“Fine with what?” Spike asked, catching the end of the sentence as he entered the shop. He stood at the top of the steps that divided the store and dragged casually on a cigarette as his gaze slid slowly over the gathered Scoobies, finally coming to rest on the Slayer.

Buffy’s eyes went wide when she saw him and a faint blush crept its way up her neck and over her face. “Nothing I… Bye,” she faltered out before dashing into the training room and slamming the door closed behind her.

“What’s with her?” the vampire asked confused as he stubbed out the cigarette on the edge of the table. Willow frowned at him and Spike gave her his most innocent look. The redhead sighed. She really had to find a way to stop giving in to that one.

“Valentine’s Day… She’s dateless,” Xander answered Spike’s question, shaking his head as he looked toward the training room. “It’s just weird.”

“What’s that Harris?” Spike was also staring at the training room door, and while his face was free from any expression other than boredom, inside he was cheering. His time had come. After almost three years of waiting, he finally had the perfect opportunity to tell Buffy how he felt.

“She goes out with lots of guys,” Xander was telling him, but he wasn’t really listening, his mind was already formulating a plan. “But it’s always the same; one date, two dates, adios. She never lets anyone close.”

“Maybe the right guy hasn’t asked her yet,” Anya stated, staring in Spike’s direction. Willow coughed loudly drawing the former demon’s attention and a look of realisation crossed Anya’s face as she went back to her reading. Luckily for her, neither Spike nor Xander had been paying any attention. Xander was thinking of his own Valentine’s plans. Just him, Anya, and San Diego for the whole weekend. No vampires, no demons, no hellmouths. Paradise.

Willow glanced at Spike under lowered lashes and smiled slightly. He could fool everyone else, even Buffy, but he couldn’t fool her. She knew exactly what he was thinking and she thanked the goddesses that he’d decided to get a clue. Now if only Buffy could do the same.

The young witch stood swiftly and headed out back to have a little chat with her best friend. Anya and Tara shared a knowing look and followed.

The two men watched them leave and then turned to each other, confusion clearly written in their faces. They shared a look that said all that needed to be said. Women.

The Slayer crashed to the ground and Willow winced as she ran across to help her friend. “Sorry. Are you ok?”

Buffy smiled as she dusted herself down. “Sure don’t worry about it. What’s up?” Her eyes flicked across to Tara and Anya who had just entered. The blonde witch closed the door behind her and the two girls made their way across the room.

“It’s just that you seem a little down at the moment,” Willow started to explain and Buffy felt like she was being dissected under the gaze of her three friends. “Is it Spike?”

Buffy started at the mention of his name and adamantly shook her head. “Spike? No! No, of course it’s not Spike. Have I mentioned lately just how over him I am? I mean come on, the guy’s not even that good-looking.”

Willow, Tara and Anya stared at her. Buffy frowned. ‘Yeah right! Good one Summers.’

Anya was the first to break out of her disbelieving stupor. “What? Are you blind? You do remember who we’re talking about right? Spike, blond, English, gorgeous… Ringing any bells?”

Willow nodded in agreement. “I hate to say it Buffy but, it was a little lame. Even I’d jump him. And I’m gay.” Tara smiled and giggled letting the Slayer know in no uncertain terms that she agreed with her girlfriend.

“Alright, ok. The guy’s a hottie, but please. I am not in love with him anymore. He’s just my friend,” Buffy was trying her best to be convincing but she could tell they still didn’t buy it.

“Look, we’re all away this weekend. Tara and I are heading for the hills; Xander and Anya are in San Diego. Your mom and Giles are taking Dawn to Disneyland. There’s just you and Spike. The whole weekend alone. You could do something together. Maybe tell him how you feel?”

“Will I…” Buffy started to plead but stopped. Willow was right. All weekend alone. Just her and Spike. There would be plenty of opportunity for romance if she played it right. This Valentine’s Day was actually going to be lots of fun.

Two minutes and a pair of very dusty shoes later Buffy turned to her friend, breathing a little heavily. “You wanted to talk to me?”

“Right. I was uh… well Xander told me that everyone was going away for the weekend and that you’d be by yourself… And as it’s Valentine’s Day, I was wondering if you’d like me to… I mean if you’d like to go out to the movies or something?”

Buffy smothered a smile at Spike’s nervousness. They hadn’t done the polite thing much. They were friends but they still found it easier to tease and argue with each other. They still got nervous when they were trying to be nice.

“Are you asking me on a date?”

“What? NO. God no. I just… Well we’re friends and you’re going to be alone and I’m going to be alone and we could… well, be alone together. As friends.”

