Ch 17

Author’s notes: Sorry so long between updates, school is kicking my bootie! Big Thanks to Lady Anne for the great beta as always! Enjoy! Feedback generally inspires my muse… then more gets written!

~*~*~*~

Buffy fingered the top of the champagne flute absentmindedly. A client of the gallery had spotted them and persuaded Giles to give them a quick viewing of the new pieces he had acquired on his last buying trip, leaving Buffy alone to her thoughts in the deserted restaurant. She didn’t mind she enjoyed the time alone. She smiled at the waiter as he refilled her glass, and then sunk back into the plush booth enjoying the piano music that filtered through the bar.

She let her thoughts drift back to the afternoon. After ‘the meeting’ her and Spike had returned to the comfort of her bed, taking a long nap in each other’s arms. She would have liked much more than a nap, but he was being sensible and chivalrous, afraid of hurting her. In reflection, he was probably right, it was hard to fight the passion between them, the inferno. Making love as they had before, slow, tender, careful, it was wonderful. But it didn’t provide the earth shattering release they both were screaming for after the events of the past few days. She had never given the notion of sexual tension, tumescence as Dr. Schwartz called it, much consideration, but now. With him, it was right there, always right under the surface. Every word, every touch, every look was foreplay. And the frustration, the anger, the fear, it had been hard enough to restrain themselves when they had been together before. She cursed Angel again for his attack. Stupid bruised ribs. Can’t work, can’t dance, can’t shag properly. Shag? Oh God, I’m thinking like him now! She giggled to herself, images of Spike’s smug smirk invading her thoughts, proud of his influence on her language skills. What if Giles is right? What if he is the one? Have I fallen in love with him? Already? Is that possible? She considered that for quite some time. She knew she felt incomplete when he wasn’t with her, she knew his touch took her to places she didn’t know existed, his gaze made her feel like they were the only two people in the room. He made her feel worshipped, cherished. It was incredible. She craved him. His mouth, his hands, the tingle she got when his chest pressed against her back and his arms wrapped around her body pulling her tight against him, she craved it all. I don’t know much about anything. But I know the way I feel when I am with him, the way I feel when we are apart, the way I feel when I think about him. It is everything. It consumes me. Everything is crisper, more significant, more worthwhile, because I can share it with him…. Oh God. I do love him…. I should tell him… Tell him? Tell him how? Oh God.

She threw some bills on the table, hastily scribed a note and shoved it into the hand of the waiter with a twenty. “Could you give this to the man I was having dinner with when he returns. Thanks..” she said, leaving quickly without waiting for his reply.

~*~*~*~

Dawn grinned at Jonathan as she tossed him a bottle of tequila. She had enjoyed working at the bar, but she had also always felt out of her league. Like a child desperate to hang out with the big kids, always out of the loop. But with Jonathan there, all of her feelings of insecurity flew out the window. She felt like she finally belonged, like she was a part of things, and she liked it. Even her typical clumsiness evaporated under his influence. She felt calm. She was happy. Watching him perform with his band sent shivers up and down her spine. She knew she was bordering on ‘star-struck-groupie’ status, but she didn’t care. Jonathan didn’t seem to mind, in fact, quite the opposite; he seemed to be somewhat ‘star-struck’ himself. He turned back to face her, having finished serving his customer, and spoke low, for only her to hear.

“What are you day dreaming about? Do I have a role?”

She flushed as his breath breezed over her skin, “Starring in fact,” she replied breathlessly.

“Can’t wait to hear all about it.”

She smiled as she watched him join the other band members on stage, not quite sure how she would make it through the rest of their shift without attacking him.

~*~*~*~

Buffy slipped through the backdoor of the club, quickly depositing her jacket and bag in the Coyote’s den and changing into more appropriate ‘club clothes’. She could hear Spike’s voice though muffled by the walls. The effect of his presence was the same as it had been since the first time she saw him- her stomach flip-flopped with anticipation. It was strange to be so physically affected by the very thought of seeing another person. Even in high school no one had that kind of effect on her.

