A/N : I must be crazy starting this fic now, that’ll be three WIPs all at once again! This fic is way different for me since it’s the first time that I remember ever trying to write Spuffyness in Season 2! Wish me luck, gang, cos I think I’m gonna need it...
 

Title : Beautiful Stranger

Rating : PG-13

Main Pairing : Buffy/Spike

Other Pairings : Willow/Oz, Xander/Cordelia, Spike/Drusilla

Summary : AU Season 2. Spike is so captivated by the latest Slayer he forgets his plans to test her. Buffy finds herself drawn to the new guy she sees at the Bronze who introduces himself as simply William.

Disclaimer : All characters and storylines that are recognisable belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy - I own nothing of interest to anybody! I also do not own the song Beautiful Stranger by Madonna, the lyrics of which I am using as chapter headings.
 

Chapter 1 - Some Kind of Beautiful Stranger

Spike walked into the Bronze, one singular thing on his mind, and that was the Slayer. He strode like the predator he was, the black leather of his coat billowing behind him despite the lack of breeze inside the building, the bright blue of his eyes so icy and cold like the demons heart should be, but what he did was for Drusilla, his precious black princess. Love for her was what spurred him on to nastier depths of evil, her adoration made him the demon that he was, but things were going to change so much, no man, no demon, could have predicted the situation this vampire would get himself into tonight.

He spotted her, the little blonde girl, a red-head girl to her right and a dark haired boy to her left, as she swung her hips and gyrated her body to the racket that was the latest popular music. Spike stopped walking for a second as his eyes fixed on his target, his prey. She was short for a Slayer, not much in the way of muscles on her, or so it appeared, but then this vampire knew better than to be fooled by an appearance of weakness. His own dark goddess, Dru, could easily look fragile and frail to a passer-by until she unleashed that demon of hers, then how the people would scream. But Drusilla did not feature in Spike’s mind right now, only one thing did and that was the girl that seemed to dance only for him, despite the fact she was as yet, unaware of his presence.

Spike hadn’t realised how long he’d been watching the girl until the song ended, the same one that had started just as he’d entered the club. He had meant to cause a stir outside, of the vampire-attacking-a-girl type scenario, but his plans had been quashed the moment he’d set eyes on his target. She was supposed to rush outside, fight the idiot vamp who’d taken Spike’s instructions, so that the bleached blond could see how well this Summers bird fought. He needed to know. On Saturday, the Night Of St Vigeous, it was his task to kill her.

She had captivated him, utterly and completely, and he found himself rooted to the spot, his eyes fixed solely on her and her every alluring feature. And then without warning she was walking towards him, brushing her body against his as she slid past him towards the bar a few feet away.

"Soda, please" he heard her say to the barman and she soon had a glass in her hand. Why she held his attention like this he honestly couldn’t say, some of it now was shock he was sure. The fact she’d drawn him in so much so that he’d abandoned his plan had him even more hooked on her than he had been just a moment ago.

"Hi" a voice pierced his thoughts and it was only as he blinked and turned that he realised the sound came from her lips, the Slayer herself.

Buffy was dancing to the rhythm of the music. The feeling in the club was electric, so many young people, so much life and soul. The Bronze held the future of Sunnydale, all the boys and girls that would become the men and women that would shape the town... if they made it through the night. There was a darker side to the town that Buffy and her friends knew only too well, but tonight, for a few moments anyway, it had been forgotten, as had school and the weasel of a principal and all other things that made teenagers sick with dread, fear, worry or hate. Tonight Buffy thought of herself not as the Slayer, but as an ordinary girl, a mistake she would possibly soon regret.

The song was almost over and Buffy wasn’t wholly sorry, she was getting a little thirsty now. It was then that Willow tapped her on the shoulder and moved to whisper in her friends ear.

"That guy over there is watching you" she giggled to her friend who looked over Willow’s shoulder and caught the eye of possibly the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen, with the exception of Angel, of course, she chided herself.

"He might be looking at you" Buffy shrugged, knowing damn well the bleached blond was indeed watching her and not her shy red-haired friend.

"Who’s watching who?" Xander watched to know as he heard a little of the girls conversation.

"That guy" Buffy tilted her head slightly towards the beautiful specimen in question, trying not to make it too obvious, "Willow says he’s watching me"

The song ended and Xander looked suspiciously at the man near to the bar. Checking out the Buffster was simply not allowed! Not on Xander’s watch. Unless it was the young Mr Harris himself who was looking, or Angel because who in their right mind would want to hurt the feelings of a brutal killer? Or past killer anyway.

"I’m gonna go get a soda" Buffy smiled at Willow as she sashayed up the bar, deliberately walking by the blond who’d been watching her, brushing the side of her body against the front of his as she went. She could feel his eyes burning into her back and Buffy had to admit she liked the attention. She thought briefly of Angel, and how she probably shouldn’t be thinking about other guys when she had him, but he wasn’t around much lately and when he was all she got from him was demon-related info and maybe a kiss before he disappeared again.

"Hi" the sound of her own voice surprised her as she realised what she was doing, standing in front of this complete stranger smiling at him and batting her eyelashes.

"Hello, pet" he replied with a tilt of his head, eyes roaming her body and liking what he saw even better at close range.

"I don’t normally just walk up to guys and start talking" she giggled slightly, "I just thought, y’know you looked kinda lonely..." Buffy trailed off finding his intense gaze took her breath away, and why was she suddenly feeling as ditzy as Harmony Kendall?

"I just arrived in town last night" he told her, and it was the truth, though he doubted much else that he said to her would be. It’d be easy enough to charm her it seemed, she was daft enough not to have noticed he was too pale to be alive, and she hadn’t honed her senses enough to tell he had the demon in him. There was no reason why he couldn’t use her apparent attraction against her, might even be fun.

"Yo Buff" the strange looking lad from earlier called as he appeared behind the Slayer, "Whatcha doin?"

"Talking" she said, giving him a look that meant he should leave quickly. He chose to ignore that.

"Who’s your friend?" he asked, attempting to out-stare the bleached blond and failing badly. Buffy rolled her eyes at the childish behaviour.

"This is..." she stopped when she realised they hadn’t even got as far as names yet. She looked expectantly at her ‘new friend’ assuming he’d fill the gap in her sentence.

"William" he said evenly, without a moments hesitation, "My name is William"

"Exactly, this is William" Buffy smiled, "And this is Xander, and I’m Buffy, good now we know everybody’s name, maybe Xander should go" she said pointedly, making Spike smirk. He liked this girl already, she had something and not just because she was the Slayer either. It was shame he’d have to play her and eventually kill her really.

"See, Willow’s all alone" she gestured, making Xander look, "You should go tell her thanks but I don’t need anymore homework help right now"

"Why don’t you tell her...?" the boy asked, until he was given a ‘go or die’ look from Buffy. Knowing she could easily pummel him if she so wished it, he left, but not without shooting Spike a nasty look first.

"God, embarrassing much?" the blonde sighed, "You think I’m a loser now, right?"

"On the contrary, luv" Spike told her with a sexy smile, "I like a woman who knows what she wants, and won’t take crap from any bugger that tries to tell her what’s what"

Buffy was reeling from the fact he’d called her a woman. He was older than her, she could tell, definitely not a High School kid. That was exactly what she was and yet he thought she was a woman. It gave her warm glow inside, especially the way he looked at her when he said it.

"So, you’re new around here" she smiled.

"Yeah" Spike nodded, "Born in England but I’ve travelled all over since then. Like to keep moving, not one for settling down"

"Oh" Buffy made a little disappointed sound, "So, you won’t be around here long?" she checked.

"Not sure, pet" ‘William’ shook his head, "See how things go. What about you then?" he asked, turning the conversation around, needing to dig up some info on this girl if he was going to bring her down, "You got family, apart from protective big brother over there?" he gestured towards Xander and Buffy laughed

"Xander is not my brother" she explained, "Just an over-protective friend. I really only have my Mom family-wise. My father wasn’t the staying type"

"Been there, done that" William sighed, "My Dad was the same"

They shared a smile then, a moment of understanding and a weird sort of comfort.

From across the room Xander was not smiling, just glaring.

"Look at him" he sneered, "Who does he think he is? Stupid Billy Idol wannabe"

"Xander, breathe" Willow told him a she watched her friend and the new guy sit down on two stools by the counter, chatting animatedly about heaven only knew what.

"But it’s so wrong!" the brunette protested, gesturing emphatically, "Did she forget she’s dating Angel? She’s cheating on Angel!"

"They’re just talking" Willow pointed out, "That’s not big on the cheating scale, and besides you don’t even like Angel" she reminded her friend.

"That is not the issue here, Will" Xander protested, "And besides, if she’s going to dump Angel and date someone new, shouldn’t it be someone she already knows, someone she’s already comfortable around? She did the handsome stranger thing already!"

Willow sighed and watched the bubbles floating around in her soda, as Xander continued to ramble about the badness of Buffy and her new ‘friend’. It didn’t seem to matter that she was there, she was practically invisible when the Slayer was within lusting distance. She didn’t blame Buffy, not really, it wasn’t her fault she was attractive to just about every guy they knew, from Xander to Angel to any random and currently nameless bleached blond guys in the Bronze.

"Xander?" she tried to interrupt, but even when he ceased talking his eyes were still fixed on the two blondes, "I think I’m gonna take off all my clothes and run naked across the stage for a while, okay?"

"Sure, Will" Xander nodded absently, not having heard a word, "You have fun"

With a heavy sigh, Willow hopped down from her stool, gathered up her books and headed for the exit. She checked and made sure her cross was in easy reaching distance along with a bottle of holy water. A girl shouldn’t be out late at night in Sunnydale without protection. Looking in her bag instead of where she was going, Willow suddenly found herself crashing into someone coming the other way. She was almost knocked off her feet and definitely would’ve fallen down if the stranger she’d ploughed into hadn’t got a hold of her and made sure she stayed up.

"You okay?" the mystery guy asked and Willow nodded dumbly.

"Er, yeah" she said eventually, "I’m... okay" she managed a smile and was about to try introducing herself when someone yelled behind her and took the young man’s attention.