Buffy resisted the impulse to pout. Of course he hadn’t meant it as a date. She could have kicked herself for letting her hopes be raised like that. ‘He probably thinks of you as a sister who needs protecting like he does Dawn,’ she told herself firmly. Anyway it didn’t matter what it started out as. She knew damn well how it was going to end.

“Well I don’t know…” she teased and struggled not to grin at Spike’s expression as he tried to convince her.

“We can do anything you want. Saturday night the minute the sun goes down. Just tell me what would make it the perfect Valentine’s Day and I’ll do it.”

“Really? You’d do that for me?” Buffy knew he would, but it still surprised her a little that this man she knew better than anyone, her best friend, had at one time been her biggest enemy.

“You know I would Buffy. Just tell me what you’ve always wanted and it’s yours.”

Buffy wished she could say him. That he was what she had always wanted so that he could be hers. But it didn’t work that way. So back to the plan. Focus.

“Alright. I’ll make a list,” she said smiling and Spike grinned back at her as they continued through the graveyard. “Although, if we are going out, we’re going to have to do something about your clothes.”

He was beautiful really, although she never usually associated the word with men. Actually she didn’t know another man she would call beautiful. He was quite tall, taller than her at any rate but not as big as Angel or Riley had been. His body wasn’t as obviously muscular either, but she knew that the lean body beneath those clothes was strong and toned.

His bleached blonde hair was slicked back and sexy, but she knew that he looked cute with it all ruffled and unkempt. His eyes were blue and Buffy had learned to distinguish his mood from the shade they took on at any particular moment. They would go a deep, intense dark blue when he felt passionately about something and a chilling ice blue when he was very angry. He had long thick eyelashes that swept the tops of his high cheekbones that gave him a sculpted look. Dawn had once told Buffy that whoever had sat down to make Spike must have taken their time to achieve such perfection. And Buffy had silently agreed.

“Slayer?” Spike drawled sarcastically, “Are you done?”

Buffy sighed. “You look very nice. I just want you to look better when we go out for our da… dinner.”

The vampire eyed her curiously. Had she been going to say date? Did she think of tomorrow night as a date? He certainly did and despite his complaints he actually didn’t mind having to go through this makeover thing. It made her happy, and a happy Buffy meant a much easier to be around Buffy.

“Alright. A suit. Black suit, white shirt, maybe a dark blue tie to match your eyes,” Buffy mumbled to herself as she made her way through the store, picking up several items as she passed.

“That’s not a black suit,” Spike pointed out as she grabbed a couple of pairs of navy jeans and a pair of dark grey trousers.

“You need more clothes, Spike. I’ve seen the inside of your wardrobe. It’s pitiful. Ok, shirts, shirts. Red, navy, ooo dark green… anything else you like?”

“I am not wearing any of those,” Spike told her, gesturing at the clothes she pushed into his arms.

“Sure you are,” Buffy answered without looking back at him. “Look, suits!” she exclaimed, grabbing Spike’s wrist and dragging him across the store.

Spike sighed. This was going to be a long night.

“What do you think?” Buffy asked, picking up Mr. Gordo from the nightstand and addressing him. “Is he going to be impressed?” She held the pig to her ear and nodded thoughtfully. “I think so too. What? Don’t be silly. I’m not going to mess it up. I’m just going to tell him the truth. What do you mean, what if he doesn’t want me? Why wouldn’t he want me? Stupid pig. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

Buffy replaced the stuffed toy on the nightstand and looked at the clock. “Ooo. Time to get dressed.” When she had finished dressing, adding the pair of diamond earrings her mother had bought her for her twenty-first birthday to complete the look, she turned back to Mr. Gordo. “Well?” she paused for a second before turning back to look at herself in the mirror. “Irresistible. I thought so.”

“Hi,” was all Spike could manage as he stared at her.

Buffy was struggling for words too. She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen anyone look so utterly edible. “Hi yourself.”

“Um, I got these for you,” Spike told her uncertainly handing her the card and taking the small box out of his pocket to give to her.

“Oh God Spike, thank you. You didn’t have to get me anything,” Buffy gasped wide-eyed as she took the gifts and made her way into the living room.

“Yes I did,” he said quietly, not quite meeting her eyes as he followed her.

“I feel awful, I… Well I don’t have anything for you.”

“If you’re happy, that’s enough for me,” Spike told her sincerely and Buffy smiled up at him as she opened the card. It was very funny, very Spike and Buffy laughed out loud as she read it. She placed it on the mantelpiece and then slowly opened the small black box.