She quickly applied some lip-gloss and dashed toward the hall to catch him as she heard him thanking the crowd, followed by his announcing the time of their next set. Her breath caught in chest when he came into view. God, he is hot. He was wading through a throng of women who had no intention of making his escape easy. A smirk played on her lips as she watched him walk the line between polite graciousness and flirting.

She noticed several of the more bold women grab at him as he got closer to where she was hidden in the shadows of the hall. One actually pinned him against a post - pressing her body against his - then kissing him as she wiggled seductively against him.

She watched, mostly bemused by the scene unfolding before her, but not entirely void of jealousy. He untangled the woman’s hands from around his neck and tried to gently push her away. The woman was persistent - slipping her arms around his waist, grinding her hips against his, whispering in his ear.

No longer amused, Buffy stepped out of the shadows and firmly tapping the girl on the shoulder - glad she had changed into one of her ‘Coyote staff’ halters.

“Excuse me - we need Spike in the back.” Her tone was condescending to match the glare she raked over the woman. The woman’s eyes narrowed- clearly suspicious of Buffy’s motives- but stepped back, not wanting the obviously pissed off blonde to have her thrown out of the club.

Spike grinned as he followed Buffy into the shadows. She wriggled a finger at him, inviting him to follow her further as she sashayed her way to the band’s dressing room and locking the door behind them.

“What are you up to…” he began, but was effectively cut off by her warm mouth exploring, her tongue sliding, twisting against his. He fell back against the door, surprised at the fervor of her assault. Her hands where everywhere, and for a spilt second he considered stopping her before they reached the point of no return, but quickly reconsidered as her hand cupped his growing erection, lightly stroking him to hardness he didn’t know was possible. She grinned wickedly at him, flipping her hair over a shoulder, then took him by the hand and led him to the leather couch. Gently pressing her small hands against his chest, she pushed him back on the couch. She wordlessly lowered herself on top of his lap. Straddling his thighs, she pressed her chest against him as she devoured his lips in a seductive kiss.

“Luv… I’m…supposed… to….” Pausing between each word to return her kisses, “to be… working… Cor…” His control was rapidly fading under her attention. She reached up and untied her halter top, letting it fall to her waist. He groaned at the sight of her breasts heaving with each breath above him. He captured one globe in his hand, rolling the darker tip between his fingers. His eyes locked with hers, as he teased her flesh with skilled hands. He lowered his mouth to catch the neglected bud into his mouth, sucking it to attention, as she wiggled impatiently above him, desperate for more contact. She pulled him away from her chest, kissing him again, trying to pour all her emotions in to the kiss, trying to show him everything she was feeling, how desperately she wanted him. She grasped the hem of his shirt and broke the kiss long enough to pull it over his head. Standing she quickly shed her jeans and thong and kneeled on the floor in front of him, turning her attention to his boots. Once removed, she slid her hands up his thighs, reaching his waist, she licked her lips unconsciously, her eyes locked with his again as her hands deftly unfastened the denim and pushed the material aside, exposing her prize. He raised his hips, allowing her to remove the offending material, then pulled her up into his embrace, kissing her as his hand slid between her thighs, scraping the supple skin lightly with his nails.

Without speaking he pushed her back on to the couch, covering her with his body, placing feverish kisses all over her shoulders, neck and chest.

“Spike…” her voice sounded foreign to her, so heavy with lust and need for him. She moaned again as she felt him press against her swollen opening, dripping for him as he slowly pushed into her, their eyes locked, and she was certain nothing or no one had ever felt as good as she did when he filled her. As he slowly began to move within her she met his thrusts as her hands slid down his back, urging him deeper.

“Oh God, Spike, you feel so good….never felt this good… oooh… yeah…”

He shifted his position and drove into her, increasing his tempo as she encouraged him with her hands pulling him closer and closer. She bit into her lower lip, her eyes fixed on his as each thrust of their hips drove her closer to the edge. She smiled as Spike’s head fell against her shoulder- his hot breath warmed her already flushed skin as he murmured unintelligible words into her hair. He hooked an arm under one of her knees, drawing her leg up to his shoulder and driving him deeper into her. The change in position sent her flying over the edge, screaming his name as every muscle in her body clamped down in a lingering spasm as he increased his pace, following her in mere seconds.