"Yo Oz, over here!" Willow heard someone say and with one final smile he was gone. She turned to watch him walk away, feeling sort of strange, but in a nice way. They way he’d smiled at her and checked that she was alright, it was just so... nice.

"Willow?" said a voice behind her and the red-head spun around so fast she almost fell down again. When Angel reached out to hold her steady she found there was no special little feeling that went along with the gratitude. Apparently that only happened when it was the stranger who was known to his friends as Oz.

"Angel, were you looking for Buffy?" she asked nervously as she remembered her friend was with another guy right now.

"Of course" the vampire smiled, "Why else would I be here?"

Willow laughed in an over the top manner, panicking that a fight would break out if Angel saw Buffy with another man, not that they were doing anything more than talking, at least not last time she looked.

"...because obviously I know not all the English people in America have to be related and the chances of you and Giles having a connection is like zero or possibly less but... but I’ve turned into rambley girl and you hate me now right?" Buffy couldn’t believe how idiotic she must sound, but for some reason this man made her a little nervous. He was just so hot, and he wanted to talk to her, wanted to get to know her, it was all kind of weird, but in the totally nice way.

"Sorry, pet, what did you say?" William asked as he looked back at the Slayer.

His attention had been caught by a familiar feeling, one that meant someone he knew only too well had just entered the club, his grand-sire, Angelus. They used to get on, way back in the day, but Angelus was too fond of screwing up Spike’s plans and he’d rather not have his cover blown by the evil git right now.

"You hate me now, right?" Buffy repeated, looking worried, "No guy wants to date chatty-girl"

"Nonsense, luv" William told her kindly, "I could listen to you talk all night, honestly" he lied, having heard only a few words here and there for the past half hour, "I just ought to be going is all" he said, getting up from his stool.

Buffy sighed heavily, believing this was it. William was going to leave and probably never come back, she’d blown it.

"You come here a lot?" he asked her and the Slayer wasn’t certain whether it was best to say yes or no. Hanging out at the Bronze was considered something cool to do by many people, but if she hung there too often would that make her pathetic, because she had nothing better to do?

"Er, I’m here sometimes" she settled on eventually, "Why?"

"Hopefully I’ll see you here ‘sometime’ then" he smirked before walking away, black leather duster sweeping out behind him.

"I hope so" Buffy smiled to herself as she watched him go.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 2 - Haven’t You Heard?

"So that’s when he said he likes a woman who knows what she wants" Buffy told Willow animatedly as they worked on painting the banners for Parent-Teacher night, "I mean he actually said I was a woman, not some school girl like Angel thinks I am"

"Buffy" her friend sighed, "Not to be a bad friend here but you did this part three times already"

"Oh, you noticed that too?" Xander asked pointedly, rolling his eyes as he handed another pot of paint over to the girls.

"I’m sorry" Buffy apologised looking pained, "Am I repeato girl? I don’t mean to be, it’s just... well, you guys know how I was about Angel, but the whole dark stranger thing is getting a little... dark and strange" she told them, "And almost boring in fact, I mean all he ever does is swoop in with bad news, maybe a kiss, and then swoop out again"

"But aren’t you two kind of big with the love?" Willow asked, making a face when the paint brush shifted awkwardly in her hand and she veered off the line she was painting.

"I dunno" Buffy admitted, "I really like him, and I did think it was a love thing but... shouldn’t I miss him when he’s not around?" she asked, "I mean, I did before but I went away for the Summer and I totally missed you guys and even Giles a little but Angel barely featured"

"Maybe it’s cos of the whole sunlight allergy issue" Xander suggested, deliberately cryptic when Principal Snyder came into view, "Cos y’know there’s a whole bunch of funny, attractive, generally great guys that are big fans of the daylight" he grinned, hoping she’d understand he included himself in that. Apparently, she either didn’t notice, or she didn’t care.

"Miss Summers!" the little mans voice boomed as he scuttled towards them.

"Principal Snyder, hi" Buffy smiled overly-much, hoping to look innocent. Somehow he found her to be guilty of something even when she actually hadn’t done anything!

"Why are these people helping you? Where is Sheila?" he demanded to know, referencing Buffy’s currently MIA organisation partner for Parent-Teacher night. Today was the day and there was still a ton of stuff to do and yet the girl hadn’t shown up like she promised she would.

"Oh, we’re not helping her" Willow shook her head vehemently, trying to put her paintbrush down without looking too obvious about it, "We’re just... hindering really" she said nervously, nudging Xander who hastily put down the pot of paint and agreed with her.

"Oh, totally, big with the hinderage, yeah"

Snyder was clearly not convinced, especially when Buffy floundered over an excuse for where Sheila might be. Suddenly the other girl appeared looking more than a little worse for wear.

"Sheila, hey" Buffy forced a grin as she practically bounded towards the girl, "Y’know you did so much work already last night, staying late and all so we could go out, I mean go and get all our homework done on time" Buffy lied like a pro, "You should really go and get some sleep so you’re all rested for tonight" she smiled, turning the rough girl towards the door.

Snyder looked at Willow and Xander who smiled nervously and was about to yell at them for something when there was a crash in a nearby classroom.

"I’m not through with you yet" he warned pointing at the pair as he scurried off to see what the disturbance was.

Buffy came back in just as Giles and Ms Calendar approached from the opposite direction, having a discussion that bordered on an argument. There was something about books and computers and possibly television before they actually seemed to realise the kids were there and spoke to them.

"Ah Buffy" Giles smiled, "I was just coming to find you"
"Well, now you found me" she commented, resuming her banner painting with Willow and Xander’s help, "What’s the sitch, Giles?"

"The, er, sitch, as you put it" her Watcher explained, "Is that I seem to have muddled some dates and we may have a problem"
"Geez, you’re not pregnant are you, Giles?" Xander sniggered, as Willow tried not to giggle too.

"This is no time for ridiculous attempts at humour, Xander" the librarian told him sternly, "This is a matter of great importance"

"What Rupert is trying to say, and getting very British about it" Jenny said, giving him a look before she continued, "Is that tonight is the night of St Vigeous, the patron saint of vampires"
"Wow, there really is one of those patron saints for everything" Willow realised, her eyes going a little wide.

"Indeed" Giles nodded, polishing his glasses furiously, "Buffy, tonight could be an absolute disaster if you are not prepared for it. St Vigeous was a vicious creature that led a crusade of vampires. They swept through Edessa, Harran, and points east... and they didn't leave much behind" he explained, "On the feast night of St Vigeous, vampires are rumoured to have enhanced strength and power, even if it is not entirely true they believe it and have even less fear of those that would stand against them"

"So basically vampires getting extra killy-without-a-care tonight, right?" Xander guessed, breaking Giles whole speech down into it’s most basic terms as usual.

"Yes, I suppose you could put it like that" Giles agreed, "and because of this it will mean your patrol should be most thorough tonight Buffy, and I suggest an extra training session before you go out..."

"Giles you know that I can’t" Buffy shook her head as she interrupted him, "Commandant Snyder’s got me doing this Parent-Teacher thing, if I don’t do a good job I get kicked out!" she reminded him, not looking at all happy. Her mother would kill her if she got expelled from two schools in as many years.

"Buffy, whilst I understand your concerns about school, we’re talking about peoples lives here" Giles implored her, "Think about what you’re saying. Which is the most important?"

"The most important thing is not letting my Mom realise I’m flunking half my classes and that I’m this close to getting kicked out again" she demonstrated with her thumb and index finger a tiny distance apart. She sighed slamming down a mostly empty paint pot and pushing her hair out of her face, "Okay, I can finish this banner, go to my next class, train in my free period after lunch..." she planned it all out in her head and then looked at her friends, "Little help and I think I can cram it all in?"

"We’ll help" Willow nodded encouragingly.

"We’re all over the helpage" Xander agreed, looking up from what he was doing with paint smear on his nose that he clearly didn’t know was there. The girls laughed as he made a face and wondered what was funny.

"Miss Edith speaks out of turn, she is a bad example and will have no cakes today" Drusilla scolded her dolly, turning it to face the wall, "No peeking at Daddy either"

"It’s a doll, Dru" Spike sighed from his place lying on the bed, "Back to front, upside down, or the right soddin’ way round it can’t see a bloody thing"

"My Spike is angry" his lover realised, turning to look at him as he smoked his cigarette and stared at the ceiling, "Doesn’t he want to play with Princess?" she asked suggestively as she came towards him, "Play a pretty game with me, Spike?"

"Leave off, Dru" he shrugged away from her as her fingers trailed along his arm, "Just not in the mood okay" he told her, clambering off the bed.

Something disturbing was happening to Spike and he wasn’t sure whether he liked it or not. The Slayer, that’s what this was about, he knew that much. Ever since he’d spotted her yesterday, dancing like she wanted his attention, like she knew someone was watching. Maybe she’d figured out his game-plan, knew he was coming or something, sensed what he was and was playing him just as he was playing her. Spike had been over just about every possible option of why the Slayer filled his thoughts as she was doing and had done the whole day, even when he was close to Dru, the love of his unlife.

"Princess isn’t loved anymore" she moaned, putting her hands to her head and moaning like a wounded animal of some kind. Spike felt bad then.

"Baby, I’m sorry" he apologised, going over to her and putting his arms around her waist from behind, "Daddy’s a bad, rude man" he said, kissing her neck, "Didn’t mean to upset you"

"The Slayer fills your head, Sweet William" she smiled, turning in his arms and running her fingers through his hair.

Spike frowned a little at her words. Drusilla was always the intuitive sort but it was as if she’d read his mind just then, and the fact she’d just called him William hadn’t escaped his notice either. It was years since she’d done that, he was always Spike these days.

"I don’t want the Slayer, Dru" he told her firmly, "Why would I want that silly chit, when I’ve got my black goddess right here" he smiled, kissing her deeply.

