closed her eyes, disgusted.

“Um…” All eyes were on Willow, she smiled sheepishly and she waved, “Hi guys.”
***
 

Chapter 2

***
“Eat a cookie; ease my pain?” Willow walked over to Buffy and Spike with a tray full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

Buffy chose one and took a bite. “Mmmm, still not tired of them, even after my fifth.” She wiped off the crumbs from her mouth. “How long are you going to keep on making them?”

“Until I don’t feel so horribly guilty. I figure that’ll be a million chips from now.” Willow gave Buffy a weak smile. “But so far baking has only lifted about thirty percent of my guilt and only seven percent of my inner turmoil.”

“Sounds like I’ll be forcing myself to eat a lot more cookies.” Buffy eyed Willow’s tray with fear in her eyes.

“Don’t I get a cookie,” Spike demanded. He was tied to a chair across from Buffy instead of being handcuffed to the bathtub.

“No,” Buffy replied in a sharp tone.

“Well. I gotta have something. I still have Buffy-taste in my mouth.” He swallowed and made a revolted face.

“You’re a pig, Spike.”

“Yeah…well I’m not the one who wanted, ‘Wind Beneath My Wings,’ for our first dance.” Spike said the words loud, causing the Scoobies to stare questioningly at Buffy.

“That…that was the spell.” Buffy mumbled under her breath as she walked into the kitchen, embarrassed.

“Spike,” Willow scolded, stuffing a cookie in his mouth and taking off after Buffy. “Buffy, did I mention how very sorry I am?”

“We may be looking into a forgetting spell later…Will, can you tell the others I went home? I just…I need to clear my head.”

“Buffy, I’m so, so, sorry. Well, at—at least you and Spike were getting along.” Willow smiled, desperate to find a silver lining.

“I know you’re sorry and I forgive you. I just need time. Away from Spike.” Buffy walked to the back entrance of Giles’ home. “If I’m not at the dorm later, I’ll call.” With that said, Buffy left Willow standing alone in the kitchen.
***

God, I loved him.

Buffy walked aimlessly through the streets of Sunnydale. With her hands in her pockets, she played with the ring that was still on her thumb. It spun easily on her finger but the ring wasn’t too large; it never slipped off.

I loved Spike. A lot. Ew.

Buffy paused under a streetlight and examined the ring, amazed that she didn’t feel the need to take it off.

It’s pretty…

She ran the pad of her thumb over the silver surface. It was a plain ring, nothing more than a thick band encrusted with a few sprinkling jewels.

Probably fake…glass made to look like diamonds or something… Yeah, it’s way too pretty to throw away and I don’t want to give it back. It doesn’t symbolize anything anymore; sure Spike used it to propose but—what the hell? Finders, keepers.

Buffy started walking again, her mind wandering.

I was happy with him too. He made me laugh… We worked well together. I wanted to be around him… I wanted him.

Buffy’s eyes widened, memories came back in a strong, overwhelming whoosh that left her heart racing.

I really wanted him. Thank God the spell was reversed in time, who knows what I would’ve done in a room alone with him or what I would have let him do…

Buffy hugged her arms close to her body, trying to push away recollections of how good it felt when his hands had brushed against her body.

This can’t be right. I shouldn’t still be feeling this way, not about Spike. Maybe parts of the spell are still lingering… yeah, that has to be it. There’s no way I can still feel attracted to Spike of my own free will; I hate Spike.

“Spike is bad,” she mumbled under her breath, as if trying to convince herself. “I hate him.”

Buffy continued to walk.
***

Spike had his wrists almost free; all he needed was the blade of the knife to run over the rope one more time.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

“What does it look like?” He gritted his teeth and he continued, trying to free himself from the chair. “Hey!” He hissed and cursed when Buffy kicked at his hands. “Bitch!”

“Shhh, you’ll wake up Giles,” Buffy whispered, picking up the knife that Spike had dropped. “Where’d you get this from?”

“The kitchen.”

“When did you take it,” Buffy asked before turning on a dim light in the living room and sitting on the couch.

“How soon you forget…” Spike grumbled. “I’m sure with all of the groping that occurred, you can’t recall a lick of it.”

Buffy’s eyes widened at his choice of words but she shook her head, forcing herself to push away the memories that the word “lick” invoked. Crossing her legs, she said, “Why’d you steal the knife? You weren’t even tied up then.”

“Thought you had a kinky streak, Slayer.” Spike wiggled his eyebrow suggestively. “Thought we’d have some fun with the ropes--”

“Shut up.”

“Oh? Make me, cutie.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, “Get over yourself.”

“Maybe you should take your own advice, yeah, pet?”

Buffy became angry, seeing his overconfident smirk. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve asked enough questions. What are you doing here Slayer? Miss me?”

“You’re disgusting.”