Spike studied her curiously as he untangled himself from her, shifting their positions so that she was draped across his chest.

“Pet? You okay?”

“Perfect, why?”

“Just took me by surprise is all.”

“I missed you?” She smirked coyly. His eyebrow raised in response as he tried to suss out what really had gotten into her. He groaned when he noticed the clock on the wall, knowing that before too long someone would come looking for him.

“As much as I would love to stay here… I have to get back luv.” She grumbled her protest but extricated herself from him and quickly dressed, knowing he was right. She really didn’t know what had gotten into her. At the restaurant, she had been overwhelmed by her feelings for him and wanted to see him, maybe tell him… she wasn’t sure. But seeing him work - watching that woman with her hands all over him - all she could think about was claiming him.- Great way to go Cave Buffy.-

Once dressed she followed him down the dark hall as he returned to work. Pausing at the club entrance, Spike turned quickly on his heel and once again kissed her breathless then spun away, leaving her to watch him confidently swagger to his station at the bar.

You are in trouble girl. You have it bad. She blushed inwardly at her thoughts, then argued with her inner voice. Maybe I do have it bad… but so does he. So shut up and have some fun dammit!

~*~*~*~

Monday, December 27

Buffy reclined on a deck chair, her laptop next to her with small piles of books surrounding her when Willow wandered out carrying two of her trademark mochas.

“Hey Buffy, thought you might be ready for a sugar rush, you’ve been at it for a while. Whatcha workin on?” Willow gushed in one breath, a common practice when she was nervous, giddy, or sugared up on mochas.

“Sure you need another, Will?”

Willow snickered, but still managed to look somewhat guilty.

“Probably not, but I am so excited for Oz- and the rest of the guys,” she quickly added. “ I can’t wait to hear the CD. It is so cool!” She was positively radiant as she occupied the only chair not serving as a temporary bookcase.

“I know how you feel. Spike is so excited, it’s infectious. I can hardly keep still myself. You don’t know how bad I want to sneak into that studio and listen. Waiting is hell!”

“So what are you working on?”

“A paper- before break Joss invited me to attend a conference in January in LA and get this, Will- he wants me to present the paper at conference!”

“No way!”

“Way!”

“Oh my Goddess, Buffy, that is great! And LA! In January? You get a trip to visit Spike on UNLV! Doesn’t get much better than that!”

“I know! I can’t wait to tell Spike.”

“You haven’t told him? Why not?!”

Buffy threw her a look that asked ‘You don’t really want me to answer that do you Will- think about it.’

The redhead blushed realizing her mistake, “Right, stupid Willow. Other things… duh. Sorry Buff.”

“Forget it. I’m trying to. I’ll tell him when things are not so tragic, crazy, life altering, or otherwise chaotic.”

“Ah, I remember those days. When was that… ’89? Or was it ’90?”

“HA!” Buffy yelled as she threw a highlighter at her friend consumed in a fit of giggles.

~*~*~*~

Spike slung his guitar case over his shoulder, and headed toward the studio door. The day had been long, but exciting. They had just finished listening to the early mixes of the tracks, and they were all pleased with the results. He could hardly wait to hear the final mix, which was promised to be ready the next day.

“In a hurry?” Oz grinned at his friend, knowing full well why his friend was in a hurry to leave. It had been too long since he had seen his friend happy, and he was certain that Buffy was the reason for the change in him.

“Kinda… aren’t you?” Spike smirked.

Oz shrugged, “Maybe, you know me… all things in moderation.”

“Red doesn’t seem to be the moderate type to me, mate.”

Oz smiled knowingly, “You got me there. There is nothing moderate about her. She is something else. Pretty amazing.”

“I know what you mean,” Spike answered as he followed his friend to the car.

“So what do you think about all of this?” Oz’s soft voice shook Spike out of his silent reverie.

“All of what?”

“Las Vegas? CD? Women? The future?… All of it man.”

“That’s what I like about you. You get right to the heart of the matter. No messing around with the niceties.”

“Thanks, man- I try. So where do we go from here? What do you want? Where do you see this going? We’ve never really discussed it.”

Spike thought about the questions for several minutes.