"You are my sweet" she giggled against his mouth, "My little Spike... but there’s no time for games now" she said, pulling back out of his embrace and putting a finger to his lips, "Got to go and talk to the others, work before play" she said with a nod, "The boy doesn’t trust you"

Spike sighed, knowing she was right. The Anointed One had his reservations, he could tell, and they were only set to get worse. The plan had changed, the Slayer was not going to die tonight, the night of St Vigeous. Spike told himself it was because he wanted to play with her first, make her suffer more, make it a really good kill. Deep inside he wondered if it wasn’t just because she was too pretty to be dead so fast, or too attractive for him to let her be another body, another trophy. He shook his head clear of such thoughts as he went to find the Anointed as his cronies.

"Spike, are you prepared for tonight’s kill?" the boy asked as the bleached blond came into view.

"Yeah, about that" Spike replied as he came to stand before the Anointed, "New plan - we don’t kill the Slayer tonight" he said smoothly.

"Are you insane!" one of the flunkies asked incredulously.

"Probably" Spike muttered to himself, not really sure why he was doing what he was doing but he was going to carry on with this plan nevertheless, "Tonight is St Vigeous’ night, and you know damn well the Slayer is gonna know about it. That’s what bloody Watchers are for" he explained, "Of all nights she’s gonna be extra prepared tonight. Better to catch her sleepin’ on a less obvious night than go rampaging in with her all ready for a crusade!" he yelled, getting very big with the gestures to make his point.

"Your plan is interesting" Collin nodded, "but you were so sure you could kill her before"

"I could kill her tonight, any night, any day if I caught her in the shade!" he yelled, "But I’m tryin’ to save you from losing all your best lackeys here to an overly prepared Vampire Slayer!"

"I see your point" the Anointed One agreed, "but this is just an extension to our earlier agreement. If I keep my people from going behind your back you will kill the Slayer"

"I don’t go back on my word" Spike assured him, "All I’m sayin’ is, keepin’ your lot away from the girl tonight counts as part of the whole ‘not going behind my back’ part of the deal, right?"

"Agreed" Collin nodded, "Tonight’s attack... is cancelled"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 3 -You’re Everywhere I Go

"Okay, you guys are gonna finish the food, I have a clear hour to sweep the nearest cemeteries before I need to be back here to get changed for the arrival of parents" Buffy rambled off in one breath.

"I don’t see why we’re doing all this for you" Cordelia complained, "I mean hello, not into the whole manual labour deal"

"C’mon Cordy, you can’t expect to be a part of the Scoobies without being inconvenienced once in a while" Xander told her.

"Oh yeah, cos knowing I’m part of your lame little circle really thrills me" she snapped back. Willow rolled her eyes, already bored of the two of them fighting. If she didn’t know Xand as well as she did, she’d say they fought way too much for the venom to be genuine, they must secretly be in love or something.

"Okay, this is me leaving" Buffy said as she gathered up her stake and headed out.

"Do be careful, Buffy" Giles warned her, "Remember it is the night of St Vigeous and..."

"And the vamps are rampagey with a side of blood-lust, easy on the fear" she finished for him "I know, and I’ll be careful" she assured him as she left.

The Slayer headed for the nearest cemetery, and sighed as she passed through the gates. Another night amongst tomb stones and mausoleums didn’t exactly thrill her, but this hour would be better than the ones that followed. Trying to keep her Mom and Principal Snyder away from each other was going to be so much harder than staking the undead. That she could do standing on her head, though she’d never tried it in a literal sense. If her mother found out that her grades weren’t so much improving, and that she regularly skipped class things could get ugly!

"Speaking of ugly" she said to herself as a vamp emergency from the darkness and came at her. Picturing the Principals face in place of the demon she found fighting and killing it so much easier, and even a little fun, but as soon as the fight was over she was back to being bored and worrisome about Parent-Teacher Night.

Spike was painfully bored. He needed a good kill to make himself feel better he thought and had headed out to find himself a victim. Despite the Night of St Vigeous’ power, Drusilla was having a bad time of it. She refused to eat anyone he brought for her and spent much of her time with her dolls, playing Mummy. In all honesty, Spike didn’t mind so much. He found he could bare of lack of interest in him very easily of late and that just made him worry.

Ever since he met the damn Slayer she clouded his mind. Dru was picking up on it, he knew she was, and he hated to think he was hurting his darkest princess, but he couldn’t help it.

"Buffy bleedin’ Summers" he seethed, kicking out at an old grave stone which crumbled to rubble from just one strike, "Invading my soddin’ mind" he continued as he stormed through the graveyard. Of course he had to have thoughts about her, plans to kill her and such, but this was different. She was a factor in every thing he thought of, everything he did. It was like she’d put a spell on him or something, though he couldn’t image how she’d managed it. He doubted she even knew who he really was. It was unlikely he’d be anything more than dust in the wind by now if she did.

Suddenly Spike sensed something, the intoxicating aroma of teenage girl hit his nose and he grinned evilly. This was what he’d been looking for he realised, walking a little faster in the direction of the one that would be his victim. He stopped sharply when he realised his mistake. The scent was stronger but something was different. This was no ordinary girl, this was a Slayer, this was...

"Buffy" he said aloud as he realised she was not three feet away and looking right at him.

"William?" she checked, frowning a little, "Hey, I... I didn’t expect to see you here"

"Me either, pet" he replied smoothly as he stepped closer to her, "What’s a pretty young thing like you doin’ out this late?"

"I needed some air" she shrugged, like it was the most natural thing in the world, "And y’know I’m not so young" she said not so subtly.

"Come now, luv" Spike smirked, "Can’t be more than...what? Eighteen?"

"Kinda" she said with a nervous smile, "Eighteen minus a year" she admitted quietly, "and a half"

Spike was a little surprised by that. The last Slayer he’d killed had been twenty four when he’d taken her life, and the one before that had managed a fairly respectable nineteen. Here was Buffy Summers, latest Chosen One in the line, and set to lose her life at sweet sixteen, but why should he care about that? Spike thought to himself, telling himself the thought was not at all disturbing. She’d probably taste a lot sweeter being all untouched as she doubtless was.

"Sweet sixteen and never been kissed, eh?" he smirked, and Buffy coloured visibly despite the darkness surrounding them.

"Not really" she laughed lightly, "I mean I’ve kissed hundreds of guys... not that I just go randomly kissing guys I mean I’m not like that, I just..." she mentally cursed herself for her insane rambling and tried to be calm. She wasn’t normally like this, all big with the talkage and making a fool of herself, but this guy, he had such an effect on her.

"Reckon I know what you mean, luv" William told her kindly and she smiled, loving that he seemed to want to make her feel better and less embarrassed.

"So, how about you?" she asked shyly, as they walked together, "I mean, you’re older than me and I guess you’ve had a lot of girlfriends"

"Not as many as you’d think" he said cryptically, "but yeah, I’m a little older than you" he smirked at how naive she really was. He was a hundred years old dead and then some by the time she was even born! Though of course he looked the same as he had on the day of his turning at the tender age of twenty-five, and clearly Buffy’s Slayer senses were not a good as they might of been. She went on his looks alone to determined his age, not realising as she should’ve that he was a demon. That made her profoundly stupid, in a big way, Spike realised, but the innocence of this girl would almost be touching if he were the ordinary young human she mistook him for.

"...wish I could stay but I have to be somewhere" he tuned back in to catch the end of Buffy’s next rambled sentence, "It’s pretty late"

"That it is, pet" William agreed, glancing up at the near-full moon. It’d be quite the romantic setting if their situation were real, but he was playing a game and didn’t care for her as he pretended to, he reminded himself. She on the other hand felt a true attraction to him, not only could he smell it he could see it in her eyes as she gazed up at him.

"Maybe I’ll see you around?" she tried, hoping he’d agree, her heart-rate getting faster as he stepped in closer to her.

"Count on it, luv" he said softly near her ear, before turning to leave, disappearing into the darkness before Buffy could say another word.

The smile on the Slayer’s face was huge as she went back into the school building. Spike liked the fact he’d put that grin there, and not just because it meant she was falling for his plan. She was prettier when she was smiling, and he didn’t mind too much that he’d noticed that. She was physically attractive, and though he was a demon he was a man too. He’d have to be blind as well as stupid to not know she was sexy, what bothered him was why he was standing out here spying on her, instead of taking advantage of the Night of St Vigeous, busting in there and ripping her throat out. He could’ve taken her in the grave yard. She’d have let him kiss her without a thought and by the time she realised what he really was it might’ve been too late, his fangs could’ve been in her throat, her life’s blood rushing into his mouth until she went limp in his arms - dead.

These thoughts brought Spike some pleasure, all the way up to the part where Buffy died. That he did not like, though he wasn’t sure he knew why. The thought of her being gone from the world, though he’d only known she was in it these past few days, turned his stomach, though that might’ve been lack of blood, Spike told himself. He hadn’t had his meal yet tonight, but again the Slayer had attracted his attention.

As he watched her disappear into Sunnydale High he moved from his hiding place with plans to go and find the food he craved, but something else made him stop and wait. He sensed vampires, others of his kind and many of them close by. He crossed behind the trees and around the back of the building, just in time to see the Anointed’s best lackeys smashing in through a large window.

"Oh bloody hell" Spike muttered as he heard the yelling inside the building, the vampires threatening the Slayer and her getting everyone else to run so that she could fight. In two minds the bleached blond didn’t knew whether to go bursting in there shouting the odds, thus blowing his cover on the long-term plan front, or just to stay put, be an observer in what might well be a Slayer death.

Neither option was appealing, and Spike felt like screaming in frustration til he sensed another vampire, a different and stronger presence that meant only one person - Angelus.

"So that’s what this is all about" Spike sneered in the dark, "Mighty Angelus fancies a crack at the bird"

He was seriously considering storming over there to see what the hell was going on, but not only would that screw up his plan should Buffy survive, but he’d go back home with the scent of his grand-sire hanging round him and Dru would go nuts for the presence of her dearest Daddy. Spike couldn’t bear that.

"What’s this then?" he said to himself as a boy came into view, chatting away with Angelus. The same brunette boy that Buffy had been with at the Bronze the other night. The more he concentrated the more he realised the scent was wrong. Something was up with Angelus, it was as if... like he was a good guy or something. The thought made Spike feel sick but he stayed put and continue to watch and wait. He could get some useful info tonight, and with a bit of luck he’d get a chance to use it. Buffy was not going to die, he believed that, he had to. Somehow he couldn’t bear to entertain the thought that she would.