“But you can’t stop thinking about me…”

“No, Spike, that’s your deal. You are the one that thinks about me.” Buffy smiled, hoping that she could embarrass him. “That’s something I do remember. What kind of vampire are you, thinking about the Slayer when you’re…”

“Wanking? It’s not a secret anymore, there’s no need to be bashful. I want you Buffy.”

Buffy got up and covered her ears, “Stop. I don’t want to hear it. I hate you.”

“I’m sure you do but that doesn’t mean you can’t be curious…and besides we both know that vampires make you hot.”

“No. One vampire made me hot.”

“Just what did the witch slip in those cookies? Are you stupid or do you really not remember? You were panting for me. You were like a bitch in heat, don’t deny it. I could smell you.”

“You could what?” Buffy wrinkled her nose. “Ew. Big, big ew. Whatever happened, it was because of the sp--.”

“The spell, Willow was specific, she said, and I quote, ‘Buffy and Spike should get married.’ I heard her tell the others, she mentioned nothing about us loving each other or about--.”

Buffy got up and began to pace. “Just shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” She ran a hand through her hair and Spike chuckled.

“Oh, I think I do. Nice ring you have there, love.”

“It won’t come off,” Buffy lied; mad at herself for not hiding it before she came to Giles’ house.

Spike frowned, “If you untie me, I can help you get it off. I can give it a good yank--.”

“Whoa there, there will be no yanking of any kind, mister.”

“I can help.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Are you always this immature, Slayer? You know I can’t hurt you or even the watcher-boy for that matter. Why should I be tied up anyway? And look,” Spike motioned towards the window by shaking his head. “It’s nearly sunrise, where would I go?”

“I’m not taking any chances, besides you need to give us information.”

“I’ve told you everything I know.”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth,” Buffy asked with her hand on her hip.

“Don’t know, guess you’ll just have to trust me.”

“Pfff, like that’s going to happen anytime soon.” Rolling her eyes, Buffy sat back down on the couch. “Not even half an hour after the spell ended, you were telling the others my secrets. Yeah, I can so trust you…”

“You keep secrets from your loyal Scoobies?”

“No—well of course I do! Why would I want them to know about my obsession with ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’?”

“Or that you’re a little Bridezilla in the making? Hell, if I had to hear you singing the wedding march in my ear one more time…”

“Shut up,” Buffy said with an embarrassed grin. “It was the spell.”

Spike laughed, not finding her blushing face very convincing. “You’re going to be using that excuse for awhile now, aren’t you, pet?”

“Probably,” Buffy said truthfully.

“But it still doesn’t cover you. What about our mock-date earlier?”

“Oh, that…”

“And I’m still trying to figure out why you’re here and still wearing my ring.”

“I think you’ll be trying to figure that out for awhile.”

“You’re not going to tell me.”

Buffy looked down as she played with the ring on her finger, “I can’t.”
***

“What do you mean she never came home last night? Have you tried getting a hold of Joyce?” Giles came into the living room as he spoke to Willow on the telephone. “I’m sure we have nothing to worry about,” Giles said, before he froze in front of the couch.

“Hush, she’s sleeping.”

“I see that.” He covered the receiver of the phone with the palm of his hand and looked at Buffy, who was wrapped in a blanket and curled up, sound asleep. “What is she doing here?”

Good question, Spike thought, I’d love to know myself.

“Mmmm, is it morning?” Buffy whined, as she stretched and buried deeper into the corner of the couch, turning her back to the men who were watching her. “Spike…”

The way she had said his name, the throaty half sigh-half moan, made Spike’s lower regions twitch.

If she does that again I’ll need a blanket too to retain my modesty—bloody hell, me modest? I wonder if she’s dreaming about me? What kind of nasties is she moaning about…

“Spike,” Giles had hung up the phone and he was snapping his fingers in front of Spike’s face. “Spike!”

“I’d stop that right now, unless you’d like to lose a finger,” Spike threatened.

“Right,” Giles rolled his eyes, unfazed. “What is Buffy doing here? Willow’s been worried sick.”

“After she left last night, she went patrolling and some ugh demon attacked her. She needed to find shelter and your house was the closest. She’s been here all night. I told her to leave but does she ever listen? She’s been snoring all night--.”

“I don’t snore,” Buffy interrupted him, suddenly wide-awake. Rolling over, she gave Spike a questioning look.

“Yeah? You sounded like a blow horn. I couldn’t sleep at all.”

“Stop, both of you. Buffy, about the demon that attacked you last night, do you feel that he’s still a threat?”

“I can look for him again tonight. He should be an easy slay, I was just off last night and I didn’t feel like getting hurt, so I ran for cover.”

“Oh,” Giles asked, concerned. “Do you feel better today? Should we train?”

“Training sounds great; we can start after breakfast right?” Buffy batted her eyes, “What are you going to fix me? I want something syrupy.”
***

“So, I was thinking about all this Spike business and I think maybe we can use him.”

“What?”