Buffy gasped. Inside was a small diamond cross on a simple silver chain. She beamed up at him, her eyes shining. “Spike. It’s beautiful. Put it on me?” She quickly liberated the necklace from the box and unclasped it. “How did you get this? I mean, it’s a cross so, you couldn’t have picked it up.”

“I knew it was right when I saw it. I just had the lady put it straight in the box instead of inspecting it,” Spike explained as he fumbled with the catch. He was standing far too close to her for comfort. “There. All done.”

Buffy turned back round and glanced at the mirror. “It’s perfect. I love it. Thank you. Now… Lets eat.”

****

“I said dinner, not bankrupt yourself,” Buffy told Spike in hushed tones as they entered Wilde's, an expensive, up-market restaurant on the outskirts of Sunnydale. Spike ignored her as he approached the headwaiter.

“Table for Alliott,” he said, his voice losing all trace of his London accent. Buffy stared at him as they made their way through the restaurant to a secluded table by a wall length window, which overlooked the ocean. She didn’t think it could have been more perfect. Spike certainly knew romance.

“What?” Spike asked as Buffy continued to stare at him after the waiter left to fetch ‘The most expensive champagne you have’.

“A few things,” Buffy told him relaxing slightly as she removed the wrap from her shoulders. “First of all, Alliott? Is that your real name?” Spike didn’t reply but nodded affirmatively. “I like it,” the Slayer continued, smiling. “Ok, second of all, what’s with your voice you sound like Giles. No wait, not Giles. Wesley. You sound like Wesley.”

“Who the hell is Wesley?” Spike asked confused, slipping back into his normal voice and earning a smirk from the Slayer.

“Long story. He works for Angel now. Anyway, that’s not the issue. Why are you talking like that?”

“Look, this is a classy place luv,” Spike said, lowering his voice as he leaned across the table. “They expect class. And anyway what’s wrong with talking like that. I used to talk that way when I was alive.”

“Really. You weren’t always bad?” Buffy asked batting her eyelashes innocently at him. Spike lost his affronted demeanour and grinned at her. “Not always, but that’s another story. Is there a third of all?”

“Oh, yes. The most expensive champagne? Spike I’m not expecting you to fork out so much cash for this.”

“Don’t worry,” he told her with a wave of his hand, “I can afford it.”

“And you used to expect me to pay you,” Buffy teased with a fake grimace.

The waiter arrived with their champagne and Spike ordered for both of them. Buffy thought idly that if it had been anyone else she would have been offended by his high-handedness. But Spike knew her so well that everything he chose for her was something she would have picked herself.

As the waiter left Buffy turned back to Spike with a smile. “So, tell me. You weren’t always bad…?”

Buffy sighed. There was no way she could have planned this better herself. He had done everything she asked and he had done it perfectly. She couldn’t remember the last time she had enjoyed herself as much as this. She was slow dancing on the beach with the man she loved, stars twinkling silently overhead. She had never been this happy.

“What is it baby?” Spike murmured against her hair and Buffy managed to shake her head without raising it from his shoulder. She made a small sound of contentment and Spike smiled. “Is there anything I could do to make this even better?”

A couple of things flashed through Buffy’s mind and she was glad he couldn’t see her face and the telltale blush that now covered it. She shook her head again.

“Maybe a little music?” the vampire suggested, raising his head to look down at her.

Buffy frowned. “But there is no music.”

“Sure there is. Listen,” he told her, gently pulling her head back down to lean against him, as he started to sing.

“So what movie did you bring?” Buffy asked as she re-entered the living room after running up to her room to change. Spike let out a shuddering breath as he looked at her. Gone was the elegant goddess of the past few hours and in her place was a playful young woman, her hair now pinned haphazardly on top of her head, jogging pants and vest top replacing the figure hugging dress.

Spike himself had taken off his jacket and shoes and smiled at her as he removed his tie and unfastened the top button of his shirt. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” he told her as he pulled her down next to him on the couch.

“Ooo, Spike. I love that film,” Buffy cried excitedly as they made themselves comfortable. Eventually Spike was lying on his side against the back of the couch and Buffy was spooned against him, with her back to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she grabbed the remote to start the movie.

As Audrey Hepburn started talking about the ‘mean reds,’ Buffy began to wonder where her ‘Tiffany’s’ was. Where did she feel calm and safe? Where was she when she knew nothing bad could ever happen to her? Almost as soon as the question entered her mind she knew the answer. Right here. With Spike.

By the end Buffy was sniffling and Spike’s arms had tightened around her waist. The finale had taken on new meaning for both of them and they were really listening to the words.