It had taken two hours for Buffy to get the situation under control. With the parents and teachers locked away in safety, and the Scoobies scattered, Xander was sent to fetch Angel, whilst Buffy battled the swarm of hyped-up vamps that fancied tonight was a good time for an attack.

Just one man had died in the incident, dragged out through a window that Snyder had convinced him to open and ripped apart by the hungry demons that waited on the other side. Buffy was only glad her Mom had got out okay and without suspecting the truth about her, that she was the Slayer. When the police arrived they passed the whole event of as gang related violence, a bunch of older teens on PCP. Joyce had even complimented Buffy on her bravery and fight-skills.

One further good thing to come out of the attack was that Snyder never actually got a chance to chat to her mother, for that Buffy would be eternally grateful. Her mind switched back to William as she reached home with her Mom. He’d been nearby when the attack began, she only hoped he hadn’t got caught in the cross-fire.

As she got into bed and settled down beneath the covers she pictured the scene from earlier, the two of them alone in the graveyard, she frowned when she realised he’d given no reason for being there. Your average person did not go strolling in the moonlit cemetery, but then this was Sunnydale and some people were eccentric about religion and death. She hadn’t given a real reason either, and for that she felt a little bad. She was already lying to this guy she liked, something that she hadn’t had to do so much with Angel, given his vampire status.

Comparing her ex-almost-boyfriend with her possible future boyfriend seemed strange and a little unfair on the both of them, but Buffy couldn’t help herself. As gorgeous as Angel was, and he really was, he was still a vampire, and as such totally out of bounds for the Slayer. Besides the whole dark stranger full of cryptic messages was getting a little old. William was even more gorgeous and, okay, so he had several years on Buffy, but not half so many as Angel had!

She smiled as she thought of William and their conversation tonight. When he leaned in to whisper in her ear she had vaguely wondered if he might kiss her, and though she appreciated the fact he didn’t take advantage of the situation - a seemingly poor defenseless girl alone in the dark - she was kind of disappointed too. She mentally kicked herself for thinking such things. She’d only know this man five minutes and already she wished he’d kiss her! Well, it wasn’t as if there was any harm in thinking and wishing and dreaming, she sighed as she closed her eyes, William’s face the last thing she saw in her mind, as she let sleep claim her.

"What the bleedin’ hell is wrong with you bloody people!" Spike yelled as he smashed into the factory in full vamp face, looking excessively pissed off, "We made a deal, the Slayer was mine for the killing, what the soddin’ hell did you think you were doing sending your flunkies in there when my back was turned you little git!"

"You will be humble in the presence of the Anointed!" the ring-leader of the attack told him as he strode into his path.

"Sod off!" Spike snapped, throwing the other vampire aside like a rag doll, "You, you told me..."

"Really Spike" the Anointed interrupted, completely unphased by the angry vampire who was pointing and yelling at him, "You should know better than to make such deals. We’re vampires, we do as we please. If you were as smart as you said you were, you would not have fallen for something so simple"

Despite his rising anger, Spike managed to look calm and force down his demon visage, til he looked human once again.

"You’re right" he sighed, smacking the ring-leader vamp in the face without even turning, as he came at him from behind , "S’pose I should’ve known better" he shrugged, "And hey, so long as the Slayer got seriously dead, no harm done. Well, not to us anyway, right?"

"The Slayer lives" a second flunky admitted and Spike looked shocked, despite the fact he knew she had not been killed.

"The Slayer lives" he echoed, "What’s up with you lot then, going soft? Or did you just not have your Wheaties this morning?" he smirked, not the least bothered as several vampires growled at him.

"You are outnumbered, Spike" Colin pointed out, "and already we’ve established not smart enough to take us on"

"Yeah" the bleached blond nodded, still out staring the vamp behind the boy before his attention switched, "Y’know it’s pointless, you and me fighting over the bloody Slayer. Just have to see what happens, who gets her first. May the best vamp win, yeah?" he said, offering his hand for the Anointed One to shake.

Colin looked at him with distrust for a moment and then reached to take the offered hand. In one swift movement, Spike pulled the kid from his seat and threw him across the room towards a cage. Another vamp came at him, but Spike easily knocked him away as he threw the Anointed into the cage and shut the door, pulling on the chain that raised it into the air.

"You bloody nancys go behind my back again" he yelled as the cage reached the roof, "You’re gonna soddin’ regret it!" he told them with a wicked smile as he hoisted the cage a little further and the early morning sun’s rays hit the screaming Anointed One, turning him to ash that floated to the floor.

"Now, maybe you’ll all pay attention when I tell you, the Slayer is off limits" he said, turning to the assembled group of vamps that were all looking a little worried now, "I’m in charge now, and you will learn to do as I say. Everybody clear?" he didn’t wait for answer just assumed they understood, "Good. Now, let’s see what’s on the telly"

To Be Continued...

Chapter 4 - I Looked Into Your Eyes

"Okay, just repeat that part for me so I have it clear in my head" Xander said too loudly as he walked through the museum with Buffy and Willow.

"I have an exchange student coming to stay with me" the blonde repeated slowly, as if Xander were even more stupid that he actually was, "Just like a whole bunch of other people, Xand, it is not the big deal you are making it"

"But this exchange student is a guy" the brunette reminded, "It is not safe for you to have a guy in your house, in your room even, it’s just wrong" he protested, "Back me up here Will" he said, glancing at the red-head who squirmed uncomfortably.

"I...well, I think it’s okay" she admitted, "I mean, if he gets fresh or anything it’s not like Buffy can’t stop him, what with being the Slayer and all" she whispered the last part so her fellow students wouldn’t here, "and I think it’s cool to learn about new cultures and stuff"

"That’s what the museum is for!" Xander argued, "Safe learning, without the risk of man handleage!"

"Yeah, safe" Buffy sighed, "For us maybe, not for her" she said sadly as she looked down into a casket where a Mummy of a young Incan princess was laid out on display.

As a museum worker explained the legend of the princess and her sacrifice, Buffy got the weirdest feeling like she was being watched. She glanced around at the other students only to be accused of not listening to the mini-lecture being aimed at her class. She couldn’t see anyone obviously looking her way but the feeling like someone was staring at her just wouldn’t go away.

Spike smirked to himself as he watched the Slayer from across the museum. He’d come through the tunnels and up through a vent in the basement to keep an eye on the girl, find out what was going on with her. Of course he could’ve sent one of his newly acquired minions to keep tabs, but despite his threats he wasn’t entirely certain he could trust them yet. Besides he found he quite liked stalking Buffy Summers himself, took the fun out when you delegated such tasks.

He ducked back behind the pillar when she turned around. Maybe the girl wasn’t as daft as he’d first thought if she could sense him watching her, though that didn’t mean she knew it was a vamp that had her in his sights. She turned back soon enough, pouting as the teacher accused her of not paying proper attention.

A couple of minutes later the group dispersed and Spike dodged away so he wouldn’t be spotted.

"Well, I still don’t like it" Xander said firmly as they passed by, "I mean, it’s bad enough he’s a guy, but a South American guy? You just know he’s gonna get all accenty and smooth on you"

"Please, Xander, would you let it go" Buffy sighed, "Geez, you just know he wouldn’t be making such a big deal if my exchangeable friend was a girl" she said to Willow who replied too softly for Spike to hear as the kids walked away.

So the Slayer had a bloke coming to stay with her. That could be useful information, her bleached blond stalker noted, though he couldn’t explain why the idea annoyed him so much. Some kid from God knows where putting the moves on Buffy shouldn’t mean much to him. So long as he got to kill her in the end, it shouldn’t make a difference. What bothered Spike was that it did mean something to him that another man would be getting close to the Slayer, a man that wasn’t him.

"So, Ampata, you’re a guy" Xander said, a little hostility in his tone.

"Yes, for many years now" the Peruvian boy replied nervously, "You were not expecting me to be so?"

"Sure we were" Buffy assured him as the gang sat down at the counter in her kitchen and she pulled cartons of both milk and juice from the refrigerator, "Xander’s just all state-the-obvious boy today"

Ampata wasn’t really sure what to make of Buffy’s friends, and he was sure the smile Xander gave him was far less than genuine. Still the girl who’s house he would be sharing was beautiful and he’d be glad to get her know her better in more ways the one. The way he stared at her seemed to escape Buffy’s notice, but Willow saw it and mentioned it to her friend an hour later when she and Xander left the house.

"I think Ampata has a little crush already" she whispered on the doorstep, checking said boy wasn’t coming down the stairs from the bathroom yet, "Be careful, Buffy"

"Relax, Will, it’s probably nothing" the Slayer told her, "and like we said before, if he tries anything I can more than take care of myself"

Willow nodded and smiled, though she still didn’t like the idea of Buffy being left alone in the house with this boy that none of them knew too well yet. Joyce was at the gallery working late and wouldn’t be back for at least another hour, but like Buffy had said, it wasn’t like she couldn’t take care of herself if trouble arose.

As the Slayer said goodbye and closed the front door on her friends, she turned and found Ampata right behind her.

"Oh, you startled me" she told him, her hand going to her chest.

"I am sorry" Ampata smiled, "It was not my intention... I just was thinking, perhaps we might be going to bed now"

"What!" Buffy squeaked, wondering if Willow had been right about this guy after all.

"I am very tired" Ampata explained, "It was a long trip on the bus to here and I would like to sleep now for many hours"

"Oh, go to bed, to sleep" Buffy said in realisation, feeling so stupid for thinking anything else, "Of course, you go on up" she encouraged him, "I just, I have a couple of things to do first, homework and... stuff" she said vaguely as he nodded and turned towards the stairs.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief when Ampata was out of sight and hurried through to the kitchen where she pulled on her jacket, checked her stake was still in her pocket and then crept out of the back door. She had to patrol and she couldn’t let Ampata know about it. Her identify as the Slayer was forced to remain a secret for the most part, however difficult that made things.

She was crossing through her second cemetery of the night, deep in thought when she felt a presence behind her. Turning fast, stake raised in preparation to stake the fiend that would attempt to tackle her, Buffy was stunned to find Angel there. He grabbed her wrist just in time before the wooden object in her hand reached his chest.