“If he’d cooperate, I think he’d be good to have him on the team,” Buffy explained. “He’s got that vampire strength and everything.” She spun her pancakes in the syrup as she continued to babble. “And since he’s practically harmless -- to humans anyway -- maybe we could let him go…but that’s only if we know he’s trustworthy, of course.”

“Buffy…what?”

“What do you mean what?”

“You want Spike to help?” Giles asked, dumbfounded. “He can’t defend himself, let alone others.”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

Buffy stopped and she wondered if there was a reason behind Spike not revealing that he could hurt and kill demons. “Um, nothing.”

“Buffy, what’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“Buffy.”

“Nothing, I swear. Would you mind if I use your shower and borrow some clothes? I don’t want to run all the way back to the dorm and then run all the way back. Call me lazy, I don’t wanna.”

Giles looked at thoroughly confused but he replied, “Yes, of course.”
***

Spike closed his eyes as he listened. There was only a wall separating them and with his super hearing it seemed non-existent. He could hear the water running and Buffy singing as she took her shower. Spike imagined all the rest, what she looked like with dripping wet hair and suds slipping down her body. He knew that what he was doing, getting himself hard and horny in plain sight and with his hands bound in the watcher’s living room, wasn’t in the best taste but he didn’t care. He overloaded his fantasy with facts and details that he was learning about the Slayer; how her breasts felt in his hands, how she smelled -- with perfume and in arousal, how she tasted when he kissed her or when he had licked her skin.

He moved as much as he could, tied to the chair and desperate to relieve the pressure that was building and becoming painful in his pants.

Fuck…love hurts.
***
 

Chapter 3

“You’re really starting to freak me out.”

Spike peeked open one eye and saw Buffy standing in the living room in a set of Giles’ sweatpants. Her hair was still damp but she had it up in a messy bun. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean. Stop it.”

He closed his eyes and grumbled, “It’s not very likely, Slayer.”

“Why not?”

Spike could tell from her voice that she was pouting. “Too bad I’m tied up, wouldn’t mind getting that lip of yours. I remember it being very tasty--.”

“Shut up!”

“No need to get squirmy, pet. I’ve had a taste of you and now I know what I’ve been missing.” Spike smirked, hearing Buffy snort. “Oh, aren’t you cute, playing all snobby and whatnot when you’re leading me on.” He opened his eyes, wanting to see her face as he teased her. “What are you doing?”

“Ah, nothing!” Buffy hid his jacket behind her back. “And I’m so not leading you on! You’re delusional!”

“Buffy,” he sang her name. “What were you trying to do there, kitten?”

Buffy panicked, her head went into overdrive trying to think up a workable excuse but she came up with nothing. “I…I—damn it, Spike! You can’t just sit like that,” she hissed, blindly pointing at his erection. “Giles is going to be walking through here at any moment.”

“You want to keep me all to yourself?”

“Argh!” Buffy tossed the jacket onto his lap. “You’re so conceited!”

“You love it.”

“No. I really don’t.” She sat on the edge of the sofa with a sigh. “Why? Why is this happening to me? Stupid spell. Now I have to know about you and your stupid feelings. Why can’t you be nice and hate me again?”

“I love you, Buffy.”

“No. No, you don’t.”

“Yes.”

“If it’s anything, it’s lust. You just want sex.”

“Can’t say I wouldn’t mind a few tumbles under the sheets but I want more than that.”

“You’re kidding, please say that you’re kidding.” Buffy swallowed and started to pace. “More than that,” she mimicked under her breath. “What the hell does that mean? What more could a vampire want? A meaningful relationship?”

“Why not?”

“Why not?! You’re a vampire, Spike! You should want to kill me, not date me!”

“Don’t think it’d be so bad… We got along just fine last night, before, after and during the spell. I just want a chance. I deserve it just as much as any other bloke and tosser you see at school. Please, Buffy?”

Buffy swallowed again, noticing how vulnerable he looked. “Now don’t do that.”

“Do what?” he asked softly.

“That! Don’t do that!” Spike opened his mouth to ask another question but Buffy continued, shaking a finger at him. “Don’t be—cute and—oh God, never mind.”

“Cute, yeah? Well, at least ‘cute’ is a step up from repulsive.” Spike smiled and Buffy gasped for air. “You alright, pet? You’re turning colors, should I call for the Watcher?”

“Oh. My.” She stumbled back and fell on the couch in tears. “God.”

“Giles! Giles!”

“What? Good Lord, what?” Giles appeared, head to toe in padding and protective gear. “Spike, what did you do?!”

“Nothing! Get me out of this bloody chair! We were talkin’ and then—Buffy, are you alright, kitten?”

Buffy said nothing, she just sat, refusing to look at either of the men as she cried.
***

“Buffy, maybe you should go home and get some rest. We can train some other time.”

“I want to stay.”

“Would you like to go in a bedroom? You can take a much-needed nap. It’ll be more comfortable than this old couch. Maybe you just need a break from Spike?”

