Getting Pumped

Kaz

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Joss. Just having a little non-profit fun. Any resemblance to any organizational member, living or dead is accidental. This is a work of fan fiction.

Notes: All historical documents and organizations are freely documented in history. They existed in their own time and place. My extrapolations to pull them into my universe are purely speculation and fictional. Many have speculated but none know for sure.

Rating: NC-17

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One

Rise and soar on wings
of renewed spirit.
What looked familiar before
will seem strange,
what seemed strange, familiar.

"Jeez! Why do I always get the slowest pump???"

The beautiful young woman glared ferociously at the offending gas pump, as if the sheer force of her frustration could encourage the unfriendly pump to "hurry up and get on with it!"

"It never fails! Give me a million gas stations and a couple of zillion gas pumps and I'll still go straight to the slowest pump in the universe!" said the woman under her breath as the gas pump continued to plod along unhurriedly, totally impervious to the desires of it's current patron. After all, a gas pump as slow as this one was had already heard every curse in the book and received a few swift kicks into the bargain. This measly woman, muttering under her breath, was certainly nothing to concern itself with. Ever so slowly, one number was replaced with the next as gas trickled into the gas tank.

With a final glare at the pump, the woman uttered a sighed of acceptance. Twisting her shoulder, she reached across to the hand holding the gas nozzle and pushed down her black lace evening glove so that she could get a glance at her watch. It was worse than she expected. At the rate this pump was going, she was going to be over an hour late to her mother's "occasion of the year, you simply must be there" event. Her mum was going to kill her, no doubt about it.

"Shoulda, coulda, ought to have got it earlier" she told herself for at least the tenth time since beginning this ordeal.

"Problems Cutie?" drawled an unmistakable voice from behind her.

The woman froze and her shoulders and spine stiffened instinctively. For a brief moment her brain struggled to present an alternative diagnosis to the identity of that voice, but it was a useless struggle. That voice was one of a kind.

The woman managed to get a grip on herself, and pointedly refused to turn around and face "that voice." Briefly she glanced round the gas station. It was packed with the end of the rush hour traffic and heaving with people. It was obvious that "the voice" would not "start anything" here. Consciously, she relaxed her posture and returned her attention to the dials on the pump. $2.73 and counting (slowly) the pump informed her. 'Ignore him' she counseled herself. 'Maybe he'll just go away.' "Going on a date luv?" the voice persisted.

The woman continued to stare at the pump.

"I believe those type of dresses are referred to as 'little black numbers', and I just have to say that it looks stunning on you. Those legs are something for the eye to behold, and that ankle chain just makes me want to 'reach out and touch someone'."

Still the woman refused to be baited.

Moments passed without further comment from 'that voice', but the woman could literally feel his eyes wandering over her body. Anger began to grow and the woman clenched her teeth at the indignity of his subtle violation of her body. Despite the warm evening air, goose bumps popped out on her arms and she struggled to repress a shiver that threatened to race through her small frame.

Suddenly, the feeling of his eyes on her was gone. Behind her she heard the sound of a gas nozzle being replaced in a pump. 'Good' she thought to herself, 'Maybe now he'll leave.' But the respite from his attention was to be short lived.

"So luv, it's the silent treatment is it? Not the kind of reaction I have come to expect from 'my girl'." he drawled.

That was it! With a surge of anger, the woman spun on her heels to face him. Gas splashed back from the abruptly released nozzle and landed squarely on the hem of her dress and began to trickle down her leg. Oblivious to this disaster to her wardrobe, the woman fixed her gaze on the man facing her.

"I am not, have never been, will never be, YOUR girl!!. Where in the hell do you get off calling me 'your girl', you.. you.. you Sixties looking Billy Idol reject!!"

The man simply raised his eyebrows at her tirade, as he leaned back against his car and reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

"You can't smoke here you imbecilic moron. This is a gas station in case you hadn't noticed. And for your information the majority of the people here are mortal and wouldn't appreciate being blown up! Being 'blown up' is not a good start to a Friday night's festivities!"

"My apologies luv" he smirked as he moved to replace the packet in his coat pocket.

"Lets get this completely straight, cause I think you are missing the main gist of this conversation. I am not 'your girl or your luv or your darling or any combination of the above'. Are we onboard with this now?" the woman seethed at him.

"Have I caught you on a PMS week by any chance" he replied with a twinkle appearing in his eyes.

'Damn him to HELL' the girl thought silently, 'He is enjoying this and I'm letting him get away with it!' "No more games! Just leave me alone!" she snarled, before turning back to her gas pump and reaching for the nozzle once more.

"Games? Who's playing games?" said 'the voice'.

"Look, I don't know where you came from or why. Just go back to wherever you have been and LEAVE ME ALONE!"

There was silence from behind her for a few moments, but then 'the voice' spoke again. "Answer my original question and I'll go."

"Question? What question is that?" the woman snapped in exasperation. Anything to get him gone! "Do you have a date tonight? Or are you going solo?"

His interest in her 'current dating status' was confusing. Slowly this time, she released the nozzle and turned to face him once more.

"What business is it of yours whether I have a date or not. Did someone die and elect you as my 'social secretary'?"

"Just answer the question luv."

The woman chose to ignore the reference to 'luv' as her brain struggled to come up with an appropriate response. 'Just answer the question and get rid of him' she urged herself silently.

"Not that it is any of your business, but yes I have 'a date'. I don't usually dress like this just to pump gas." she said as she gestured to her clothing.

Knowing eyes stared back at her as he continued to contemplate the beautiful woman in front of him. She simply glared back at him and waited for him to speak.

"Well?" the woman prompted, "It's obvious you are going to make a comment, so hurry up and get it over with."

"You have no date" was his simple reply.

"How in the Hell would you know what I do or don't have. Suddenly become an expert on women, have you? Funny, but if you are such an expert at women then where is your ho of a girlfriend tonight?"

"So, can I take it that *you* are interested in *my* dating status then?" he drawled.

The woman took a deep breath a opened her mouth to tell him exactly what she though of his 'dating status', but before she could let the words pour forth, an angry car horn sounded from beside them. A quick glance over her shoulder showed her that some extremely irate drivers were waiting their turns at the pumps.

As the woman watched, the man in the car behind hers, stuck his head out his window and yelled, "Take your lovers quarrel elsewhere, sweetcakes. We came to get gas, not watch a soap opera!"

"Lovers quarrel! I don't think so" replied the woman angrily.

"Look, just move the car sweetcakes, or I'll move it for you" said the irate driver as he moved to open his car door.

The woman sensed the man behind her move long before she saw him or heard him.

Trusting her instincts implicitly, her hand flew out and blocked his progress towards the irate driver. "NO" was all she said as her hand made firm contact with his chest.

Startlingly clear blue eyes made contact with hers for a second. Then the man gave a brief nod of his blond head before he moved to take the nozzle of the gas pump from her hand, and he resumed pumping the gas for her. The whole time he kept his eyes locked on the man in the car behind them. To his credit, the guy in the car had finally got a good look at 'sweetcakes' sparring partner and some internal voice warned him that waiting patiently would be the better part of valor in this case. Without further comment, he withdrew back into his car and slammed the door.