“It’s like this is all surreal. None of this was planned. This just all happened while I was making plans for my real life, now this has taken over my real life- maybe become it. Kicker is- I don’t know if it is what I want forever. I don’t know if this is what I want for my career. Don’t get me wrong. I love playing music. Performing, writing, but when I started school- I had plans. I wanted to write. I wanted a house on a secluded beach with a good woman and blonde haired babies playing in the sand outside next to the porch where I work everyday. I was so romantic- so delusional. Then Dru and college happened. And playing music, it was a great distraction, and the fantasy life started to fade into something that resembled nothing more than a silly childhood exercise in make believe.”

“And now?”

“Now, for the first time in years, I am thinking about that dream life again. It’s that girl man. She has me thinking that maybe it’s possible. That just maybe I could have that life after all. I know it’s crazy. I’ve known her like five minutes. But I swear it feels like I’ve always known her. In my soul, I feel I was born knowing her. The romantic I thought was dead is taking over every part of me. I swear man, I catch myself fantasizing of driving off into the sunset with this girl to build a life with her, worshipping her for the rest of my life. Every day thanking the gods for sending her to me and praying for one more day to do it all over again.”

Oz stared at Spike in stunned silence for several seconds. “Jesus. I knew you liked her. But shit. Does she know how you feel?”

“No. Not yet. We haven’t had much time to talk… and she has a life here, and we have stuff happening. What I do effects more than just me. What do you want? Do you want to chase this music thing?”

“This may surprise you. But man, I don’t know. I always thought I did. I am having a great time. All I know for sure is I am in no hurry to leave Las Vegas. I like it here. I like the atmosphere, I like the pay, and I like Willow. I don’t want to go back to LA forever. I know that much. I’ll help make payments on the condo until you get someone else to live in it. Sorry, I’m moving here.”

Spike laughed at his apologetic friend. “Don’t worry about the condo man, when I bought the damn thing there was a list of people who wanted the next available one. I’ll just call and list it. It will sell in days. I don’t want to live in LA either. We do have to go back and play Sunnyhell and 14 Below in January.”

“I know dude. I am just saying when we’re done- I’m coming back. I want to see what happens here for a while.”

Spike nodded at his friend in agreement as he pulled into the driveway of Buffy’s house. Both men nearly shook in anticipation of seeing the objects of the separate desire, and sprinted around the back of the house eager to share the events of the day.

~*~*~*~

Chapter 18

Spike felt his heart speed up in his chest when he saw her stretched out on a lounge chair by the pool, her book forgotten as she had fallen asleep in the warm afternoon sun. He smiled as he stood there admiring the way the sun highlighted her hair, reminding him of the sunset mixed with spun gold. He moved slowly through the gate and sat down on the end of her chair.


“Hey beautiful,” he smiled as she squinted against the bright sunlight.


“Hey yourself. How’d it go?”


“Fantastic! The CD is supposed to be ready tomorrow. The tracks sound great, though. It was incredible!” His excitement was contagious. As he spoke his eyes danced with glee like a young boy on Christmas Eve.


As she listened to him recount the events of the day, Buffy felt her own excitement for him grow until she could no longer resist the urge to throw her arms around him and kiss him silly. So she did. She giggled as she flung herself in his lap, planting butterfly kisses all over his face.


“I am so happy for you! I can’t wait to hear the CD!”


“What’s all this? I thought you were on break?” He nodded in the direction of the books.


“Oh I am. Just working on a paper. One of the professors has invited me to a conference in January, and I am supposed to present.” She tried to sound casual- like this sort of thing happened all the time. Spike smirked, not fooled by her cool-calm-no-big-deal attitude. Her eyes betrayed her own enthusiasm.


“Really? Conference, eh? Wow. Have you ever been invited to go before? Have you ever presented a paper before?”


“No, well not really. I have presented at a couple of conferences that have been held here, but they were small, mostly in-state faculty and grad students. This is the first big conference I have been invited to attend…and to be asked to present…” she paused, giving him a quick smirk, “well, it’s really not that big of a deal.”