The words faded into the background as Buffy turned so that she was lying on her back next to Spike looking up at him, with silent tears running down her face. Very tenderly, he brushed the tears away, caressing her cheeks with his fingers, oblivious to the film that continued to play.

“Spike,” Buffy whispered as the words registered in her brain. She didn’t want to keep running into herself. She didn’t want that cage she had built around her to protect her any longer. She just wanted him.

Slowly, ever so slowly, Spike lowered his head to hers and brushed her lips with his own. It felt to both of them as though an electric current had charged through their bodies. Their senses heightened as they sunk into one another.

Pulling away, Spike looked down at his goddess, his Slayer and made a decision. He wasn’t going to take advantage. He wasn’t going to use their perfect night as an excuse to seduce her. They had started something here. Something wonderful, something special. Something he had been waiting three years for. He wasn’t going to mess it up. He could wait a little longer.

“I should go.”

Buffy tried to hide her devastation at his words. He didn’t want her. She understood. At least she hadn’t made a fool of herself. At least they had had one perfect night. She stood quickly and smiled in his general direction before heading towards the door.

“Thank you for a perfect Valentine’s Day Spike,” Buffy said as she leant up to kiss his cheek.

“It was my pleasure Buffy,” the vampire told her, before turning and walking slowly down the porch steps and into the night.

Buffy’s voice was getting louder. She shampooed her hair and rubbed it vigorously. “I mean it was special. He can’t tell me it wasn’t special. And I know he enjoyed it. He enjoyed all of it. And he was the one who asked me out. And how dare he just leave me like that. I wasn’t finished with him.”

The Slayer’s eyes widened and she glanced around the steaming bathroom guiltily as though expecting Spike to be right there listening. She groaned as the image of him standing right there with her popped into her mind. “Oh God, oh God, oh God,” she whispered, throwing her head back under the water to rinse her hair. The water pounded her aroused and frustrated body until she finally came to a decision.

She was going to give Spike a Valentine’s Day present.

****

…Berk, Blockhead… Cretin… Dipstick, Dork… Fool... Halfwit... Idiot... Moron... Nitwit... Pillock, Prat… Twerp, Twit…

The knock at the apartment door broke Spike out of his recitation of names for himself. He had sat for two hours calling himself every name under the sun, as he had tried to remember what he had been thinking when he had walked out of the Summers’ house earlier that night. He had to have lost his mind.

Wearily, the blonde vampire yanked the door open. And froze.

“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Spike couldn’t speak. Buffy. Buffy was standing there in his doorway. In a black, thigh length coat and high heels. Spike stepped back and Buffy entered, closing the door behind her.

“You left so soon,” Buffy purred, her eyes locking with his. “You didn’t get to unwrap your present.”

Somehow Spike’s voice managed to find it’s way back to his throat, although it was a lot thicker than usual as he reminded her, “You didn’t get me a present.”

“Wrong.”

Her eyes never leaving his face as his eyes followed her hands, she slowly began to unbutton her coat. When it was completely unfastened she let it fall to the floor. She was completely naked, except for a large red bow wrapped around her waist.

Tilting her head teasingly to one side she stared innocently up at him. “Aren’t you going to unwrap your present?”

“Buffy,” Spike croaked as he stared at her beautiful naked body, “What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done a long time ago,” the Slayer answered, stepping closer. Spike backed up a couple of paces until the armchair stopped him and he fell back into it. Buffy smiled wickedly as she closed the gap between them, noticing the telltale bulge in the vampire’s pants.

“Spike,” she said in her best little-girl-lost voice, “Don’t you want me?”

The vampire had seriously been thrown by Buffy’s arrival at his apartment and her forward behaviour up to this point. His brain had seemed to go on vacation all of a sudden and he was left foundering. But no matter how nervous he was, Spike was not stupid. His mind cleared instantly at her words and he grabbed her waist, ripping the bow away as he pulled her down into his lap.

They kissed passionately, lovingly for several minutes until Buffy remembered she had to breathe. She pulled back a little and smiled at him.

“Why are you doing this?” he asked, his hands running lightly along her back and over her legs.

“Because I want you. I need you,” Buffy took a deep breath before adding, “I love you.”

Spike pulled her back down to kiss him once more, finally pulling away to murmur, “Took you long enough.” Buffy frowned and the vampire laughed at her expression as he lifted her up and carried her hastily to the bedroom. “Three years is a long time to wait for three little words.” He laid her down carefully and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “It was worth it though.”

“Spike? Do you…?”

“I love you too.”