The woman turned back to the man pumping gas into her car. The sight of him 'helping' her, even with something as mundane as pumping gas, was disturbing to her. Why should he be willing to help her with anything! Clear blue eyes met her contemplation and she was rewarded with a cheeky wink as the pump finally issued a loud "ping." Quickly the man removed the nozzle and replaced it in the pump.

"Go pay" he said as he turned and moved back towards his own car.

Quickly the woman turned and walked towards the cashier. 'Thank God that is over and he's going. I gotta get my butt in gear and get going or this 'occasion of the year' is going to be over.....and so will my life,' she thought to herself as she paid for the gas.

Turning back towards her car, she noticed that the man's black pile of junk was gone from the pump beside hers. Briefly, she felt a stab of unexpected disappointment but she quickly repressed it and hurried on. Without glancing inside, she slid into her car and reached for the keys before noticing the body occupying the passenger seat beside her.

For a moment she just glared at him in disbelief. For his part, he simply stared straight ahead out of the window and waited for what he knew was coming.

"GET OUT"

The blond head merely shook a slight negative reply.

"GET OUT DAMN IT"

No response from the blond head this time.

"Don't make me put you out of this car" the woman snarled in exasperation Behind her, the irate driver leaned on the horn once again. Obviously his newly found patience had worn thin again.

"Better move the car luv" the man beside her offered.

"Not until you get out the damn car" she replied as she removed her hands from the wheel and crossed them over her chest.

Briefly the blond man glanced at her. "OK, then we will just have to sit here then."

"I mean it, I'll put you out of this car if I have to"

"You don't want to do that luv. It would 'make a scene, and I know you hate scenes." he drawled knowingly.

The woman sucked in her breath as she struggled to control her anger. "Fine! Then we will sit here then!"

"OK, fine by me, but do you want to take care of the guy behind us or shall I?"

"What?" said the woman as she glanced into her review mirror.

The man behind her had now gone beet red in the face and was pounding angrily on his steering wheel. Any minute now he'd be out of his car and heading over here.

With a muffled curse, the woman started her car and pulled away from the pump. Spying her passenger's black pile of junk car nestled into a parking space at the back of the station, she angled her car in that direction and pulled up behind it.

"Now get out!"

The blond man just shook his head.

"Why not?"

Finally the blond man turned to look at her. "I'm going to be your date tonight."

"Like HELL you are!!!"

"Accept it. I am going to be by your side all night."

"But, but....I already have a date. I told you that" the woman struggled to get this new turn of events clear in her one remaining brain cell. This was crazy! What in the Hell was going on! "You don't have a date. Don't lie" he said with a smirk.

"Oh yeh! And how would you know this?" she demanded "Simple Cutie, women who are dressed like you are for a date get picked up by their date. They don't take themselves to the 'date' and pump their own gas."

The woman struggled briefly against his logic, before offering a quiet "What would you know about dating etiquette?"

"You would be surprised at what I know. Now why don't you just drive back home so you can change your clothes, because quite frankly you stink of petrol right now."

"Petrol?" said the woman confused.

"Gas luv. Petrol is gas, and currently you are wearing it as a rather offensive perfume."

The woman's mouth opened and closed as she struggled to find an appropriate retort.

"Look" said the man, "Lets argue on the way, or you are going to be late."

"I can't take you on this date!" the woman tried again.

"Drive and we'll argue. I promise to argue. Cross my heart"

"Damn it Spike!." But the woman reached for the wheel and put the car into gear.

Would anyone believe this night! How am I going to get rid of him. I don't believe this is happening to me! Beside her, unnoticed, the blond man allowed himself to finally relax slightly. Briefly the corners of his mouth twitched upwards in a semblance of a smile. He had done it. He had got close to her. Now all he had to do was to figure out some way to stay there.

***

Chapter Two:

Between Movement
and Disruption
comes a perfect moment
when all things sing together---
sky, sea, sand, earth, blood.
Their song is called Flowering

The tyres squealed in protest as Buffy floored the gas pedal out of the gas station, and headed straight for the Interstate on-ramp.

"Take it easy. Getting a ticket would take up allot of our precious time together" said Spike as he twisted round in his seat so that he could watch her while she drove. Casually he leaned his back against the passenger door and reached into his pocket for the ever present cigarette pack.

The woman glared at him. "One, don't tell me how to drive and two, don't smoke in my car and three, we don't have any *precious* time to spend together."

The man smiled at her and continued to go about lighting his cigarette. "I see you are getting over your previous 'bad mood' nicely."

"Did you hear me Spike! I said no smoking in here."

"Sue me" was his distracted reply as he turned to survey the direction they were taking.

"I don't need to sue you, how about I just kill you!" the woman snarled.

Spike glanced back at her. "That is always an option. But before we get into that discussion, can I suggest that you take the surface roads rather than the Interstate."

"You seem to be having a hearing problem tonight Spike. I said not to comment on my driving."

The blond man glanced at her and shot her a crooked grin before settling back against the door. "OK, its your funeral. It is Friday rush hour and the Interstate is going to be solid."

The woman slammed her hands against the wheel and the car veered sharply before she managed to regain control. Her head swinging wildly between looking at the road and looking at the aggravating man lounging beside her, she let loose.

"OK, Spike, OK. So lets see if I have managed to get this straight. Tonight you are an expert on dating etiquette, gas pumping, perfume, evening wear, driving, and now you are also an expert on traffic patterns. GIVE ME A BREAK. Hello and Welcome to the Twentieth Century. That is what we have car radios for. Traffic reports, helicopters, police reports all filter through this little mechanism here" she screeched as she gestured wildly at the car stereo.

"Fine" he said with a broad smile. "Take the Interstate."

"Fine. I will!!" she said, entering the on ramp at a rapid rate of knots.

"Buffy"

"What now?"

"Did anyone ever tell you that you are especially beautiful when you are mad?"

"What!" Momentarily her attention was distracted from the road by his unexpected statement.

Spike, however, was watching the road. "WATCH IT" he yelled suddenly. Buffy's eyes swung straight ahead and were meet with the glare of hundreds of red tail lights all at a dead stop. Without pause for thought, Buffy stood on the brakes and then spent the next couple of seconds concentrating on preventing the car from going into a skid.

It was close, but her car came to rest a few inches from the back bumper of the car stopped directly ahead of her.

"Whew. That was close" she mumbled to herself, as she smiled apologetically at the wild eyes of the people in the car ahead, who had turned in their seats at the sound of her screeching tyres. "Sorry" she mouthed to them, before turning to look at Spike.

But Spike was not on the seat beside her! He had been sitting sideways when she slammed on the brakes, and the sudden deceleration had effectively slid him off his seat and into the footwell of the car. There he sat on the floor, still clutching his cigarette. His head was bent downward and he was shaking it in slow disbelief.

"Spike? You OK?" Buffy said, with a look on her face which said quite plainly....oh shit, I have gone and done it now.

Slowly he raised his eyes to meet hers. His lips were pursed in exasperation and the look worked to highlight his prominent cheek bones.