He studied her for a second, before dropping his eyes to watch her biting at her lower lip, as she struggled to reign in her excitement. He smiled slowly, fascinated by her yet again. She had told him about her studies, in broad terms, but it was again always a revelation to him to see her so excited about something else. Everything this girl did seemed to scream perfection, or at least a determined quest for it. He raised his eyes to lock again with hers.


“So tell me all about this ‘not such a big deal’ conference. What is the paper you are working on? The when… the where… tell me everything.”


She grinned, pleased at his interest in something so important to her. “Ok… it’s a conference on Southern Politics, my paper is on gender images and their influence in southern politics… it is in LA… next month.”


She watched as he looked confused as she told him the topic of her paper, then saw his confusion turn to genuine happiness as he processed the when and the where.


“LA, really? That is so great. I can show you around my town!”


She laughed softly at his excitement. “I hope so, I don’t know how much time I will have.”


“No worries, we will make the time. There is no way you are coming to LA without at least one ride through the hills on my hog.”


She snuggled closer to him, placing a soft kiss on his jaw. “That I wouldn’t want to miss.”


“Damn right,” he growled as he captured her lips in a kiss that left her boneless.


~*~*~*~


Angel groaned as he squinted against the light, slowly drifting into consciousness. He moved to sit up, then winced in pain as he realized he was bound hand and foot and unable to move. He tried to force his eyes to focus on his surroundings, hoping to assess the situation.


“It’s about time you woke up,” a shrill feminine cut the silence. For the first time since regaining consciousness, Angel actually feel relatively safe despite being complete bereft of meaningful movement.


“Oh good, untie me,” he choked out in the direction of his fiancee’s voice.


The small woman stood at the end of the table he was tied to and laughed softly.


“I don’t think I will be doing that just yet.” She paused for effect. “ No, I know I won’t be untying you. In fact, you are exactly where I want you.” She moved toward his head so he could see her face. He grimaced and then shook slightly, feeling at once overwhelming dread at the sight of the expression of fury unhidden on her swollen and bruised face. She nodded at some unseen person across the room, who responded by moving to the end of the table and turning a slender silver rod. It was at that moment that Angel realized that he was naked, and that something, definitely made of metal, was cradling his balls, and had at that moment constricted.


He tried to shift again against the restraints, desperate to escape the pressure being steadily applied to his manly bits . Unsuccessful, he decided to plead with his captor.


“Baby please. I’m really sorry about before. I was drunk, and I had an argument with some staff. I was wrong- please let me go. I promise I will make it up to you.”


“Oh, that is really interesting. The way I heard the story was that a bell boy interrupted your rape of Buffy, so you raped me instead.”


“Sweetie, I’m really sorry if I was too rough with you but rape?” he gently questioned in his sweetest, most contrite voice.


“That’s pretty good, you might be able to convince a complete moron with that act, and while I will admit that some consider me to fall into that category… let me fill you in on a little something. I am anything but.” She nodded again and smiled as he cried out as the pressure on his balls increased.


“You know Angel, as I recovered this week, I spent a great deal of time trying to develop the most appropriate punishment for you. As you well know, we natives of Vegas are particularly inventive when solving problems…” her voice was even and smooth as she thoughtfully recounted the events leading to the current situation. “ Of course I immediately had to persuade my father that I was capable of handling this, otherwise you would have been buried alive - most likely after being doused with gasoline and set aflame in the desert a week ago. But I managed to convince him that such an end would be too easy on you. Really, a little pain, a little panic and then it is over. This however is more poetic, and takes much longer.”


She nodded again and the pressure increased. “See this won’t kill you, but I am certain that for the rest of your life you will remember the days you spent strapped to a table with your balls in a bench vise. Oh I suppose I could tighten the vise completely right now, and accomplish my ultimate goal,” she paused to enjoy the look of horror on his face for a moment before continuing, “but what would be the fun in that? I think it more fitting to take my time before I complete crush your balls. See you tomorrow, Lover,” she spat at him as she turned on her heel, leaving the room. She stopped at the door, smiling at the sound of his strangled scream.


“HARMONY COME BACK PLEASE”

Author's notes: I'm back... maybe... I know it is short, but maybe it will lead to more. Thanks to Lady Anne as always for the fantabulous beta!