"Angel, God I’m sorry" the blonde gasped as she pulled her wrist free and put her stake back in her jacket, "Guess I’m a little jumpy tonight"

"Well, it’s good to know your reflexes won’t let you down" he smirked, "I’ve been kinda worried about you" he admitted, "It’s been a couple of weeks since we really talked and days since that attack at the school..."

"Yeah, I guess it has been a while" Buffy considered, though really until it had been pointed out to her she’d barely noticed a lack of souled vampire in her life. The man that had filled her head more than most had been William - now him she was missing, despite the fact she barely knew the guy.

"...something about an exchange program, right?" Buffy only caught the end of Angel’s sentence as she zoned back in from thoughts of the bleached blond she’d met two weeks ago.

"Oh yeah, exchange program" she nodded, "I have a guy from Peru staying with me, and other kids have folks from all over. There’s gonna be a dance at the Bronze on Friday night, celebration of different cultures and stuff. Might be fun if I can convince Giles to let me go" the Slayer sighed, "He goes into Watcher over-drive when I mention that I’d like to skip patrol for one night"

"If it’d help I could take your patrol on the night of the dance" Angel offered, "It’s not like I’ll have anything else to do" he smiled sadly, but Buffy barely noticed.

"You’re serious? You’d patrol for me?" she asked, bouncing a little like the excited teen she was behind all the Chosen One duties.

"Of course" Angel nodded, "Anything for you" he said softly, hand going to her cheek, but Buffy shied away.

"Angel" she sighed, "I... I don’t think we... I mean, I..." she stumbled over what she meant to say as she glanced up into his eyes. He was first to break the awkward silence.

"I had a reason for finding you tonight" he admitted, attitude suddenly changing, going a little cold as he sensed her apparent indifference, "Something happened at the museum today, some bad power. There are rumours about the Incan mummy, something not good"

"I’ll have Giles look into it" Buffy nodded, feeling overly awkward by now, "I should really get done with my patrolling and get home" she laughed nervously as she backed up a couple of steps, "Y’know I don’t want Ampata getting suspicious or anything"

"Right" Angel frowned slightly as Buffy moved away from his too quickly, "I guess I’ll see you?"

"Yeah, sure" the Slayer smiled fakely as she disappeared into the dark.

She let out a breath when she was sure he couldn’t see or hear her anymore. Angel was great, completely gorgeous, and really kinda sweet, but the fact that he was a vampire was never going to go away and was always going to make their situation difficult.

Since the Summer break, Buffy had started to realise it didn’t matter so much that she and Angel could never have a long term relationship. She was sixteen after all, and it wasn’t as if she was in love with Angel. She liked him a whole lot and yeah, for a while there she’d thought there might be more to it than that, but it seemed there wasn’t. If nothing else had proved it the fact his fingers on her skin made little difference to her and yet the way William looked at her made her whole being vibrate told Buffy a little something about her real feelings for Angel. She was attracted to the mystery and his looks, but it was little more than that. Maybe what she felt for William would run deeper. If only she got the chance to spend more time with him she might be able to find out for sure.

"There’s my boy" Drusilla crooned as Spike came into their bedroom, "but my boy is mine no more" she moaned, her outstretched hand retracting and hiding her face from her lover.

"What are going on about Dru?" Spike frowned as he climbed onto the bed beside her, "You know you’re my princess, my goddess, my only" he promised her, pulling her hand away from her face and kissing her fingers, before his lips moved up the length of her arm. He reached her shoulder and then leaned in to kiss her lips, but she shied away.

"Poor William, so confused" she said sadly, holding his face in her hands, "All green about the gills and gasping" Drusilla continued her fingers sliding from Spike’s cheeks to his throat, gripping his neck as if she might throttle him.

"You having one of your bad nights, pet?" Spike asked, almost nervously. When she looked at him like this he felt as if she could see right into his soul, metaphorically speaking of course. It never really bothered him too much before but now, he was having feelings where the Slayer was concerned that he couldn’t quite fathom himself, and really did not want Drusilla to figure out for him.

"The night is bad" she nodded slowly, "A bad influence on it’s nymphs and fairies who want to dance beneath the stars" she whispered, a sly smile appearing on her face as her hands slid down across his chest and then lower, "Want to dance, sweet William?" she asked him, making her intentions very clear.

Spike wasn’t so stupid as to turn her down, he wanted her so badly it hurt and it was rare for her to feel strong enough to want to be with him this way lately. Besides, he hoped he might clear his head of all things Slayer related with a few hours of shagging with his sire. He didn’t know it yet, but that particular hope would prove fruitless.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 5 - My Heart Was Dancing All Over The Place

"I’m afraid I’m no further forward on that Incan Mummy issue you spoke to me about the other day, Buffy" Giles told her as she and Willow sat down at the table in the library, "Was Angel absolutely certain something was amiss?"

"He never said anything about mist" Buffy frowned, "Just about darkness and the Mummy at the museum"

Giles rolled his eyes at her ignorance of proper English as he disappeared into his office still reading the book in his hand.

"So, you and Angel" Willow asked with a giggly smile, "Are things happening again?"

"Not so much" Buffy admitted, shrugging her shoulders, "I mean he’s totally gorgeous obviously but, he’s a vampire and I’m a Slayer and... y’know even if that wasn’t true, he’d still be older than me and I really don’t see him unless he’s giving me cryptic clues about the latest Sunnydale bad guy" she complained, "Seems he’s even losing his touch with that"

"Well, it’s not like he’s the only guy in the world" Willow pointed out, sounding almost jealous as she sighed, "You’ve got quite the fan club these days"

"Fan club?" Buffy frowned not getting it.

"Xander, and Ampata" the red-head said as if it should’ve been obvious, "They spend all their time staring and sometimes there’s drool"

Buffy smiled slightly at that.

"They’re just boys Will, and it’s all just physical, y’know" she assured her friend, "Okay so Xand’s a great friend, but he doesn’t care about me any more than he cares about you, he just enjoys good stare like every other caveman-esque sixteen year old boy in this school" she explained, "As for Ampata, I’m the person he knows best in a foreign country and not to be all yay me but I’m not exactly the most disfigured person ever, so he thinks he likes me. Doesn’t mean much, they’re just boys"

"Boys as opposed to men?" Willow guessed and a slow smile spread over her friends lips as she glanced down at the table and then back up.

"I guess I was thinking about William again" she admitted, "God Will, it’s insane, I only saw him twice but I can’t get him out of my head"

"He is kind of a hottie" the red-head agreed with a smile, "Y’know if you like that bad boy rockstar look"

"It’s not just about him being gorgeous" Buffy assured her, "Although obviously he is. It’s like, when I’m around him I just can’t think straight. He can make me feel all this amazing stuff just by looking at me and, oh God on Parent-Teacher night when I met him in the graveyard, I so thought he was going to kiss me, I almost passed out my heart was pounding so fast" she smiled.

"Wow" was all Willow could say. Xander always gave her the good feelings when he looked at her a certain way or when he put his arm around her sometimes, but she’d never got all these intense emotions that William seemed to be able to evoke in Buffy, and with just a look too.

As the bell rang for next period the girls got up and headed towards the door, stopping to yell to Giles they were going.

"Er, Buffy" he came out of the small room to call behind her, "You will be stopping off here to train before you go on patrol tonight, yes?"

"Nooo" she drew out the answer that should have been obvious to him and rolled her eyes for good measure, "It’s the dance tonight, remember? The one I’m actually allowed to go to because Angel said he’d take patrol for me?"

"Ah yes, of course" her Watcher nodded, "How stupid of me not to remember that frivolity and dressing up in ridiculous costumes is much more important than your calling"

"Goodbye, Giles" Buffy said, rolling her eyes a second time as she and Willow left the library, the doors swinging back and forth in their wake, "I love Giles, I do, but my God could the guy be anymore tightly wound" the Slayer said to her friend as they moved down the corridor.

Willow opened her mouth to answer only to have Cordelia speak instead as she saw her two ‘friends’ coming in her direction.

"Okay so do one of you wanna tell me when we took a trip into Biazrro World!" she snapped.

"Er, Cordy, you wanna explain that sentence?" Buffy prompted her.

"Hello, my exchange student" the cheerleader snapped as if it were obvious, "It was bad enough that I got some bimbo instead of the hunk I ordered" she ranted, referring to the handsome Sven’s sister who had made the trip to Cali in his place due to his recent bought of illness, "but now she’s trying to take over my title of QueenC and she’s going to the dance tonight as Devon’s date! He was so supposed to be taking me!" she complained loudly.

"Um, if your social standing is in dire peril, Cordy" Buffy frowned, "Wouldn’t talking to us just make it worse?"

"Oh God!" the brunette gasped, realising the truth in that statement and storming away down the corridor as fast as her Prada pumps would allow.

"Sounds like Cassie’s making quite the impression" Buffy smirked as she and Willow walked further down to the classroom where they were supposed to be, "And not all good"

"Cordelia could use being brought down a couple of notches" the red-head said firmly and Buffy’s eyes went a little wide.

"Wow, you really don’t like her" she smiled, "That’s maybe the closest to a mean thing I’ve ever heard you say about anybody ever"

Willow only half heard her as a familiar boy passed by them going in the opposite direction down the corridor. It was the guy from the Bronze who she’d quite literally bumped into last week, the one who was in Devon’s band. They’d called him Oz, she remembered, right before he spotted her and smiled, making every rational thought leave her head in an instant.

"Oh" she made a little startled sound as Buffy got hold of her arm and pulled her into the classroom.

"Geez Will, what stole your attention?" the blonde asked her as they took their seats, "I’ve never known you loiter in classroom doorways, you’re always so eager to get with the learnin’"

"Oh, it was nothing" Willow shrugged, "Just... nothing" she smiled.

As much as she loved Buffy and she really did, they were best friends after all, she didn’t want to mention this guy she liked yet, after all Buffy would be all ‘seize the day’ about it, and Willow wasn’t much of a seizer. She much preferred to daydream about the mysterious Oz, hoping just maybe, one day, he would do more than simply smile when he saw her.