He didn't say a word. He just glared at her. Buffy tried. She really tried, but she couldn't do it. The sight of his large frame crunched into the footwell of her tiny car was just too much. It started with a slight twitching at the corners of her mouth and quickly expanded into a full faced grin. Laughter bubbled up and exploded into the silence.

"I'm glad you find this amusing" he drawled at her.

"I....I....I'm sorry. Really I am. Honest" she giggled.

"Yeh, right" he said taking a puff of his cigarette.

A few minutes passed while Buffy tried to regain control. The laughter didn't seem to want to stop. It had been so long since she had truly laughed, and it felt great to let loose! Eventually she regained a semblance of control and motioned for him to get back up on the seat.

Spike ignored the gesture and continued to puff on his cigarette.

"OK Spike, you can get up now." said Buffy, finally able to manage speech again.

"Nope"

Buffy's smile began to turn back to its former glare. 'OK, what was he playing at now?' she thought to herself.

"Why not?"

"Because, Slayer, I am stuck."

For a minute Buffy didn't believe her ears. Then her eyes traveled his large frame and saw how his lower body was jammed securely into the small space. As she looked, her face began its former twitching and the laughter threatened to take hold once more.

"Oh, this is priceless. Truly priceless. Wait a minute, I know I have one of those disposable cameras in this car somewhere. This has to be a Kodak moment."

she said as her eyes traveled the car interior quickly.

"Slayer, you DO NOT want to do that. Anyway, you can't take a Vampire's picture." said Spike from his cramped position on the floor.

"Look, why don't you just get out of the car and come round and open the door for me" he suggested.

Buffy nodded her head at his suggestion, but instead of getting out of the car, she sat back and contemplated the standstill traffic jam ahead of her.

"Buffy?" said Spike questioningly.

Buffy glanced down at him. "Why should I help you out. You are quite safe down there, and you are definitely unable to accompany me as my date tonight. Seems like my problems have been solved."

"Buffy...." growled Spike warningly.

"OK, OK, I'm going" she said as she smilingly reached for the door handle. Quickly she skirted round the car to the passenger side. She was aware that she had immediately become the center of attention for all the traffic jammers. There she was in 'the little black number, high heels, and lace gloves in the middle of an Interstate traffic jam. An interesting spectacle for all.

Wanting to get out of the limelight as quickly as possible, she reached the passenger door, and quickly wrenched it open without thinking. Deprived of his back support and unable to keep his balance in his cramped position, Spike's upper body jackknifed out of the car door and his head hit the Slayer directly in the stomach, sending her crashing to the ground beneath him.

For a second they both just lay there. Finally Buffy opened her eyes and found herself staring at the sky. Spike too had a good view of the stars. He was laying with his back and head firmly against the Slayer's prone body.

"Get *off* me" Buffy hissed as her eyes traveled quickly to the surrounding cars. As was to be expected, all eyes were firmly fixed on them.

"Love to Slayer, but I have one small problem."

"What now?"

"My legs are still stuck in the car, I can't move."

"You are kidding, aren't you?" said Buffy in disbelief.

Spike didn't answer, but Buffy became aware of a subtle shaking of his body.

"Spike?" she probed questioningly.

The shaking became harder and Buffy pushed at his back worriedly. Then the sound reached her ears. He was laughing! Laughing! Could you credit it. Here they both lay, stuck in the middle of an interstate traffic jam with a hundred pairs of eyes watching them. 'Kill him. She would have to kill him,' she seethed to herself.

"Spike."

"Spike, stop it!"

"Spike, we have to get up from here."

"OK Slayer, what do you suggest" he finally managed to reply.

"You try to pull yourself upward by grabbing onto the car door and I'll slide out from beneath you."

"But I kinda like you beneath me." he replied.

"Now is not the time for games Spike!" the Slayer hissed. "Pull yourself up, or else!"

"OK, if you insist" he agreed, as he reached out and grabbed the car door. Easily, he pulled himself up so that the Slayer could slid out. With a quick movement, Buffy pushed herself free and sat up beside him. As soon as she was clear, Spike lowered himself back to the ground and glanced over at her.

Buffy was busy examining the damage. Her hair was wrecked. One heel had snapped off one elegant shoe and her lace gloves had more holes than they had originally designed with.

"Now you definitely need to go home and change" he drawled at her.

"YOU should shut up while you are still ahead" she warned.

Quickly she tore both shoes from her feet, and struggled to stand up while pushing her short dress back into position. Smoothing the hair back from her eyes she glared down at the man lying half in and half out of her car.

"OK, enough of this. YOU have made this evening a total disaster. Things cannot get any worse, so lets get you out and you can take off and LEAVE ME ALONE."

Spike totally ignored her, instead he said, "The view from down here is fantastic."

Buffy glanced down at him and found his eyes traveling along the length of her legs. 'Damn him!' Without thinking she drew back her foot and aimed a swift kick at his ribs. Unfortunately, she had forgotten that she had no shoes on. Impact was painful.....for them both.

Spike clutched at his ribs, while Buffy utter a strangled curse and began hopping around on one leg, while trying to massage her injured foot.

"Serves you right. You really have to get a handle on that temper" snarled Spike from his prone position on the ground.

"TEMPER. You have the balls to talk about *my* temper. You have the......."

her voice trailed away as she continued to glare at him. Then she turned her back on him and walked away a few feet while she physically tried to calm herself.

"OK, we are NOT going to do this, we are NOT going to go there! Just get him outta of the car and get to the damn event. Lets keep priorities straight." she counseled herself outloud.

Turning she moved to walk back to the watching Vampire, but before she could take a step the Heavens opened on her. The thunderstorm that had been threatening all day, decided that now was the time. Water poured down and in seconds they were both drenched. Buffy stood stock still and stared up at the Heavens in disbelief. This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening. Her hair was plastered to her face, and her dress was ruined and plastered to her body.

Lowering her eyes, she glanced at the cars around them. Now their audience virtually had their noses plastered to the windows of their cars. Buffy gave them an encompassing glare before stalking over to Spike.

"I should just stake you right now. That way you would turn to dust and BE GONE from my car." she yelled at him while water dripped off the end of her nose.

"How about just freeing my legs instead.....and preferably before I drown" he added as water pelted his upturned face.

"You can't drown, worse luck" muttered the Slayer as she bent over him and stuck her head into the car to survey his legs. Her position caused her dress to pull up and left Spike with a beautiful view. Wisely he decided just to enjoy the view rather than comment on it.

At that moment, he felt the Slayer begin to tug on his legs in an attempt to untangle them. "Ouch! That hurt." he hissed at one particularly violent heave from the Slayer. Buffy didn't bother to respond. She just continued her pushing and pulling. Finally she succeeded. Spike slid from the car and lay on his back on the asphalt.

Buffy backed out of the car and glared down at him. "Now get in the car, and this time sit properly in the seat AND put the damn seat belt on."

Spike pushed himself to his feet and adjusted his soaking clothing. Then he turned his eyes on the dripping Slayer.

"If you had been paying attention to the road this wouldn't have happened in the first place!"

"Oh yeh, RIGHT, blame it all on me!" seethed the Slayer.