Chapter 19

Tuesday, December 28

Tara moved quietly around the kitchen of what was soon to be her new home fixing coffee and a light breakfast. She smiled as she realized her ‘retirement’ as a Coyote meant she would be up and fully functioning every morning, not just those days the club was dark. It was a little thing, but the idea of keeping the same hours as Giles was so exciting to her; having the opportunity to sit and share the morning paper over coffee and toast appealed to her in ways that her friends probably would never understand. Well, some of them might-she thought to herself. Anya wouldn’t of course, and while placing Faith in the friend category was a stretch, she definitely wouldn’t get it. Buffy might get it. Everything she had heard about Joyce led her to believe that she had a definite appreciation for the simple things, and occasionally she witnessed that same affinity in Buffy. Buffy carefully guarded that part of herself, like it was hers alone, but lately with Spike it seemed like she was becoming more open to sharing that part of herself.

Her thoughts were interrupted by strong arms wrapping around her middle and the brush of Giles’ freshly shaven cheek against hers.

“Good morning beautiful,” he murmured in her hair as he inhaled her scent.

“Mmm, morning. Did you sleep well?” She leaned back against his chest, resting her head on his shoulder.

“It was perfect actually. That is until I woke to find myself alone in that monstrous bed.”

She laughed softly, “Sorry about that, I thought you would like to have some coffee and maybe a muffin before work.”

“I would have skipped the coffee and settled for the muffin, quite happily I would add,” he snickered suggestively.

Tara choked on her coffee at his off color remark.

“Mister Giles, I am shocked that you would say such a thing,” she exclaimed in mock outrage.

He slipped his hand under her shirt, letting his fingers trace shapes on her bare skin. “Only shocked, eh? I was hoping for perhaps shocked but strangely aroused…”

“Oh… well that too…” she whispered as she turned in his arms to face him, sighing quietly as his mouth covered hers with a demanding kiss.

~*~*~*~*~

Buffy’s muscles screamed in protest as she struggled to force them through the dance steps. Faith had suggested the girls work up a new act for their shift on New Year’s Eve, and they had, but despite their efforts at keeping the choreography simple and hopefully more manageable for her, it still bordered on more than her battered frame could handle.

Willow studied her friend’s labored movements and decisively called a three-hour break in rehearsal. All Buffy really wanted to do was take a hot shower and sleep for the rest of the break, but Willow staunchly displayed ‘resolve face, and so she complied with the red head’s request and followed her to the spa.

“Will, I’d really like to just go take a long nap,” she whined to the back of her friend’s head.

“You can nap…” she grinned, “just do it on the massage table. You have an appointment, a full hour with Robin.”

Buffy’s jaw dropped. Robin Woods was practically famous in Vegas for his massages, and was booked a full six months in advance.

“Robin? Will, how did you get me an hour with THE Robin?”

Will giggled, “I helped him with some computer stuff… he owed me a favor. Everyone says he can work miracles, and no offense sista, but you could use a miracle right about now if you are serious about performing Friday night.”

Buffy smirked, “Was I that bad?”

“Well, I hesitate to say bad, but it was not of the good… performance wise. You know you don’t have to perform. Everyone will understand if you don’t.”

Buffy drew a long breath, “I know you are right. Faith even made a point to tell me so, but I want to do it. It’s important to me. It’s hard to explain… it’s like… if I don’t… or if I don’t try… it’s just one more way Angel gets to influence my life… it’s like he wins. It defies logic, I know, but still… I have to do this… it’s almost a defining moment…” she sighed, “for whatever reason, I feel like if I am able to do this, I can get, in some small way, a piece of my life back.”

“Wow, that is a whole lot to expect from what is essentially a clothed table dance,” Willow snarked, then softened her tone, “but I understand, you feel like Angel has taken over your life, your body… and you want it back. I get it. SOOO let’s see if Robin is ready for you, maybe he can work a little magic…”

~*~*~*~

Willow groaned in annoyance as the sound of her cell phone woke her from her massage-induced nap. The room was dark, lit only by a single fragrant candle; she pulled the spa robe around her and fumbled through the pocket for her phone.

“Hello?”