Spike woke up with a start, sitting up in the bed, shaking as a result of the dream he’d just had that could only be described as the most erotic nightmare ever. One minute it was him and Dru, all passionate and fiery sex, not so far from what they’d actually been doing a few hours ago, but then it all changed. When Spike looked down he found it was Buffy who lie beneath him, screaming his name, begging him to take her, and to love her always.

The worst part of all was that he’d done just as she asked, not just used her for a shag, but really made love to her, and said the words she so wanted to hear. In the dream it was bliss just to be together, and if he thought of it Spike could still feel those emotions from the subconscious adventure he and the Slayer had shared.

He shook from fear as well as the way she’d made him feel. Of course he rationalised that he’d been thinking about her a lot and images and things just got jumbled in his mind whilst he slept, but surely even in fantasy he shouldn’t be professing love for the enemy!

Spike glanced down at Dru, still sleeping beside him. He loved her, his black goddess who had delivered him from mediocrity. She was the face of his salvation, his very reason for being, she meant everything, he told himself, though a little nagging voice deep within his mind asked ‘What about the Slayer?’ and called upon the dream images and feelings that should be so disgusting to the bleached blond vamp.

Closing his eyes tight shut, Spike attempted to push it all away but found it impossible. That made him angry, beyond furious. How dare the Slayer invade his mind, soddin’ Buffy Summers with her shampoo commercial hair, her bright eyes, her sweet voice... damn her, she’d bewitched him. As much as Spike hated it, he knew he was developing feelings for the girl, feelings that could only get stronger given time.

"So, I won’t give them time" he said to himself as he pushed the covers aside and swung his legs out of the bed, "Bitch dies tonight"

Something wasn’t right, and Angel knew it. It was more than just Buffy too, though her cold behaviour towards him wasn’t helping matters. The souled vamp was fairly certain he’d fallen for the young Slayer the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. Of course he knew that was insane, she was only fifteen years old at the time, and he was over two hundred. Even using his human years for a calculation he still came out at twelve years her senior, but there was just something about her. For a while he’d thought she felt it too, and no matter how wrong it was they’d spent time together, a couple of dates, some serious kissing, but now everything was different.

Things weren’t right with Buffy when she returned after her Summer in LA. Everyone blamed her dealings with the Master and brief dance with death for her wild, bitchy, and out of character behaviour, but even when she’d calmed down some and seemed more herself she still had little time for Angel.

It was as if a switch had got flipped somewhere and she no longer wanted to be close to him. Of course he should’ve expected it, she was a sixteen year old girl after all. Consistency isn’t high up there on teenagers lists of priorities. They can change crushes more often than some people change their socks, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

Angel was seriously wondering who Buffy may now be persuing and how he might be able to rationalise killing him, when he felt something. A familiar sensation, a vampire he knew, had a connection with. He vaguely thought of two of those he had a hand in making, whom he would never see again, not that he was sorry. He’d got word that his once-precious childe Drusilla, and her lover Spike, had died in Prague at the hands of an angry mob. He had always warned William the Bloody about his wild behaviour and how he would be taught a lesson by a Slayer or an angry crowd, seems the latter had won this time.

Pushing thoughts of his childe and grandchilde aside, Angel was almost glad of the diversion of a couple of vamps that were up for a fight.

"Angelus" one roared, "The once mighty warrior, reduced to the Slayer’s sidekick" it grinned evilly.

"How many more times?" the souled vamp sighed, "It’s not Angelus anymore, it’s Angel" he said, looking bored as the enemy advanced. Seconds later the very same vamp was dust at his feet and Angel put his game face on as he fought the other. Unlife wasn’t all bad.

"Hey Buff" Willow smiled when she spotted her friend at the Bronze, "You look so great" she gushed as Buffy looked down at her own attire and smiled.

"It’s not bad, is it?" she admitted, "Mom’s pretty good with a sewing machine, although I still think I look like I should be on top of a cake somewhere" she rolled her eyes. She was dressed up more or less like a Spanish doll, since it had a South American connection for Ampata, and was at least a little flattering.

"You look great too" she told her friend, but whilst the Eskimo costume was authentic, Buffy wished her friend would have gone for something at least a little sexy. There was a good looking girl in there somewhere she was sure, and if Willow would just let herself be noticed for once, she might actually get somewhere with the guys.

"Buffy, my princess" Ampata smiled as he returned from the boys bathroom, "We shall dance, yes?" he said, offering her his arm.

"I guess we shall" she smiled back, promising Will she wouldn’t leave her alone for long as she disappeared into the crowd of teens on the dancefloor.

Willow turned herself around to see if she cold spot Xander amongst the crowds. It wasn’t easy spotting anyone in her thick fur hood and her best friend didn’t appear to be anywhere in view. She sighed as she turned herself back to the stage, where Dingoes Ate My Baby were playing. Devon seemed to be singing for one girl alone as she stood by the stage gazing up at him. It was Cassie, the girl Cordelia had got for an exchange student and was so not happy about. If Cassie and Devon were over there, that begged the question, where was Cordelia hiding?

"Well, if it isn’t Miss Cordelia Chase" said Xander as he appeared beside her. She was way over the back of the club, looking very much as if she was hiding from the rest of the world. That was strange in itself since Cordy always preferred to be centre of attention.

"Go away, Xander" she snapped, "Stupid moron"

"Moron?" the boy echoed, frowning some as he looked at her, "Okay, that’s lame even for you. What’s up, Cor?"

"Stupid exchango slut that I got landed with!" she complained overly-loudly, "It’s like she thinks she can just take over and be Little Miss Popular. I am so the rich bitch around here, how dare she!" she yelled, picking up her drink from the bar and swallowing it in one, before asking for another.

Seemed to Xander nobody drank fruit punch like that, and it was likely Miss Chase was ordering alcohol, he had to admit she did look old enough.

"Cordy, drunkenness is so not the way to go" he told her, wondering why he even cared if she gave herself alcohol poisoning, although she was kind of an honorary Scooby these days, maybe that was why it bothered him.

"What would you know, loser!" she snapped, seeing Devon finish his song and lean over the edge of the stage to kiss Cassie.

"See, I know more than you think" Xander told her, "I’ve known you since kindergarten, Cordy, and you never let anyone take your title so easy, and hey, you’ll always be number one bitch to me" he smirked.

"Really?" she asked looking stupidly moved by what ought to have been an insult, "You mean that?" she said, slurring slightly as her hand went to his cheek.

"Er, yeah, sure" Xander laughed nervously, wondering just how drunk she really was, and what she might be capable of in this state.

"You’re right, y’know" she said firmly, giving the back of Cassie’s head a stern look, "I’m not gonna hide in a corner getting drunk over some Scandanavian whore and a loser who cannot even sing!"

"That’s the spirit" Xander told her, not expecting what she did next as she grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the dancefloor. Seemed he’d been chosen as the slightly inebriated Miss Chase’s dance partner, and whilst usually he’d have run and hid if someone even suggested such a thing, he did kinda feel bad for her tonight. Besides he was a sixteen year old boy and she was dressed as a hula dancer - you do the math.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 6 - You Could Be Good For Me

"Oh my God" Buffy gasped as she looked over Ampata’s shoulder at another dancing couple, "Xander and Cordelia, together?" she said in disbelief and her dancing partner craned his neck to see.

"They are not usually getting along so well?" he guessed and Buffy shook her head as she stared dumbly at the pair, "You are perhaps jealous?" he said next, completely snapping the Slayer out of her daze.

"Jealous?" she laughed, "Of Xander and Cordy? Oh Ampata, you have no idea" she giggled, "Xander’s a great friend and all but that is all we are, just good friends. I would never think of him that way" she explained.

"Oh" Ampata smiled brightly, "This is good thing for me" he said, his hands sliding down her body to her ass. Buffy was seconds away from kicking him into next week when a hand landed on her shoulder and she was spun out of Ampata’s arms into someone elses.

"Mind if I cut in?" a smooth English accent asked both herself and the boy she’d previously been dancing with. He didn’t wait for an answer as he moved Buffy off across the floor, putting a great deal of distance between them and the South American who looked less than thrilled.

"William" Buffy smiled as he danced her round the floor, "I didn’t... You were kind of the last person I expected to see here" she admitted.

"That a complaint, luv?" Spike asked her as the music changed to a slower song and their bodies moved in time to the softer rhythm, close together.

"No, no, really not, never a complaint" Buffy denied it hotly, "I’m just surprised, I guess, but in the good way" she assured him, smiling and blushing at the same time as they continued to dance.

Spike hated himself for what he was doing, behaving like a lovesick teen. He told himself he was acting, just playing the part of a young man with an interest in this girl so he could gain her trust a little bit, making it easier to kill her. In reality he knew he was developing feelings for her, indeed it was why he’d come here tonight. He figured the sooner he finished her off the better, before he found himself in too deep and unable to end her days. He’d been all fired up for a good kill til the moment he’d walked into the Bronze and saw her in the arms of that unworthy exchange kid. God she was beautiful in that dress and when that git started pawing her, Spike couldn’t take anymore. He had to swoop in and save her, despite the fact he knew she could hold her own if things turned nasty.

As torturous as it was, a part of him wanted her to be grateful to him, wanted her to look up at him with those big innocent eyes, adoring him like some kind of hero. Nobody ever did that before, only Dru on very rare occasions, and even then he knew she’d never love him quite as much as her precious Daddy, Angelus. Buffy felt something for him though, something more deep and meaningful than she should after just two short meetings, and yet he could see in her eyes how real it was, as well as smell the attraction flowing off her as they danced.

Spike closed his eyes as she leaned closer and put her head on his shoulder, the sweet scent of her shampoo assaulting his senses. He had to kill her, and it had to be tonight, or he’d never be able to do it... but there was time for just one more dance first.

"Er, Cor?" Xander said awkwardly tapping the girl in his arms on the shoulder. She was leaning against him, her head on his shoulder as they swayed gently to the music that flowed from the speakers. Dingoes had finished their set and the owner of the club and put on some slow songs for the kids to smooch to, only smooching was the last thing on Xander’s mind.