"Well I did tell you not to take the Interstate...." he hissed back.

Buffy held out her hands for silence. "Look, just get in the car and lets get out of here."

"Doesn't look like we are going anywhere by the looks of this traffic."

"Spike. GET. IN. THE. CAR."

Spike glanced at the woman. Her whole body posture told him that she was a woman at the end. Definitely not a woman to be messed with right now. Closing his mouth, he moved back into the car and closed the door.

For a minute Buffy continued to stand in the road. Then, satisfied that he was finally back in the car, she moved back round at got in the drivers seat.

Neither said anything while the water continued to drip off them and pooling in their seats and at their feet.

Finally, Spike spoke up. "OK, so what do you want to do for fun now?"

***

Chapter Three:

Paths divide,
old skins are shed.
How skillful the means
that free you
to become more truly
who you are.

For over fifteen minutes Buffy didn't say a word. She turned the heater on and placed her hands on the steering wheel and proceeded to stare straight ahead. Spike opened his mouth a couple of times to say something, but a quick glance at the white knuckled fists gripping the steering wheel convinced him that now was definitely a moment best passed over to silence.

Finally, the traffic jam began to move, and the car heater managed to reduce them both from a soggy dripping heap, to a semi-reasonable squadgy damp mess. Buffy continued to over concentrate on the road ahead as she inched the car forward. She totally ignored the blond man at her side. Finally Spike figured enough time had passed and that instant death would no longer be the punishment for the crime of speaking.

"So are you still going to this 'event' thing of your mother's tonight?"

Buffy turned a gave him a withering glare which would have sent lesser men running for cover.

"You're not going to believe this Spike" she said, with her voice literally dripping sarcasm, "but I have nothing to wear." That said, she turned her head back to the road ahead and proceeded to ignore him once more.

Spike decided to forge bravely ahead. "What do you mean you have 'nothing' to wear'. I hate it when girls say that with a wardrobe full of clothes."

For a moment, Buffy did not acknowledge him but then she turned to look at him.

In an infinitely calm voice that was much more worrisome than her previous rages, she explained the situation as if he was a three year old.

"I said I have nothing to wear and that is what I meant. This 'event' as you so aptly put it, is a black tie affair. I had nothing appropriate to wear so my mother bought me this rig. Now this 'rig' is completely ruined, as am I. My mum will kill me for being late, she will kill me for wrecking the clothes, and she will even kill me if I turn up late and inappropriately dressed. Does that explanation satisfy you? Please tell me if it doesn't, because my one aim at the moment is to make sure you are comfortable with what is going on here."

"How late are we?" asked Spike carefully.

"We, are not late. I am. I was supposed to be there early to help my mum finish setting things up, and the actual event," she glanced at her watch, "starts in half an hour."

"OK, so we could still get there almost at the start of this thing." said Spike thoughtfully.

"Are you dense? We are about half a hour from my house, then I'd have to shower, put on new make-up, and change....*if* I had anything to change into!"

"Look, do you want a way out of this mess or are you just going to sit there feeling sorry for yourself?" Spike snapped.

Buffy glared at him. "Don't start on me. It would NOT be a good move."

Spike ignored her pointed comment. "Well Slayer, do you want a solution?"

Buffy sighed. "OK, give."

"All right. My place is just off the next offramp. We can get there in about 10 minutes. You can take a shower and change there. I have something you can put on."

Buffy stared at him as if he had lost his mind. "You think I'm going to walk willingly into *your* home! Not a hope in Hell."

"Look Slayer, you are perfectly safe. If I had wanted to kill you, I already have had plenty of chances. This is your only chance to make the event and survive your mother's wrath semi-intact." Spike sat back and waited for the reality of her situation to sink into her brain. Silence ensued.

"What exactly do you have for me to wear? If you are thinking about passing me some of Dru's hand me downs, then you can forget it. I'd go naked first."

"Don't tempt me Slayer" said Spike grinning at the thought.

"Spike!"

"OK, OK, don't go losing it again. I promise that I have something appropriate for you to wear. And I promise that it never belonged to Dru. Satisfied?"

Buffy stared at the slow moving traffic ahead. Spike's off ramp was coming up on them. She had to admit that he was right, his plan was the only one that would get her to this thing. Without comment, she steered the car to the off ramp.

"OK, so where to now?"

Spike allowed a small grin to play across his mouth, as he gave the distracted Slayer directions to his house.

Within moments they pulled up in front of a neat two story. Buffy took a long look at the neatly presented two level house and turned a quizzical eyebrow in Spike's direction. Spike merely shrugged his shoulders. "It's home for now,"

was his only comment.

Buffy found those simple words unexpectedly saddening. For the first time it hit her that Spike never got to stay in one place to long. By his very nature, he had to keep moving and leaving everything that had become familiar to him behind. She, herself, had a hard shot at fate, but at least she got to stay in one place and had her family and friends around her for support. It was a benefit that Spike wasn't able to have.

Buffy nodded her head in acknowledgment and moved to follow him from the car and into the house. Once inside, she found the home tastefully and comfortably decorated. It could have been anyone's house. Nothing about it screamed "vampire" at you.

Without comment, Spike motioned her to follow him upstairs. She hesitated only briefly, before following him up the stairs and through a door into a bedroom.

"You can use this room, it's my spare bedroom though I don't get much company staying over. They tend to worry about their blood levels too much" he grinned at her.

"I can see how that might be an issue." acknowledged Buffy.

"Anyway, it has a shower just through that door there," he said as he gestured to a small door just to the right of the bed. "Go ahead a take your shower. I'll go get that dress and leave it lying on the bed for you."

Buffy nodded self conciously and waited for him to depart. She couldn't believe this was happening. Here she was, in her mortal enemy's home, preparing to get naked and take a shower. The funny part was, she trusted him to behave and she didn't know why! With Spike gone, Buffy shed her ruined clothing and headed for the shower. All she wanted right now, was to feel the scalding hot water on her back. And it was worth it. She emerged from the shower glowing from the heat and feeling like a new person. Quickly, she wrapped a towel round her and moved to crack the door to the bedroom just to make sure that Spike wasn't in the room. He wasn't.

Buffy moved into the room and glanced at the bed. There lay two boxes with ribbons round them. Her face creased in confusion. He had said he could let her borrow a dress, he hadn't mentioned anything about a present. She started to move towards the boxes, but then changed her mind. First things first. Hair and face.

She had spied a hair dryer in the bathroom, so she went back to get it, then plugged it in and flopped down on the bed. For a moment she though about just laying down on the bed and giving into the warm, comfortable tired feeling that was taking over her body. But then vision of her irate mother swam into her brain. With a sigh, she reached out and grabbed her purse and withdrew her hairbrush. Ten minutes later her hair was dry and reasonably styled considering she didn't have her curling iron with her.

That accomplished, she grabbed her purse and moved over to the dressing table, and turned the contents of her purse upside down on it. Various items fell out, and among them was enough make-up to manage to do the job. Glancing at the wall clock, she saw that time was slipping by rapidly. Better make short work of the cement, she thought to herself. Minutes later, she stood up from the dressing table and surveyed her efforts. Not too bad considering! Buffy turned and surveyed the packages on the bed. For some reason, she felt some apprehension at opening them. It felt like something would change once she opened those boxes, but that was just a stupid notion. What could be so important about two little boxes! Putting the notion from her head, she marched determinedly to the first box and pulled at the ribbon. Then, taking a deep breath, she took the lid off.