“Hey beautiful, whatcha doin?”

“Hey Oz,” she said with a slow smile. “I was napping. What are you doin?”

“We broke for lunch, so I thought I would call and see what my favorite red head was up to.”

“Aw soo sweet. So how are rehearsals going?”

“Great, I think we are about ready. Spike wants to work up a couple more songs… but the way things are gelling right now, I have every reason to believe that we will blow right through that too. How is your rehearsal going?”

“Well…over all it was fine. We broke for three hours to give Buffy some time to rest. I called in a favor so we are at the spa for a massage and a soak.”

“That bad, huh?”

“It wasn’t pretty… she is a lot more beat up than she let on, hopefully our spa break will help, but she mostly just needs time to heal…”

“And she isn’t willing to take the time?”

“No, she thinks if she is able to do this, then she can take some control back. No… that isn’t right. She knows that she doesn’t have to do this to prove anything to anyone… but it is almost…”

“A catharsis?”

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?” he snickered.

“Know what I am going to say before I say it? You’re freakin me out… I’m always the smart insightful one… it’s like…”

“I’m your other half?”

She sat in stunned silence for several seconds.

“Willow?”

“Yeah, I’m here… completely freaked out now… I’m gonna go. Talk to you later.” She spoke quietly then switched off the phone without waiting for his response. She tossed it into her spa bag and sunk into an over-stuffed chair. Letting out a heavy breath she closed her eyes and tried to relax. She was in uncharted territory with Oz, and it was scaring the crap out of her. She had dated plenty, but with school and work, it was little more than that- dating. She had, in the past, little time for or interest in a serious relationship. She had been focused first on school, then on her computer consulting business. Call it timing or just lack of the spark… but no one had ever really captured her attention for very long. In that regard her and Buffy couldn’t be more alike, although Buffy had her beat on the sex drought… still neither had been ready or willing to engage in much more than causal dating and for her part- recreational sex.

Buffy had been shocked when she first admitted to her indulgence in sexcapades… well as shocked as one could be after knowing Anya for more than a day, but sufficiently surprised. She was no mistress of pain, but she had occasionally enjoyed meaningless sex. But this with Oz was different. The whole finishing the thoughts thing- had given her major wiggins, and being a lover of logic and reason, she was frustrated that she couldn’t quite define what was happening.

What is the deal? So he finished a couple of thoughts… it isn’t the end of the world… it’s not like it really means anything… does it?

She mulled that thought over for awhile. In all honesty things had been so crazy since they returned from their ‘meet the parents’ trip that she hadn’t given what was going on with her and Oz much thought. And as she thought about it now, she realized that fact had as much to with how comfortable she was with him as it did with the Angel/Buffy mess. There were no alarm bells sounding, no run for cover signals.

Until now. Is that what this is? A warning?

She thought on that for several minutes before deciding no- that wasn’t what this was. Sure she was slightly freaked out. But she had experienced the ‘run for your life alarm’ many times before and this was definitely not it… this was subtle. It was comforting. This isn’t a warning… it feels like… knowing.

That was it… Tara had tried to explain it… but she didn’t get it. It was disconcerting in its unfamiliarity but at the same time it was liberating. This was it. He was the one… at least the one for her now. Acknowledging it warmed her from the inside out. And all at once she was certain that she couldn’t possibly draw another breath until she saw him again.

~*~*~*~

Xander rolled over and hit the snooze bar on the blaring clock. He slowly pried his eyes open as he became aware he was being watched and the watchee was snickering quietly as he struggled to wake up.

He finally managed to open one eye and focus it on the brunette now bouncing on her knees impatiently at the end of the bed.

“Come on… wake up all ready!” Faith whined uncharacteristically.

He grunted in response, pulling the covers back over his head.

“Xander, the day is almost gone, wake up,” she whined again as she pulled against the covers in vain. She decided to switch tactics when she saw his foot sticking out from underneath the comforter. She licked her fingertip then drug it slowly across the bottom of his foot, barely touching it. Then jumped back when the sensation had its intended effect.

Xander yelped as he jumped straight up and out of bed.

“Not fair… saucy wench!” He yelled so loud the windows rattled.