“No—I…” Buffy blew her nose in Giles’ handkerchief. “Giles, I’m feeling much better now. I don’t know what happened…I just need—I’m fine.”

“Are you positive?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you want to train still?”

“I hate to say it, with you in your puffy sumo suit and all but, no. I’m sure you have other things to do anyway.”

“I do have a meeting…”

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine and I’ll watch Spike.”

“If he becomes too much of a bother, put him in the tub.”

“Will do.”
***

“What channel?”

“Buffy…”

“What channel?”

“Five.”

“I can’t believe you watch this show, it’s crap.” Buffy sniffled, folding her arms. “Can you see the TV?”

“Yeah,” Spike responded in shock. “You care?”

“Barely.” Buffy moved to cross her legs underneath her. “Mom watches this show. Nothing’s going to happen to Timmy. He’s the star of the show. Everyone else is just annoying. Well except for Julian. I kinda like him.”

“Really? He does seem to have more class than the others. But that Teresa…she’s got a lovely set of eyes.”

Buffy turned her head to glare at him. “You just said ‘lovely.’”

“And?”

“About a girl’s eyes.”

“And again, I say: and?”

“Is that a word that you say often?”

“Sometimes,” Spike replied defensively. “What should I say, maybe something raunchy to live up to the vile opinion you have of me? You want me to comment on her tits? I would, if she had any.”

“You’re a pig.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’ve memorized that song and dance, haven’t you, love? But if I’m such a pig, why did you cry your heart out for the last forty five minutes after saying something nice to me?”

“Because I’m going crazy.” Buffy stared blankly at the TV. “I was getting loopy before the spell—hence the not as strong hate for you and then the spell just fried the rest of my brain cells. That’s the only reasonable explanation for all this.”

“And what is ‘this,’ pet?”

“It’s not wanting to take off this stupid ring and thinking it’s really pretty. It’s not wanting to go home because I’ll be away from you—if you say anything, Spike, one thing –“ she said the words dangerously, “consider yourself dust. I know Giles has a Dirt Devil vacuum around here somewhere.” Buffy groaned, seeing him smile out of the corner of her eye. “Since I’m crazy, I’m giving you a chance. One chance and that’s it.”

“A chance? What are the conditions?”

“You have to prove that you can be trusted, Spike. It’ll be hard going on a date with a guy tied to a chair.”

“Date?”

“One date, but after you patrol with me for a week. You can fight demons and I want you to do it with me. I also want you to eventually move out of here. Maybe you can find a place and learn how to feed yourself.”

“That sounds doable. I’m in.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’ll pretend to be a Scooby—sod it all, I’ll become one. I’ll kick demon ass for the sake of goodness--.”

“Puppies and Christmas, right?”

“Right,” Spike chuckled but then his tone became serious. “I’ll do it for you.”

Buffy said nothing and during a commercial break, she went into the kitchen.
***

“Yesterday morning, I was convinced that you hated me.” Buffy kneeled in front of Spike, a steamy mug in her hands. She guided the straw to his lips. “I’m shocked and I can’t believe that you have such…feelings about me.”

“It’s not like I could shout my love for you while I pranced about on rooftops.” Spike drank the blood in polite sips. “I’m very aware that it’s not natural for a vamp to feel this way about a human, especially a human who happens to be the Slayer…I know what I could be getting myself into.”

“What’s that exactly?”

“I’ll be shamed by all the cool kids. No one will invite me to all the fancy parties. I’ll be scum among my evil peers. But I don’t think that’ll be such a bad thing if I have you on my arm, fighting by my side and maybe even warming my sheets at night--.”

“Whoa there.”

“I know, it’s all rot and wishful thinking but,” he shrugged, his mug empty. “I’ve never backed down from something that I’ve wanted.”

“Lucky me. I’m your prize.” Buffy stood and she dug through her pockets. “Here, Blood Breath.” She popped a mint into his mouth. “It’d be a shame if you turn into a big do-gooder softy and then you realize that I’m not as wonderful as you thought. What if I’m nothing like your fantasies?”

“First off, I can be a bad ass no matter who I’m fighting and secondly, after last night, there’s no way that you could disappoint, princess. It’d be impossible. You were more than I could have ever imagined. You were there, I’m sure that you felt it.”

“Yeah, well, I’m trying not to feel anything.”

“But there’s something happening between us that you can’t deny. You try but you can’t. In fact, that’s why you were crying before…you feel the same as I do but you won’t give in. You’re kicking and screaming, you’re afraid of us becoming something.”

“I don’t want there to be an ‘us.’ It’s not right. But I think we can really use your help and it’s because of that that I’m agreeing to all this stuff. I don’t like you and I’m hoping you fail because I don’t want to date you.”

Spike furrowed his eyebrows, “Knew it was all too good to be true.”