Inside lay the most beautiful material she had ever seen. It was dark, dark emerald green. She reached out and touched it gently. Silk. It had to be silk.

Almost not daring to breath, she took hold of the dress and lifted it gently from the box. It fell like a whisper of the warmest air. For a moment, all Buffy could do was look at the dress before her. It was so beautiful. Then her attention was caught by another swash of material still lying in the box. Laying the dress carefully on the bed, she reached into the box and found that it also contained underwear made out of the same beautiful material.

"Hope it fits" she said to the empty room.

Quickly she tried on the underwear. To her surprise, they fit perfectly.

"OK, now for the dress" she told herself.

Picking the dress up carefully, she lifted it over her head and felt it run down her body like a perfect glove. Slowly, as if in a dream, she walked over to the mirror and stared in disbelief at the woman who looked back at her. The dress fit her form like a second skin. One arm and shoulder was left bare, with a diagonal sheaf of silk running across her breasts to cover her other shoulder and arm completely. The skirt had along slit which ran up to almost mid thigh.

Still in a semi-daze, Buffy walked back to the bed and with one hand, undid the ribbon on the second box and flipped the lid off. Inside were a pair of shoes finished in the same green silk. With a feeling of resignation to the inevitable, Buffy sat down on the edge of the bed and slipped the shoes onto her feet. She was no longer surprised by the fact that the shoes fit almost perfectly.

Just at that moment there was a polite knock on the door.

Raising her eyes, she called "It's OK to come in."

The door swung open and there stood Spike lounging against the door frame. But it was a Spike she had never seen before. He was all dressed in black, as usual, but this time he was in the sexiest tux she had ever seen. Vampire or not, mortal enemy or not, he looked good enough to eat! "I said you couldn't come with me, damn it." But her voice held no weight to it.

Spike moved slowly towards her and took both her hands in his and pulled her gently to her feet. For a moment he just looked at her, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out another small box. Opening the box, he took out a white gold choker which was set with a stunning opal. Slowly, he moved behind her and placed it around her neck. The feeling of his gentle hands brushing the back of her neck sent involuntary shivers along her body. If Spike was aware of her reaction to his touch, he made no comment.

"You look beautiful" he said quietly.

Buffy lowered her eyes for a second, before raising them to his.

"Spike, where did you get this dress?"

"I was in London a while back during the Fashion Show week. Some friends of mine dragged me along to the show. They said the models were worth some attention." he grinned nonchalantly. "I saw this dress and liked it,so I bought it."

"Why this size Spike? This wouldn't fit Dru."

Spike shrugged. "I don't remember. Maybe it was the only size they had. But it doesn't matter now because it fits you perfectly."

Buffy nodded warily. She didn't accept his explanations. To many coincidences, but her mind refused to accept the only logical answer. Instead she reached for her pocket book and moved towards the door. In a second Spike was at her side and offered her his arm. For a moment, Buffy just stared at the arm. Then she turned fearful eyes up to meet his.

The fear in her eyes was not because she was scared of him physically. A good fight or a war of words were no problem. The fear in her eyes was of this new Spike. A Spike she didn't know how to handle. It was also a fear of her own reaction to this new Spike. This night hadn't even started yet, and already it had been totally unbelievable. Things like this just didn't happen. They just didn't! Spike saw the fear and confusion in her eyes, and put out a hand to stop her. Turning her towards him, he reached out a gentle hand and took her hand in his.

"I won't hurt you. Ever. I don't ask for anything, just that you watch and wait and make up your own mind. Trust me, even if just for tonight."

Buffy contemplated him for a minute. His eyes spoke of sincerity. Finally, she gave a brief nod and took his arm. Spike guided her downstairs, but instead of heading to the front door and her car, he changed directions and headed towards the kitchen door.

"Where are we going? My car is outfront." asked Buffy somewhat warily.

"I thought we'd take my car for tonight." was his reply.

"But your car is at the gas station where you left it,"

"I have another car. I don't use it too much, because it attracts too much attention."

Buffy nodded acceptance and allowed herself to be guided out and onto the side driveway. And there sat a Jaguar XJ12 in the same midnight emerald green as her dress. By now, the surprises of the night had started to become common place, so she refrained from comment and simply allowed him to assist her into the car.

The word car was an understatement. The interior was in the softest pure pale tan leather, and the dashboard and accessories were in polished oak. The car even smelled rich. Beside her, Spike lowered himself into the car and started it. Pale green lights illuminated the dash board, and an almost undetectable hum was audible from the powerful engine.

Spike glanced over at her and grinned.

"Ready love?"

Buffy nodded, still unable to find any words.

Spike depressed the clutch and shifted the car into gear. The automobile rolled forward and Buffy had the feeling that this "date" would be one that she would never forget.

***

Chapter Four:

And still the waters rise.
Crossing the deeps,
a messenger brings
the promise of new life unfolding.
Oh Ancient of Days,
may the beauty of your intention
show in our faces.

For awhile they just drove in silence. Buffy was struck speechless by the sheer luxury that surrounded her and by the handsome elegant man sitting beside her. Eventually, though, she found her voice.

"I could pretend to not be impressed. Try to act older than I am and all that kind of thing. But I won't. Spike, I'm impressed. I would never have credited you with having this kind of taste."

A smile played at the corner of his lips and he gave her a quick glance before turning his eyes back to the road. The powerful car hummed along with almost no sensation of movement. The car and driver were as one, as he negotiated their route to their destination.

"Listen Spike, I really appreciate the dress, the jewelry, the car etc., but this isn't going to work."

Spike raised his eyebrows questioningly and waited for the Slayer to elaborate.

She didn't disappoint him. "I am serious, this won't work. I think we are forgetting the basics here. I am the Slayer, you are a Vampire.....that makes us enemies! "

"Absolutely" replied Spike. But Buffy was to busy following her train of thought to pay his answer any mind....

"I mean, my mum will blow a fuse if she sees you with me. My friends will disown me. My Watcher will have me certified mentally insane.....hell, I'll have *myself* certified mentally insane." She turned to look at Spike as she tried to gage his reaction to her arguments.

Spike glanced over at her with a small smile playing on his lips. "Please, carry on. I can tell your on a roll here. Get it all out your system."

"Damn it Spike! Did anyone ever tell you that you are the most aggravating man on the planet? I'm trying to be serious here, this WON'T work. My idea of a 'good' date is not one where I may have to kill my date just because he decides to grab a bite to eat!!"

"Look, will it make you feel better if I promise....cross my heart....that I will not eat anything tonight?" he said as he pulled one hand off the steering wheel and used one slim finger to cross his heart.

"Spike! You are not listening to me!" said the frustrated Slayer. Panic was beginning to set in as they neared their destination.

Spike's head dropped slightly and he issued a long sigh before turning and locking eyes with the woman. All signs of amusement had left his face and his eyes were deadly serious.