Faith was now unable to speak as she crumpled to the floor in a fit of laughter that left her both breathless and teary-eyed.

It took her several tries to compose herself as Xander hopped around the room on one foot trying to reach the bathroom. Grumbling to himself the entire time.

When she finally could speak without laughing she yelled after him.

“It’s not my fault you have a weird foot thing… I tried to wake you nicely and you wouldn’t get up.”

Xander opened the door to the bathroom and stepped out with one arm behind his back. She stood straight, on guard for any attempts at retaliation.

He walked toward her slowly and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into a kiss. One hand slipped under the fabric of her shirt and gently traced the bones of her spine.

He pulled away from her, and a slow smile spread over his face. She stood gazing at him breathless from the kiss, when he finally spoke-

“That’s okay babe… we’re even now.”

It was then the distinct, very strong odor of Vick’s Vapor Rub assaulted her nose and she realized that her tank was now stuck to her back in a slimy way.

“You are so gonna pay for that!” she muttered as she turned on her heel. She stripped off her clothes, heading straight for the shower.

“Sure I will… and I can’t think of anything more fun,” Xander laughed to himself as he hurried to the bathroom to join her.

~*~*~*~

Jonathan fiddled with some equipment as the other members of the band drifted in and out of the back room. He had returned from a long lunch with Dawn, worried his band mates would be pissed at his late return, only to find the club empty. He was relieved that his absence had gone unnoticed. He had always ‘flown under the radar’ where his private life was concerned. Not that he had ever had one worth discussing… but now he did… sort of and while part of him wanted to talk to the guys about it… get some advice… part of him didn’t want the harassment that would inevitably accompany said advice.

Dating in any form was completely foreign to him. It wasn’t so much the dating part that unnerved him. Dawn seemed to be in the same league as himself. They were happy taking things slow, going to movies, walking around the mall or casinos, just being together holding hands. It was her family that had him in knots. Her brothers specifically. At Christmas they had a first been very protective of her… exhibited the typical alpha male behaviors… sent the ‘you will pay if you touch our sister’ message loud and clear. But since then they had treated him differently… barely throwing a look a him when he would arrive to pick Dawn up. He got the feeling that they had decided he was a non-threat. Like he wasn’t really a man there to date their little sister… they almost treated him like he was another one of her girlfriends. And that thought disturbed him. That wasn’t the image he wanted to project, and his biggest fear was that was how Dawn saw him too. It was worrying him to the point that he was seriously considering talking to the guys about re-working his ‘image’ or at least his clothes and hair.

“Hey Jon, where’s Oz and Mike?” Spike asked as he sat on the edge of the stage.

“Oz said he was making a call… I think he is in the dressing room and Mike was around but I thought I heard Anya come in… so my best guess is that he and Anya are in some semi-public place doing non-PG things to each other.”

“You would loose if you were betting on that,” Oz said as he walked into the room, “He and Anya were in the back a minute ago. They were on their way upstairs to ride the roller coaster.”

“That’s a switch…” Spike muttered leaving the innuendo hanging.

“I was thinking I would go track down Willow at the spa. Do you want to go? I have it from a reliable source that Buffy is with her.”

Spike thought on that for a minute. Jonathan looked down at his feet trying to summon the courage to ask Spike to stay behind.

“I was hoping I could get your help with something,” Jonathan spoke quietly casting a quick look at Spike before turning his attention back to the amplifier he had been toying with.

“Nah, you go ahead… I am going to hang with Jon. We’ll catch up with you later.”

“Alright, see you both later.” Oz nodded at them as he exited the club.

Jonathan looked up at Spike, noticeably uncomfortable.

“Are you gonna let me in on the what or am I supposed to suss it out on my own,” Spike spoke with a smirk on his face.

Jonathan drew a long breath.

“Man, I need a look.” His expression was a combination of serious determination mixed with not a small amount of fear and dread.

Spike let out a soft chuckle.

“Well you’ve come to the right man for the job.”

Author’s notes: As always, a big THANK YOU to my fantabulous beta- Lady Anne, who is extraordinarily busy but still takes time to make this thing readable! MUAH! Big sloppy Spike kisses to you!