“Oh, I know that face.” Buffy sat on edge and she tried not to be fazed by the hurt in his eyes. “That’s your thinking face. Too bad I don’t see it very often.” Buffy quipped and Spike glared.

“We need to do something to make our little deal solid. Don’t need you backing out on me.”

“Like what, a handshake? That’s going to be difficult with you tied up.”

“You could untie me,” Spike suggested.

“No way.”

“Right, right. How ‘bout a kiss then?”

“I knew you’d try something like this.” Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“Because why? We can play games all day, Slayer, I have nothing better to do. You said the handshake wouldn’t work. Just one kiss, it doesn’t have to be anything mind-blowing, just a peck’ll do.”

“Stop it.” Buffy looked away as Spike puckered his lips. “I don’t want to kiss you. I’ll throw up or something. This is stupid.” Spike’s eyes dazzled as she stepped closer even though she protested. “Just a peck, ok? If your tongue comes near me, I’m biting.”

“Oooh, kinky.”

“Spike,” Buffy growled.

“Sorry.”

Buffy kneeled and she couldn’t help but be touched as Spike closed his eyes, waiting for her kiss.

What am I getting myself into? Buffy thought, before covering his lips with her own.
***

“Untie me, please untie me.”

“You’re a vampire, you don’t breathe, stop panting.” Buffy rested her forehead against his chin.

“It’s habit,” Spike explained, straining to reach her mouth again. “Bloody hell, kitten, you’re killing me here.”

“You’re already dead. Mmmm…” Buffy involuntary moaned as they kissed again. Buffy didn’t know who started the second kiss but she instantly blamed him. Her body stayed rigid as she responded to the kiss and her hands clutched the seat of the chair.

Gotta be hormones or something. That’s it, crazy hormones. Stupid spell. God, I want to touch him. Stupid Spike with his stupid kissable lips…

Spike groaned in surprise and pleasure when she slipped her tongue into his mouth.

Oops, she thought. My tongue…it…slipped. Oh, oh…yum.

God help me.
***

“That was not supposed to happen. I need to breathe.” Buffy buried her head into his neck and inhaled deeply. “Damn it,” she mumbled, realizing how good he smelled.

“Nice wasn’t it?”

Shivers traveled to Buffy’s toes after she heard his soft whisper in her ear.

“Uh…” She pulled away from him and looked down to avoid his eyes. She panicked when she got a glimpse of jeans.

He’s hard all the time! Buffy swallowed and she fought the need to lick her lips.

“You’re blushing again.”

“Shut up,” she growled, recovering his lap with his coat.

“There’s no need to hide, the Watcher’s long gone, pet.”

“I don’t want to see that.”

“Makes you want me more, knowing what you do to me.”

“You’re annoying. I like you better when you don’t talk.” Buffy sighed and her unruly mind considered kissing him quiet.

This isn’t good, Buffy decided silently.

“Ah, I knew you liked me, kitten.” He smiled and Buffy almost whimpered because of how shy he looked. “See what a kiss can do? There’s a reason why they have so much pull in fairy tales, they’re magical—the fusing of lips, tongues and teeth. Can change a toad into a prince even,” Spike chuckled.

“What are you talking about? It’s gonna take a lot more kisses to turn you into a prince—oh my God! You totally set me up! You wanted me to say that!” Buffy got to her feet and she frowned at him. “No more kissing.”

“None? What about on our date?”

“You probably won’t even make it that far.”

“But if I do, I want to be guaranteed another kiss. Maybe even a bloody make-out session—that’d be something to work for.”

Buffy watched in awe as he made a goofy grin. He’s serious. He really loves me. Buffy swallowed and she closed her eyes, her heart pounding.

“You aren’t going to cry again, are you? Please don’t, I won’t be able to comfort you or be any help at all tied up.”

He wants to comfort me. He wants to date me. He really loves me.

“Oh, my, God.” Buffy felt as if her world had been turned upside down.

And maybe, just maybe, I could love him too. Maybe I already do…

“Buffy!” Spike yelled as she fell to the floor.
***
 

Chapter 4

“I’m worried about you.”

“Don’t be.” Buffy grimaced, holding an ice pack to her head. “I was hungry and I just passed out for a little bit. No big.”

“Buffy, I fear this could be a big ‘big’. You had an emotional outburst earlier and for some reason you refuse to leave my house--.”

“You want to get rid of me, Giles,” Buffy pouted.

“No, but if there’s something bothering you, you must tell me.”

“Nothing’s bothering me. I’m completely clueless. No bother here,” she lied, watching Spike out of the corner of her eye. Once she’d woken up sprawled out on the floor she could’ve sworn that she had heard him sobbing.

He was crying over me, Buffy thought, her heart skipping a beat. That’s so…sweet. Yup, I’m a goner. I totally love him now. Stupid bleached blonde idiot, making me fall for him. Too bad I can’t be with him or tell him how I feel.

“Buffy, are you paying attention?”