"Yes, I am listening to you, and you are doing a fine job of convincing *yourself* that this won't work. Funny, I never credited you with being the type that worries more about what other people think than with what 'feels' right."

He turned his eyes back to the road as he negotiated a sharp curve in the road.

"Look, all I'm asking is that you do what feels right. Just for one night, imagine that we are just an ordinary couple out on a date. Do you think you can manage that?"

"I was wrong. I'm not the one who is certifiable. You are." exclaimed Buffy in disbelief. "We are not, and can never be, an 'ordinary couple'. And anyway, why would we want to be a 'couple'.....we hate each other!"

Spike didn't answer her, and Buffy realised that the car had come to a halt. Looking out, she saw that they had reached their destination. The museum was fully illuminated by the outside flood lights shinning up on its majestic exterior, and the grounds were milling with elegantly clad couples making their way towards the grand entrance doorway.

"Time's up Slayer. It's time for a decision." said Spike quietly.

Buffy turned her gaze back to the Vampire sitting beside her. For several moments she said nothing. Spike simply sat there and waited for her to reach her decision.

Finally, she spoke. "OK, I take back what I said. *I* am the one who is certifiable, cause I'm going to agree to this."

A smile began to form on Spike's lips, but the Slayer held up one hand...

"However, there are some ground rules."

Amusement lit Spike's eyes. "OK, lay down your rules."

No amusement was evident in Buffy's eyes as her eyes locked with his. "If you act out or attack anyone, I'll kill you."

Spike nodded his head. "I think we covered that one already."

"All right smart ass. Just want to make sure we have the rules crystal clear."

said Buffy with a glare. "And second, this is a one night event. No matter what happens, this night is over at dawn and will NEVER be repeated. No matter what.

Are we clear."

"Good. I'm glad we got all that crystal clear stuff out of the way. Now we better get in there" said Spike as he reached for the door handle. But Buffy reached out and grabbed his arm.

"Not so quick Spike. You didn't answer me. One night, and one night only."

Blue eyes locked with blue eyes, as unspoken messages flashed between them.

"I hear you Slayer" said Spike quietly, and before Buffy knew what had happened, he leaned towards her and quickly laid a gentle kiss on her lips. Buffy's chin hit her chest in shock, but before she could retort, he was out of the car and walking round to open her door. As her door swung open, he extended his hand to assist her from the car. Buffy stared at the hand as if it was a rattlesnake sent to bite her, but then she took a deep breath and laid her hand in his. Briefly she felt his hand give her's a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

With a feeling of fantasy and a distinct lack of reality, the Slayer turned and prepared to heave herself from the low slung automobile. As she moved she felt the fabric of her dress groan in protest.

Immediately, she relaxed sensing that further movement in that direction would result in a very unladylike ripped dress. 'OK, lets try another way,' she thought to herself. Turning slightly she tried again....but again, the dress screamed protest.

"Oh hell" she muttered under her breath.

Spike's head descended and he looked into the car. "More problems Slayer?"

Buffy glared up at his smug look. "This dress is not exactly made for getting in and out of cars.....and who in the hell designed this car so low to the ground anyways!"

Spike ignored her tirade. "Take my hand, then put that foot out onto the ground." he directed. Buffy did as instructed, but with several muttered curses issuing from under her breath.

"Now swing round slightly and take my hand." he continued. As Buffy moved to comply with his instructions, one shapely leg extended through the slit in the skirt almost to the top of her thigh. She took Spike's hand again, and waited for him to pull her up.... but nothing happened.

"Spike?" she asked as she stuck her head out of the car to see what was holding him up. It seemed the 'view' of the Slayer's bare leg was what was holding him up.

"SPIKE!" hissed the Slayer.

Spike looked at her an offered a sheepish grin. "Can't blame a bloke for lookin." he said before gently pulling her up from the car.

"Just as long as you remember that it is 'look but don't touch." replied the Slayer, as she struggled to adjust the dress to its proper place.

"Now, you can't go adding rules all night" said Spike with a smile.

"What?"

"You had your chance in the car to set down your rules. Touching was never mentioned."

Buffy glared at him. "Keep your hands to yourself or else!"

His next statement shocked her to silence. "OK Slayer, I'll make you a deal. I won't 'touch' unless you want me to." With that said, he turned and offered her his arm.

Buffy didn't move.

He glanced over at her. "Coming?" he asked gently.

Another moment passed in silence before the Slayer moved to take his arm, but before he could move off, she grasped his arm to restrain him.

Her eyes looked up into his. "That will never happen Spike. I'll never 'want' you to touch me." she said quietly.

Knowing eyes looked down into her's. "We'll see" was his equally quiet response.

Together they turned and began to walk towards the brightly lit museum entrance.

As they walked heads turned to follow them. They made a striking elegant couple, that looked so right together. The intensity between the two was almost palpable to those watching them pass.

***

Chapter 5

Fire is Heaven's light
in its palest hue.
That fiery branch
burning at the heart's center
claims its kinship
with the sun.
What hid itself in shadows
is clear to me now

As they walked toward the museum entrance, Buffy began to feel increasingly uneasy. She just knew her mum was gonna pitch a fit when she saw her daughter's date for the evening.

Beside her, Spike sensed her unease. "What's up?"

"Just thinking about how I am going to explain this to my mom. She is gonna freak when she sees you!"

"Don't worry Slayer, your mom will cope fine. Anyway, telling your mum that you are on a date with a Vampire should be pretty minor compared to the time you told her you were the Slayer."

"Yeh, that's easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to do the explaining!"

"Well it looks like we are about to find out what your mum's reaction will be,"

whispered Spike.

Buffy dragged her eyes upward and found herself looking into the Great Hall of the museum. Ceilings stretched upward supported by great stone pillars, and the floor shone in what appeared to be polished marble. Buffy and Spike joined the queue of people waiting to file past the dignitaries and VIPs who had formed the welcome line. At the end of the "welcome" line stood Mrs. Summers busily shaking hands and greeting her guests. As yet, she had not spied her errant daughter.

"So" whispered Spike, "What is this event in aid of anyway?"

Buffy leaned towards him and whispered back. "Mum got hooked up with some guy in Egypt, some kind of archaeologist, and they decided to put on an Egyptian artifact type show. Tonight is the grand opening of the show and the money raised is going to aid some charity."

"Sounds thrilling" drawled Spike.

"Look, I didn't ask you along. You invited yourself, now live with it!" hissed the Slayer.

Before Spike could get a chance to answer, the pair found themselves at the head of the queue and they spent the next few minutes shaking hands with various VIPs and working their way slowly along the line. Buffy was still three or four VIPs away from her mother, when her mother spotted her. Anger was evident in her eyes as she looked at her exceptionally late daughter. But then the anger turned to confusion as she took in her daughter's attire. It was as Buffy drew even with her mother, that Joyce got a good look at her daughter's date. Her jaw dropped open and she looked to her daughter for an explanation.

"Hi mum" tried Buffy with a sheepish grin.

Joyce didn't reply as she raised her eyes to Spike's.

"Mrs. Summers." nodded Spike in way of a greeting.