"Sometimes I hate my life" the usually perky but bitchy cheerleader complained, "I mean, I don’t really have friends, y’know?" Cordelia said, picking her head up off Xander’s shoulder and looking at him.

"Sure you do" he told her, "I mean, you have... well there’s... and then of course there’s..." he was drawing blanks all over, knowing that really what Cordy said was true.

She had no real true friends, not like he did. No matter what happened he knew Willow and Buffy would be there for him and vice versa. Cordelia’s so-called friends either wanted to be her, or hung around with her because she held a certain kind of status. As soon as someone they considered more worthy came along, QueenC was reduced to dance partner of the class clown!

"Will you be my friend Xander?" Cordy asked him desperately, clearly she’d gotten more drunk before than even he had realised, "You’re the only one left that likes me"

Xander considered what she was saying, looking at her sad face with tears building in her eyes. He didn’t have it in him to tell her even he didn’t like her.

"Sure thing, Cordy" he told her, holding her close, "You and me, friends forever, okay?"

"Thank you" she said softly, as they continued to dance.

"Uh, hi" a voice said behind Willow. The hood of her Eskimo costume meant that turning her head didn’t help her see who was standing behind her and she turned herself all the way around at least twice before she was able to realise it was Oz. The spinning coupled with the surprise of him actually speaking to her made her very dizzy and she stumbled a little as she looked at him. His hands on her arms steadied her, but her head was still spinning, her heart going into overdrive when he smiled.

"I’m sorry" he said, "I didn’t mean to make you spin so much" he joked.

"Oh, that’s okay" Willow blushed, just because he was standing there in front of her, hands still on her arms for a second before he seemed to realise it and took them away, "I... I liked your music" she said glancing at him as he smiled once again.

"That’s great" he nodded, "I mean, we’re not that good but... thanks" he said, clearly almost as nervous as she was, "Oh, I’m Oz by the way" he introduced himself.

"I know" Willow nodded, "I’m Willow" she gave her own name and he smiled.

"I like that" the guitarist told her, "It’s pretty"

By this time Willow was sure her face was the same colour as her hair, and the heat she felt all over wasn’t due to her costume alone. This was what Buffy had been talking about before, the chest-thumping, palm-sweating, incredibly-overwhelming feelings that come from standing a few inches from a guy you really liked. Oz was the one for her, she knew it all ready, and if her view across the dancefloor was anything like accurate, it seemed the mysterious William was the one for Buffy too.

Another song ended and still Buffy didn’t offer to move from William’s arms. She’d never felt so comfortable and yet over-whelmed at the same time. It was wonderful feeling to be held in the strong arms of this man she’d been dreaming of, and yet she knew nothing concrete about him.

"So, how come you came here tonight?" she asked finally lifting her head from his shoulder and looking up into his face, "I mean, I’m really glad you’re here" she admitted with a shy smile, "but it’s kind of a High School thing and you’re too old for school, right?"

"You’re not wrong, pet" Spike told her honestly, he was of course physically several years too old for High School, and over a century too dead, "I’ll admit the biggest draw to this place was the hope I’d see your pretty face" he smiled, "You look bloody gorgeous in the outfit"

Buffy smiled and ducked her head, finding it odd that this guy could make her feel so strangely shy and bashful when usually she was so strong and in control. Still, it thrilled her that William seemed to like her as much as she liked him, least she hoped that was why he was here.

"So, you came here just cos you hoped you’d see me?" she dared to ask, though she kept her eyes trained on the floor. His fingers slid beneath her chin and tipped her head up til she was looking at him again.

"What other reason would I need but you, luv?" he said softly, "Did say I’d see you here sometime, didn’t I?"

"You did" Buffy nodded, feeling almost faint from the anticipation as his lips seemed to get closer and closer to her own, "I just didn’t think... I..." her sentence became disjointed but not just because of the fact she thought William might be about to kiss her. Suddenly over his shoulder she saw something was wrong, a girl she didn’t know physically dragging her date behind a curtain, her arms looking strange and shrivelled...

"Oh God" she gasped out loud, pulling out of William’s embrace.

Spike was startled by her sudden movements and followed the direction of her eyes. Of course by the time he looked there was nothing to see.

"I’m sorry" Buffy apologised, "I, I really have to go" she told him, hurrying away as fast as her awkward shoes and dress would allow. Now she knew what had happened with the Incan Mummy. Somehow it had broken free and walked amongst them, doing God only knows what to the people it encountered!

Buffy cursed internally as she rushed after the pair she’d seen disappear behind the curtain. She so wanted William to kiss her and he was barely two seconds away from doing just that when her duty as the Slayer had forced her to make a speedy retreat.

"Stupid calling" she muttered as she came face to face with the Incan Mummy, literally kissing the life out of her date, "Oh no way!" the Slayer snapped, "I miss my kissage just so you can get yours? No way, Missy, no way in hell!" she said firmly as she knocked the Mummy flying. This bitch was going down.

One Day Later...

Spike was annoyed, more than annoyed he was positively fuming, and the nearby gravestones and statues in the graveyard were taking the full force of his aggression as he raved.

"Stupid bitch!" he yelled, smashing another lump of granite against the side of a mausoleum and watching in crumble into a pile of useless stones. He’d been so close and yet so far last night to ending the life of the Slayer. He could’ve kissed her, got her trusting him and wanting him til she would happily have headed outside or into a dark corner. Before she or anyone else knew what was happening he could’ve drained her drier than the Sahara, maybe even got himself a decent shag on the way along. That might have made him feel better on it’s own but as it was he was terribly frustrated and wishing he had something to kill right now. Some stupid Incan Mummy had spoilt his fun, so he found out later. That was what the Slayer had run off for, to be a good little girl and deal with the baddie. She had no idea she’d been dancing with someone much worse.

"Soon she’ll know" Spike sneered, "Soon she’ll die, and then I’ll be free of her" he said into the darkness. In the meantime he’d released some tension that had built up during the daylight hours, and he was off to find himself a meal, possibly something to take home to Drusilla too. He needed to get back in her good books, she wouldn’t come near him today, just moaned and groaned and said the smell of the Slayer that hung on him was making her feel ill.

If he could find a decent girl to take home to his sire that might placate her, Spike thought, he might even stand a chance of getting his leg over, and he was sure that’d improve his mood, even if he would be seeing the Slayer in is mind as he made love with Dru.

"Perfect" Spike grinned, game face coming out as he sensed a presence and then smelt the sweet intoxicating fear of a terrified young girl. Following the scent he caught up with her fast enough and intercepted a couple of robed young boys who would take his meal away from him. They soon backed off when he bared his fangs.

None of them noticed the panicked girl’s bracelet drop to the ground.

Buffy frowned as she leant down and picked up the bracelet.

"There’s blood on it" Angel told her, appearing behind her all of a sudden and making her jump, "I can smell it" he verified when she gave him a puzzled look.

"Right" Buffy nodded once, "Sometimes I forget all the bonus extras that come with being a creature of the night"

"A creature?" Angel echoed, looking a little hurt but she didn’t seem to notice as she studied the bracelet in her hand.

"It’s pretty thin, probably belonged to a girl" she considered, "E, N, T" she read from the side, "Might mean something. I should probably take this to Giles"

She turned to walk away then but Angel gave chase.

"Hey" he called after her, "I thought... I kinda wanted to talk to you"

"Oh sure" Buffy smiled at him, "How was last nights patrol?" she checked, presuming that was what he’d want to tell her about. Her head was so full of William and the almost-kiss they’d had, it really didn’t occur to her to address the feelings she and Angel used to share.

"Patrol was fine. Quiet" Angel told her, "I was actually hoping we could... well, do you want to get coffee sometime?" he asked and Buffy gave him a long puzzled look before shaking her head.

"Angel, what are you doing?" she asked with a sigh.

"Er, asking you for coffee?" he repeated, wondering what she was driving at. She soon made it clear, and mostly Angel wished he’d never asked.

"I’m sixteen, Angel, and I’m the Slayer" she reminded him, "You’re a two hundred and something year old vampire. We can’t just go on a date or whatever"

Angel almost laughed then, though the situation was far from funny. He knew what she said was true, he also knew he should be the one being a grown up and saying it to her, but something had changed. His feelings for Buffy Summers now apparently meant little or nothing and her once strong attraction to him seemed to have fizzled out completely.

"You don’t want me around, say the word Buffy, I’ll go" he said, looking pained, "Wouldn’t want to get in your way"

"You’re not" the blonde sighed, "Angel, you’re a good guy, I know that" she told him, putting her hand on his arm, "but there can’t be anything between us. I thought once that maybe there could but, I don’t feel that way about you"

It was like a knife in Angel’s heart to hear that, despite the fact he knew it was probably for the best that they didn’t get romantically involved. He hated to think there might be another man she liked better, maybe Xander, or that exchange kid that had been hanging around before. He didn’t get a chance to ask, as Buffy said she was sorry but she had to go and walked away at some considerable speed.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 7 - I Had A Taste For Danger

"What am I doing here?" Buffy asked herself as she stared into a glass of something alcoholic, knowing she was an idiot if she drank it.

It was Giles fault she was here, him and possibly Angel, and maybe even William. They were all to blame in some small part for her idiocy she was sure. They were her reasons for standing here in her little black dress, watching as supposedly mature college boys got drunk, pulled pranks on each other, and took full advantage of any female flesh on display.

Cordelia was one of the girls with whom a certain boy was getting a little touchy-feely, but she didn’t seem to be protesting much as she leant on him heavily. Maybe she was drunk, Buffy didn’t care either way, she was just happy for Cordy to have left Xander alone because the idea of those two together was overly disturbing. The only person who was possibly more freaked out than the Slayer by the situation was poor Xander himself.

Buffy sighed. He was just about the only guy not driving her crazy lately. Giles had done nothing but complain about her lack of dedication to her job, despite the fact she had tried to explain she never chose the occupation and it wasn’t as if she even got paid or anything. The only way she was ever going to get a break was if she died and that wasn’t exactly a fun way to earn a vacation.

Then there was Angel. Since running in to him a few nights ago and explaining she no longer felt anything stronger than friendship towards him, the souled vampire had apparently disappeared. She could have used his help tonight, covering patrol whilst she partied, if one could call what she was doing partying. As it was the cemetaries were not exactly safe tonight as neither the Slayer or any other being was out there to check for evil.