“Ah…” Buffy realized she had been staring at Spike. She waited for the vampire to wink or make a comment but he was silent and he looked concerned. “Of course I am, just repeat everything that you said.”

“Buffy, you’re going home. Joyce will be here to pick you up any minute.”

“No! I want to stay. Who—who’ll feed Spike? And you don’t warm his blood up enough.”

“She’s thinking irrationally.” Giles announced to no one in particular.

“Can I take him with me?” Buffy pleaded, surprised by her own needy voice. “Please? Giles, I need him—I know it sounds crazy but Spike and I made a deal and I need him to be with me so I can make sure he holds up his part of it.”

“Buffy, I…”

“You shouldn’t argue with an unstable Slayer, Watcher-boy.” Spike spoke up. “I’ll go with her, I don’t mind. Joyce and I get along quite well. I’ll be on my best behavior. It’ll be like a slumber party.”

“With Passions, matching footie pajamas and…onion blossoms,” Buffy said, grinning, keeping her eyes only on Spike.

“You’re mum really knows how to make them? You weren’t just saying that during the spell?”

Buffy nodded and she opened her mouth to tell him more but Giles interrupted.

“Willow and I will be researching the spell that she cast. I fear it maybe be having some lasting affects on the both of you. It must be what is making you both...”

“Get along?” Spike offered.

“Uh…yes.”

“Is it a bad thing that she doesn’t want to dust me? That she enjoys my company?”

Buffy watched as Spike seemed to puff up. He looks so proud, she thought. He looks so happy…

Buffy struggled not to smile.
***

“Rupert seemed to be very adamant about keeping him tied up, Buffy.”

“He’s just overreacting,” Buffy cut Spike’s ropes and Joyce wandered out of the kitchen. “That’s what Watcher’s are paid to do.”

“He gets paid? It must not be a lot. Have you seen his car?”

“I’ve attempted to drive his car.” Buffy laughed. Once Spike’s hands were free, she touched his wrists. “When did you do this?”

He pulled away, hiding his hands in his coat. “Just a rope burn, nothing to get your knickers twisted about.”

“Your wrists are raw. What did you do?” She demanded.

“I tried to help you when you passed out and I couldn’t do it very well tied to the fucking chair,” Spike snapped defensively.

“I—I’m sorry,” Buffy said, taken off guard.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Spike—oh, am I interrupting?” Joyce asked, walking into the Summers’ kitchen.

“No, not at all Joyce,” Spike smiled at her politely.

“Good, come up stairs and we’ll get you settled in the guest room.”

“Thank you, Joyce for letting me stay…” Spike turned on his heel, leaving Buffy alone.
***

“Yesh, mood swings much?” Buffy picked up her pillow and she pounded her fists into it. She was already dressed for bed and she hadn’t seen Spike since her mother had shown him to his room. “One minute, he’s a fluffy puppy and then he looks like he could bite my head off.” Pouting, she turned off her light and crawled under her covers. “Stupid vampire.”

“Do you always talk to yourself?”

Buffy jumped, hearing Spike’s voice through her door. “Yeah and why should you care?” She slapped her forehead with her palm, not impressed by her attempt to be bitchy. “What do you want?”

“To apologize.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Can I come in?”

“Ah…” Buffy stalled, blindly smoothing down her hair and pulling her covers up to her neck. “I guess.”

“Buffy, I…” He opened the door and froze after stepping into her room. “So, this is where the mighty Slayer sleeps? It’s so…girlie.” He chuckled.

“So what? I’m a girl.” Buffy glared as he started to walk around her room, poking her stuffed animals. “Hey! You’re supposed to be groveling and begging for forgiveness, not messing with my stuff!”

“Hush, you’ll wake Joyce.”

“Put Mr. Gordo down. Don’t make me get out of this bed and beat you, Spike.”

“Mr. Who?” Spike tossed the stuffed pig into the air.

“Spike, I mean it. Here I thought you were going to stop being such a jerk…” She stopped to catch Mr. Gordo as Spike chucked it towards the bed. “You’re so mean.” Buffy frowned, petting her favorite childhood toy.

“Weren’t you in college last time I checked, pet? Your room is so…elementary school.”

“There’s nothing wrong with liking stuffed animals. My grandma always said, ‘Whether a girl’s nine or ninety, she’ll always love things fuzzy and cuddly.’”

“Your grandmother sounds wise.”

“Are you making fun of my grandma?”

“No,” Spike said, sitting on the edge of Buffy’s bed.

“Are you going to apologize now?”

“Yeah, just give me a minute. Saying sorry is a hard thing for us forces of darkness. Painful even.”

“Oh. Take your time then.” Buffy settled back on her pillow.

“I snapped because I was embarrassed. I know I’ve been saying a lot about my feelings lately but when you hit the floor, I didn’t know if I was going to make it. I was scared, Buffy, I can’t remember the last time I was truly afraid of something. So, I tried to get myself free and it did nothing but muck up my hands…and getting back to the point, I’m very sorry that I yelled at you, love.”