Joyce still didn't reply. Instead she leaned over to the person beside her in the welcome line. "Excuse me for a moment, I need to speak with my daughter." The person nodded their understanding, and Joyce reached out an took her daughter's arm. "We need to talk. NOW," she hissed to her daughter. Quickly, Joyce pulled her daughter towards a quiet corner.

"What is that boy doing here. He is a Vampire or something, isn't he" began Joyce. She was careful to keep her voice low, so as not to attract undue attention.

"Yes mum, he is a Vampire but I wouldn't exactly call him a boy. He is over 200 years old."

"Buffy! I told you I didn't want you going out with any boys who were older than 20. Buffy, he is ten times to old for you!. He is even ten times to old for me!" her mum paused to catch her breath. "Oh dear, I think I need to sit down."

"Mum....mum....calm down. I'm not 'dating' him. He is just escorting me tonight and he has promised to behave himself." Buffy glanced back over her shoulder and looked for Spike. He had backed off to allow them time to 'discuss' his presence, and he was currently leaning against one of the pillars smoking a cigarette. He was staring in their direction and from the grin on his face, she could tell that his acute hearing was picking up every word of the conversation.

Buffy glared at him, before guiding her mum to a nearby ornate chair. "Here mum, sit down here." Mrs. Summers gratefully sank into the chair, and tried to think of something to say which would make her daughter see sense.

"Mum, I am going to take Spike and disappear into the crowd. You don't have to worry, I'll make sure he behaves himself and stays well out of your way." said Buffy with a resolve that she didn't feel. Mrs. Summers raised her eyes and looked at the daughter that she often felt she did not know at all. Ignoring her daughter's statement, she asked the questions on her mind.

"Buffy, where are the clothes I bought you? And where did you get those clothes? And why are you late? And how did that Vampire boy come to be with you?"

Buffy offered her mum a small smile. "Look, why don't we save those questions till later. Look mum," she said as she pointed back towards the welcoming committee, "I think they are calling for you" she lied. Joyce stood and looked in that direction, and as soon as her attention was turned away, Buffy took the opportunity and hauled ass. Quickly reaching Spike, she didn't pause in her flight as she reached out and grabbed his arm jerking him from his reclined position against the pillar. "MOVE IT" she hissed over her shoulder to him.

"Jeez Slayer, wait up will ya!" he managed to exclaim as he struggled to keep his balance as the fleeing Slayer dragged him behind her with all her strength.

"......and don't call me Slayer here. People will ask questions!"

Behind her, Mrs. Summers spied her fleeing daughter just before she disappeared into the crowds.

"Buffy, come back here. I want to talk to you." she tried to call over the crowds of heads. Buffy heard her but didn't stop her flight. Behind her several people had turned to look at Joyce. Sighing in frustration, Joyce decided that she would just have to catch up with her daughter later and get some answers. For now though, she had no intention of causing a scene. With one last glance towards her daughter's last location, Joyce turned and rejoined the welcome line. She would take payment for this one out of Buffy's hide! Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike slowed their dash to a hurried walk.

"Looks like you got away with it luv, there is no posse in pursuit as far as I can see" said Spike with a grin and a quick glance over his shoulder.

"No. You are wrong. I got away with nothing, only managed to postpone the inevitable for a short period of time." replied the Slayer.

Coming to a halt, the pair stopped to take in their surroundings. They found themselves in a large hall which sported a long buffet table heaving with foods of various kinds. On the other side of the room was a large arched entrance way with a sign that announced the Egyptian exhibits. In one corner of the room stood four musicians playing a selection of classical music as background noise to the chatter of the elegant and rich patrons milling around the hall.

"Oh wow" said Buffy.

"Boring" said Spike.

"What do you know you heathen! Look at this place, its beautiful."

"Boring"

"Look, why don't you try, for just one minute, to enjoy the ambiance of this place. I know you are alittle out of your depth here.....after all, it's not your usual rock bottom social class style.....but just try to fit in and appreciate the luxury for awhile."

"Whatever you say Slayer," said Spike "You stay here and enjoy the 'ambiance' while I go and find the Champagne."

Spike started to move off in the direction of what appeared to be the beverage bar, but before he had taken more than a few steps, a voice hailed him out of the crowds.

"William? William, is that you old chap?"

The crowds parted and a middle aged gentleman detached himself and headed straight towards Spike. For a second, Spike's face showed annoyance at the interruption, but then a mask of geniality settled across his face and he reached out his hand to the new comer.

"Lord Argyle, it is a pleasure to see you again." said Spike. All evidence of his usual accent was gone. All that remained was an upper crust English accent.

"How long has it been my boy. At least five years, I'd hazard" said Lord Argyle as he pumped Spike's hand in obvious pleasure.

"At least, your Lordship" smiled back Spike.

The Lord was looking at Spike somewhat quizzically. "You know William, I'd swear that you haven't changed one little bit in the ten years I have known you!"

"You are to generous my Lord. Here, may I introduce my companion for the evening."

Smiling, Spike turned and held his hand out to Buffy. With a weak smile she took his hand and allowed herself to be introduced to Lord Argyle.

"Delighted to meet you my dear" gushed the Lord before turning back to Spike. Leaning towards Spike he whispered, "Excellent filly William, but then you were always one for the ladies, what."

Behind him, Spike felt Buffy stiffen as she overheard herself referred to as a 'filly'. Lord or no Lord, Spike knew that Buffy was about to tell this Lord what she though of his description of her. Quickly he moved between them and took hold of the Lord's upper arm.

"I was just going to get the lady a drink, would you do me the honor of walking with me your Lordship. I have another business proposition that I would like to discuss with you."

A smile lit up the old Lord's face. "Certainly my boy. I would love to hear your proposition. The last business deal we had netted me a tidy sum you know."

Spike smiled at the Lord and headed them off in the direction of the bar.

Glancing over his shoulder, he sent the stunned Slayer a cheeky wink.

Buffy stared after them feeling completely stunned by the transaction. What, how, when, did Spike come to move in the circles of upper crust English society! This was not the Spike she knew and hated! For several minutes, Buffy was incapable of putting rationale thought together. The weirdness of the evening threatened to overwhelm her. Then suddenly she became fully alert. There was danger most wicked near by, her sense were screaming at her to run for cover. Quickly she raised her eyes and scanned the room looking for the source of the danger. Suddenly she spied it. It was moving toward her quickly, nothing was standing in its path as it forged a path to her side.

"Oh God no! Anything but this. ANYTHING!" Buffy moaned to herself.

Coming towards her was Larry the Lizard! Larry was a young man who had fixated himself onto Buffy since her arrival in Sunnydale. Hell, fixated was to mild a word....stalked was more like it! He wasn't particularly good looking, nor was he bad looking. It was his attitude which was insufferable. Statements such as "I shall be attending Harvard and I will definitely make my first million by age thirty, you know," were Larry's stock type of statements during conversation. He truly believed that the way to a woman's heart was by impressing her with his own importance in life. Buffy and the Slayerettes had nicknamed him the Lizard, due to his tenacity. Once he got his teeth into you, he never let go! With another moan, Buffy turned on her heels and searched wildly for a route of escape. Quickly she discarded thoughts of escaping into the entrance hallway...her mother waited there ready to pounce. Swinging her eyes round, they came to rest on the French Doors opening onto the patio. Without pause, Buffy plunged into the crowds and headed towards the doors. Glancing over her shoulder, she could see the lizard's head bopping up and down over the crowds as he struggled to follow her route.

Buffy burst free of the crowds, and quickly crouched down as she hustled through the French doors and onto the wide stone patio. Ducking to one side of the doors, she leaned up against the cold stone wall and struggled to catch her breath. Around her, several people who had been enjoying the night air on the patio, stared at her curiously. She offered them a weak grin. "Needed some air" she offered by way of explanation. As her watchers turned back to their cocktails and conversation, Buffy hazarded a quick peep round and into the room.

"Oh God, doesn't he ever get the hint!!!" she hissed as she saw the Lizard break free of the crowds and head unerringly in the direction of the patio doors.

With a shove of her hands, Buffy launched herself from the wall, and hauled her tight long skirt up round the top of her thighs. Without further pause, she lifted her legs and ran flat out along the patio. Ducking and diving around the couples standing on the patio, she headed for the second set of French doors further down. Her aim was to make those doors before the Lizard made it onto the patio and saw her flight.

With one final skid and burst of speed, Buffy rounded the corner and dived back into the ballroom. Again she found several pairs of curious eyes turned her way. With another small grin, she let go of her skirt and allowed it to fall back down. Using her hand to push her hair back into place, she endeavored to ignore her audience as she sedately moved into the crowds.

Once in the crowds, she attempted to get her bearings and head back to where she thought she had left Spike. Pushing through the crowds, she finally managed to make her way back and she broke free of the crowds to find Spike waiting patiently. holding two champagne glasses.

"Glad you could make it Slayer. I thought you had ditched me."

"Not you, but there was someone I needed to ditch that's for sure." Buffy glanced worriedly back over her shoulder just in time to see the Lizard's head appear over the crowds. Briefly his eyes made contact with her's and his arm extended above the crowds and waved in her direction.

"Oh no, here he comes" said Buffy in total dismay.

Behind her she felt strong arms encircle her waist. "Seems like you have more than one admirer Pet."

"Look, don't start on me now Spike. I need to deal with the Lizard right now."

"Lizard? A very descriptive name that." said Spike with an evil grin.

Just at that moment, the Lizard broke free from the crowds and headed toward them with a triumphant smile. Buffy merely moaned in misery.

Spike chuckled at the look on her face, and then spun her round to face him.

"Let's give the Lizard something that is bound to slow him up" he murmured, before lowering his lips to hers. Strong arms encircled her and pulled her into his kiss. For a dizzying instant, Buffy was taken off guard, and that was the only moment her senses needed to take her over. With a groan she sank into his kiss and allowed her body to be assaulted by his lips and his hands......hands that roved over her back and hips constantly urging her closer into him.

It took several seconds for the Lizard's polite sounding cough, to make its way into Buffy's aroused brain. With a groan, she tried to ignore the cough and sink further into Spike's embrace, but it seemed that Spike had other ideas. Gently, with a final small kiss to her swollen lips, Spike raised his head and smiled at the young man waiting behind Buffy.

"Can I help you?" Spike asked with exaggerated politeness.

Buffy tried to turn round to look at the Lizard but found that Spike was still holding her securely.

"I'd like to speak with Buffy if I may." replied the young man.

Spike glanced down into Buffy's eyes and a smile played at the corner of his lips. Buffy glared at him silently telling him that he better not throw her to the Lizard.

"Sorry mate, but Buffy and I were just doing some serious 'making out' and in a few minutes I am going to take her from this place to a more private location and make wild passionate love to her. OK?" Spike spoke the words like he was ordering a meal, and the young man's indrawn breath did not phase him in the least. "So, I suggest you talk to Buffy later, cause I am not in the mood to share right now. Run along now, there's a good lad."

Spike glanced down at the Slayer and saw the anger shining from her eyes, but before she could have a go at him, the Lizard spoke up.

"Buffy are you going to let this man talk about you in such a way?" he said indignantly.

Buffy glanced round and took in the blustering young man. Then evilness overcame her. She couldn't help it. She gave the boy her most sultry grin. "You better believe it." she said huskily before turning her mouth back to Spike's and using her hand to guide his head back down to her lips.

Behind her the Lizard offered up a startled "Well really!", before turning and exiting into the nearby crowds.

For several minutes Buffy and Spike continued the kiss. The threat was gone. There was no need for the kiss, but neither one made any effort to stop. Lips parted and Spike plundered her mouth. Buffy wrapped her arms around him and held onto him like her very life depended on it. She was totally lost in his embrace. All thoughts of Slayers and Vampires were gone from her mind. All that existed was Spike and the sensations that he was evoking in her willing body.

Eventually Spike broke the kiss and raised his head. He waited a moment for the Slayer's eyes to clear, and then gently brushed one finger across her swollen lips.

"How about we get out of here, I know somewhere that we can go?" he said quietly.

The words were like a splash of cold water. The anger started in the pit of her stomach and quickly worked it's way to her mouth.

"You insufferable bastard!" she hissed at him.

Spike looked at her with a resigned sigh. "OK, what did I do wrong now?"

"OH YEH! Just stand there all innocent and pretend like this all isn't just a game to get me into bed. Then what will you do Spike, run and tell all your little Vamp friends that you bedded the Slayer. Do you think I was born yesterday!" as the Slayer talked her voice began to rise in anger.

"What are you talking about?" tried Spike.

"You know 'somewhere we can go.' I'm sure that 'somewhere' involves a bed....or were you just planning on having sex with me in some alleyway!" Now she was virtually screeching. Several pairs of eyes turned their way.

"Will you shut up. I meant nothing of the kind. I was talking about taking you to club I know. Somewhere slightly more romantic and exciting than this joint, but certainly not as exciting as a bed." he added with a small grin.

Buffy stared at him for a few moments. Honesty shone out of his eyes.

"Oh. Well. I'm sorry then, I guess." she offered apologetically.

"No problem. So, what about it? Want to try the club?"

"I don't think so Spike. I don't think we ought to go off together. Perhaps you should just take me home and we'll call it a night before anything else happens."

"Nope, can't take you home. You promised to stay with me till dawn. One night you said, remember? If I take you home now, you'll have to allow me to stay with you till dawn in your bed." he said with an innocent grin.

"That is not going to happen and you know it." laughed Buffy. "OK, I guess we'll just have to stay here then."

"Don't think you want to do that either Luv." Spike gestured first to the right and then to the left. Buffy followed the direction of his gestures.

>From the right the Lizard was approaching at a brisk trot. He must have seen their argument and decided that there was room for him to move in on Buffy. But what was approaching from the left, was much worse, coming full steam ahead was 'the mother'.

"Oh God NO!!" exclaimed Buffy in horror. "I'm surrounded!" Wild eyes turned to Spike. "Get me out of here, and do it NOW."

"Your wish is my command" grinned Spike as he grabbed her hand and they both ran towards the patio doors.....

***