“That…that didn’t take much time at all,” Buffy blinked, touched by his confessions.

“Consider yourself lucky,” Spike grinned. “So, what do you say, pet? Has my apology been accepted?”

“It has.”

“Good, ok then, I guess I should let you sleep, yeah?”

“It’s been a long day.” Buffy avoided telling him that he should go because she secretly wanted him to say and talk to her.

“You can say that again.” Spike made his way to her door.

“You’ll be here in the morning, right? Don’t run away, I’ll find you and drag you back.”

“Not before kicking my ass good and proper, right?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be here, Buffy,” he said softly before closing her bedroom door.
***

“You’re up early.”

“I know.” Buffy walked around the house, shutting all the blinds that covered the windows.

“How long will Spike be staying with us?” Joyce asked.

“I’m not sure, it shouldn’t be long.” Buffy went into the kitchen and her mother followed her. “I want him to find his own place. But until then, you don’t mind if he stays, right?”

“I like Spike. He can stay for as long as he needs to.”

“Cool.” Buffy took a bag of blood out of the refrigerator and she poured it into a mug. “Mom, do we still have straws?”

“Look in the silverware drawer. It’s funny to see you like this, Buffy.” Joyce laughed softly over her coffee.

“Like what?” She stirred the blood and she doubled checked to see if it was the correct temperature.

“Are you and Spike a couple now? Are you dating?”

“No! Why would you think that? I can’t stand Spike,” Buffy laughed nervously, opening the cabinets and wondering what she should fix the vampire for breakfast.

“I’ve never seen you fuss about someone so much.”

“I’m not fussing. I just want to make sure he doesn’t accidentally dust himself as he goes down for ‘telly time,’” Buffy wiggled her fingers in air quotation marks. “It’d be very messy and just because he drinks blood that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be warmed properly you know. Undercooked food, no matter what it is, is unsanitary. Mom, can you make one of those onion things tonight?”

“I didn’t think you cared for them.”

“Spike likes them,” Buffy said quickly and under her breath.
***

“Rise and shine, Blood Breath.” Buffy nudged his door open with her foot. “Wakey, wakey, Spikey.”

“Sod off. Too early.” Spike rolled over and he buried his head into the pillow.

“Get up or I’m taking the food elsewhere.”

“Food? Do I smell eggs?”

“Yup, I even mixed some blood into them—which was totally disgusting. I hope everything will taste alright.”

“What is all this? Breakfast in bed?” Spike sat up, his blankets falling to his waist and exposing his bare chest. “Bacon too?”

“And toast. Not even burnt.” Buffy couldn’t help but smile proudly.

“This…this is wonderful, pet. Thank you.”

“Oh, don’t get too happy, Mom had leftovers,” Buffy lied, shrugging.

“I’ll have to thank her then…”

“No! I’ll do it for you, she’s already at work. Well, ah, enjoy the food. Drink the blood before it gets cold and icky and I’ll be in the shower if you need me.”
***

“How’d you sleep,” Buffy asked, looking up as Spike came downstairs after eating and showering.

“Beds are taken for granted.”

“Especially after you’ve been strapped to a not-so-comfy chair for a few days,” Buffy added.

“You seem to be in a delightful mood today, kitten.”

“Even I can take an off day from being bitchy, right?”

“That’s right.” Spike smiled and he moved closer to the sofa where Buffy was sitting. “May I?”

“It’s a free country.”

“To some degree.”

“Just don’t sit too close.” Buffy inched away from him once he sat down.

“I’ll keep my distance.”

Buffy grinned as he reached for the remote. “Wanna watch a movie?”

“It’s Saturday. Don’t you have plans?”

“You don’t want to watch a movie?” Buffy said, pouting against her will. “That’s fine.”

“No, no, I’ll watch anything but I want to make sure you don’t have someplace you’d rather be.” He looked at her and waited for a response. “If you have nothing better to do, I’m in.”

“Anything, Spike?”

Spike grinned when she ignored his other comments. “Great. Can I take it back?”

“No. You promised, anything.”

“Did not. It wasn’t official. We didn’t make it official.”

“Well, you’re untied, should we shake hands then?”

“Forget it.” Spike said, disappointed he couldn’t get another kiss out of her. “What are we going to watch?”

“Chick flicks. There’s a marathon of movies all day. And then we’ll patrol later.”

“I’ve got my day planned, haven’t I?” Spike frowned but Buffy could tell from his eyes that he was pleased.
***

“I brought the entire box and a snack.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve seen this damn movie so many times.” She blew her nose loudly into a tissue. “This happens every time.”

“Awww, poor baby.” Spike playfully patted her shoulder.

“Shut up.” She took a handful of snack mix out of the bowl that was in his lap. She ate each cracker and pretzel slowly as Spike shoved the food into his mouth.

“So, vampires don’t have to worry about digesting their food?”

“What?” Spike opened his mouth and crumbs fell onto his shirt.

“Ew.” Buffy took a few tissues and she laid them across his neck.

“What’s this?”

“Your bib, Spikey, and chew quieter my movie’s starting again.”
***

“You watch those kind of movies often?”

“As much as I can. They keep me grounded.” Buffy and Spike walked out of the Summers’ home with stakes and weapons in hand. “They were some good movies though. I even saw you tearing up a few times.”

“Whatever, Slayer.”

“You aren’t denying it,” Buffy teased.

“No, and now I’m going to change the subject. So, this is how you patrol? You wait around until something goes bump in the night?”

“Or until someone screams. Let’s go that way.”

“How predictable is that? Finding all the baddies in a graveyard? I swear some demons give us creative types a bad name.”

“And you’re so creative? Just how many times did you run back to the factory for all your evil deeding?”

“Oh, aren’t you cute? I thought it was a good idea: me going back—it’s not my fault that you’re so bloody smart.”

“Giving me compliments to make you not look so bad…I see right through you, Spikey.”

“See? What did I say? You’re brilliant, kitten.” Spike looked at his feet and nudged a rock with his boot, avoiding Buffy’s eyes.

“Spike, I--.”

“Wait.” His head suddenly shot up and he motioned for her to be quiet. “Someone’s coming.”

“Demon?”

“Buffy? Is that you?”

“Human,” Spike grumbled.

“Shit! It’s Riley! We-we need to hide!” Buffy grabbed onto his jacket and she shielded herself behind his body.

“You’ve already been spotted, he’s heading this way.”

“Spike, he still thinks that we’re engaged!” Buffy tried to whisper but she was panicking.

“I’m sure the boy’ll understand. Tell ‘em that we were sloshed—too many beers or whatnot.”

“But…he wants to date me—I don’t like him.” Buffy looked up at Spike, pleading. “Please,” she pushed up against his body, “Pretend. For me?”

“Pretend what exactly?” Spike smirked; he liked watching her squirm. “What do you want me to do? I could misunderstand and you’d chase after me with a broom or something.”

“Oh, Spike,” Buffy said, no longer whispering but glaring. “I love you too, honey.” Before Spike could respond, she yanked his head down and kissed him passionately.

“Buffy? You’re still with that guy?”

“Oh, yeah,” Buffy gasped as Spike wrapped his arms around her, grinding their hips together. “You’re going to get yourself in trouble,” she whispered so only Spike could hear. “So much trouble.”

“What are you gonna do about it,” Spike smirked.

“But Willow—she told me that you guys were playing a joke on me.” Riley looked away, blushing as Buffy let out another moan. “She said you guys hate each other.”

“Gotta love Red,” Spike snorted, taking a break from kissing Buffy’s face to nuzzle her neck.

“We’re not getting married, that was a joke.” Buffy explained, building on Willow’s lies. “But, Spike and I, we…”

“But we’re together, aren’t we love?” Spike added, grinning as Buffy nodded in agreement, shivers traveling through her body. “She’s mine. Leave. If I see you near my girl again, you’ll be sorry.”

“But Willow…”

“Looks like you’ve been taken for a fool twice, yeah?”

“B-buffy?” Riley looked at her desperately.

“Sorry, Riley. I’m, uh, kinda taken.” She shrugged and slid her hands higher under Spike’s shirt. “Sorry.” Buffy watched Riley walk away until Spike pulled her head back to him for another kiss that left her whimpering.
***

“That—that was…”

“Not supposed to happen? All pretend? A game of make-believe,” Spike offered, not lessening his hold on Buffy.

“All that,” Buffy agreed softly, not struggling to get away from him.

“And more.” Spike spoke into her hair. “I hope he stops by more often.”

Buffy silently agreed again but she didn’t say a word. “We need to get back to work.”

“Of course.”

“Are you going to let me go?”

“Not willingly.”

“Spike…”

“Right. Sorry. Got caught up in the moment.” Spike released her and moved a wild strand of hair behind her ear with his little finger.

“Spike…” Buffy swallowed, noticing his hand was shaky. She was also flustered by their kisses and groping. “We need to do another quick sweep and then we’ll head home.”

“You’re always all work and no play, Slayer.” Spike teased but without any bite to his voice. “You sure we can’t carry on where we left off? I know you enjoyed it.”

Buffy tried to stay strong but hearing him plead was taking its toll on her endurance. “We shouldn’t,” she said weakly, longing to touch him but fighting the urge.

“Buffy, how long are you going to act like this?” Spike stepped closer.

“Hey, you, stay back,” Buffy swallowed.

“Getting nervous? It’s getting hard to fight it, isn’t it,” he whispered, putting his hands on her waist.

“Don’t…”

“Stop me.” Spike gently pressed his lips to hers. “I love you, Buffy,” he said kissing her again, sliding his tongue into her mouth.
***


 

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