The final issue Buffy was having was with a man she hardly knew at all, and yet had such deep feelings for it almost scared her. William, some British bleached blond bad-ass looking guy who had been nothing but sweet and complimentary and charming on all three occasions he’d been around Buffy. The Slayer herself was very impressed by the man she knew so little about, and found herself dreaming about him both night and day. It was insane, she knew that, but there was just something about him. when he looked at her she got these unidentifiably wondrous feelings inside, and they’d only intensified when they danced together at they Bronze last week.

Buffy had been so sure he was going to kiss her and yet her duty had gotten in the way... again! Her destiny as the Vampire Slayer had forced her to walk away from him and fight Sunnydale’s latest supernatural villain. When she’d returned to the dance later, William was long gone and she hadn’t seen him since. Each day and night that passed without a glimpse of him only made her bad mood worse and with Angel’s hissy fit and Giles’ complaining thrown in, Buffy was in the mood for a little rebellion.

When Cordy had asked her to attend a frat party with her, she’d barely hesitated, deciding it was time she had a little fun. She’d left Xander and Willow helping Giles research the bracelet she’d found and the possible linked disappearance of young girls in Sunnydale and the surrounding area. They could deal without her and fill her in later tonight - no big.

"Buffy, hey" Tom smiled as he came over to her. He was a sweet guy, or so he seemed, but Buffy really wasn’t interested, still it seemed he planned on talking to her, and talking, and talking... So bored with it all, Buffy downed the drink in her hand and asked Tom to fetch her another.

Spike shook his head as he watched Buffy down her drink and send the boy to fetch her another.

"Easy there, Slayer" he said to himself, "Wanna end up legless in the arms of that wanker?" he said crossly.

The girl he’d caught a few nights ago just a few yards from this frat house would not stop yammering as he tried to get her back to the lair to share her with Dru. Rambling on about the frat house and the boys in it being monsters or something. It barely seemed to register in her tiny mind that Spike himself was a sort of monster too, and she was going to die at his hands just as easy as she would’ve at the fraternity house.

Dru had gone into some sort of fit just at the sight of the girl he brought home, body spasming as she held her head and foretold a night in which the Slayer would be endangered, a perfect night for taking advantage and killing her. The night of the full moon was when it was to occur and Spike stayed out of Buffy’s way until then. He was developing some sort of feeling for the stupid chit, he knew it and he hated it. He was hoping if she was vulnerable enough he’d be able to just kill her and be done, and apparently tonight was the night.

As much as he wanted her vulnerable for himself, he didn’t fancy any of the lads of the fraternity having a go at his prize before he got a taste. He moved around the building, staying mostly in the shadows. By the back entrance there was just the one boy, presumably assigned to keeping the rabble out. He was a skinny little runt, and more drunk than he ought to have been, still that all worked to Spike’s advantage and he easily caught the boy off guard, snapping his neck and tossing him aside. He sneaked in through the door, trying to hang back in the crowds. If the frat guys spotted him they’d try to chuck him out and as much fun as it would be to take them all on, he’d much rather just find Buffy and get out. He risked showing off his skills too much, or even his demon face if he got into a punch up and it was best if Buffy thought he was still some innocent young lad with a crush for now.

When he caught sight of the Slayer, she had a second glass in her hand and the boy from before was leaning into her, pinning her back against the wall. She didn’t look overly impressed and batted his hand away as he moved to touch her. Something in Spike flared angrily at the thought of this trumped up snotty little kid laying a hand on his Slayer, not that she was his in any real sense but he felt it nevertheless.

"There you are" he said, smiling as he reached her side, "I’ve been looking for you, baby" he told her, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her to him, his lips on hers before she had time to process what was going on. Spike was a little surprised to find that Buffy actually kissed him back after a moment of initial shock. They were locked there in a passionate embrace for a while until the boy from before cleared his throat and they pulled apart.

"Sorry, mate, didn’t see you there" Spike told him, recovering first. Buffy was still trying to get her breath back, something that vampire didn’t need to worry about.

"Buffy" the boy shifted awkwardly, "I thought you said you didn’t have a boyfriend"

"I... I don’t" she said, head swimming terribly as he glanced between Tom and William, "William is, well... we had a fight" she lied, "and I guess now we just made up" she laughed nervously, "So he was my boyfriend, and then not so much when we fought, and now, boyfriend again" she said, still smiling at Tom and then casting William a ‘What the hell!’ look as soon as the frat boy glanced away.

"Well, I should probably... leave you two alone" Tom said at last, before walking away. Buffy looked at William expectantly and he shrugged.

"Looked like you could use saving, pet" he told her, leaning side ways on the wall and staring at her, "Thought you’d sooner me come over and kiss you than Slimy McFilth there"

"I could’ve handled Tom" she said firmly, remembering that despite the feelings William had evoked in her with that kiss, she was supposed to be mad at him. He’d disappeared days ago and she hadn’t seen him since.

"Think the point was, luv, that he fancied handling you" William pointed out, "Thought I was doing you a favour is all" he said a little more harshly than perhaps he meant to, but then he was very uncomfortable right now. The kiss he shared with the Slayer should have meant nothing to him, even if it did something for her. As he felt her respond to his kiss and his touch he found all kinds of feelings were evoked in himself too. A sensation like fire in his heart and hot blood pumping through his veins, it was like being alive for the first time in over a century, and he knew how wrong it was.

"I appreciate what you tried to do" Buffy sighed, "It’s just... You haven’t been around lately" she admitted that was her problem as she stared down into her second drink which so far remained untasted.

"Had some stuff to deal with" he told her, "My, er, sister. She’s got some problems, mentally mostly but her body’s not what it was either, takes up some of my time" he lied, using Drusilla’s condition as a cover.

"I’m sorry" the Slayer said, looking immediately apologetic as her hand went to his arm, "I had no idea. I guess I just missed seeing you is all. I never even got to say goodbye that night at the Bronze and..." her hand gripped his arms tighter as her head spun, making it impossible for her to get the rest of the sentence out, "I... I have to go to the bathroom" she said suddenly staggering away from him across the room.

Spike watched her go, his suspicions confirmed. He’d tasted the alcohol as his tongue explored her mouth but there was something else in there too, a drug of some kind to bring down any unsuspecting girl the frat boys fancied a go at he assumed.

"Not my girl you don’t" he said under his breath.

Spike decided if Buffy wasn’t back in five minutes he’d go and find her, get her outside somewhere on the pretence of some fresh air helping her condition, then he could take full advantage of her situation, get some decent fun out of her and then... he knew the next part should be her death but the longer this went on the more Spike started to wonder if he really could kill this girl or if his feelings for her were developing too fast...

Five minutes passed quickly and Spike pushed through the crowds, mindful of being caught by the frat boys and encouraged to leave. Still, that Tom thought he was Buffy’s other half, it was unlikely they’d make him leave without her, not without causing all sorts of trouble.

As Spike reached the bathroom door it opened and a drunken red-head came stumbling out, apparently having just thrown her guts up, but Buffy was nowhere to be seen. He was about to start searching for her when he overheard two lads down the hall behind him.

"Tom’s taking the blonde down, that makes our three" Frat Boy Number One told his friend.

"You want me to start clearing the place?" Frat Boy Number Two checked and the first bloke confirmed that he did before disappearing through a door and by the sound of it down some steps.

This was clearly more than just boys drugging girls for a gang bang, this was something more than likely demon related, Spike realised as he snuck along the corridor and prised open the door to what seemed to be a basement.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" a drunken lad asked, grabbing the back of Spike’s coat and hauling him round to face him, "Party’s over, BleachBoy" he said as if the bleached blond were some kind of moron.

Spike soon proved it was the boy who was more stupid as he knocked him away into the wall. He slid unconscious to the ground just in time for two other lads to see. They both made a run at Spike who spun into action, expertly kicking and punching the two before grabbing them both at the back of the neck and slamming their heads together. They landed in a heap with the first ‘attacker’ and fortunately no more came and tried their luck as the party was broken up. The noise of the mini-brawl hadn’t even managed to attract any attention over the defiant yelling of boys and girls who didn’t want to leave the gathering just yet, and Spike snuck down into the basement without further interruption.

"Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us with your power" a familiar voice yelled in the darkness as Spike used a centuries worth of practiced stealth to creep down the staircase without being noticed.

"Machida!" the frat boys said together and Spike got to the bottom of the stairs just in time to realise what was going on.

Tom, the idiot frat boy who’d been feeling up the Slayer, or trying to, tossed three stones into the well at the centre of the basement one at a time and a rumbling sound began from below.

"Come forth, and let your terrible countenance look upon your servants, and their humble offering" Tom continued and Spike’s eyes flitted to the opposite wall. Buffy and two other girls were chained to the wall and even her Slayer strength wasn’t helping against the binds. She was probably still weak from the drugs, Spike guessed, and it seemed that Machida was about to make a snack out of her.

"We call you, Machida" Tom yelled one more time.

"In his name. Machida" his fraternity brothers said after and Spike closed his eyes, internally cursing himself for what he was about to do. With severe concentration he promised himself his game face would remain hidden as he picked up the elaborate candlestick that stood five or six feet high beside him.

As the rumbling continued and it became clear the old snake demon Spike had heard all too much about was about to spew forth, the vampire ran at Tom, knocking him backwards into several other blokes and sending them all sprawling. Buffy was stunned to see him but mostly pre-occupied with trying to free herself from her chains, as Cordelia and another nameless girl whimpered and screamed in alarm, knowing their deaths seemed imminent.

"William, look out!" Buffy yelled as he fought one boy and another lunged at his back with a knife. Spike was a blur as he knocked away one boy then the other with such force they were unconscious when they hit the walls and floor.

With the other two girls still screaming in her ears and the rumbling of the approaching Machida increasing, Buffy concentrated on centring her strength and pulling herself free from her chains. With a loud crack she finally snapped her bonds from the stone ceiling. Though her wrists were still joined together, the chain was long enough it was not a hindrance as she grabbed a fallen sword from the ground and rushed into the fray

With all the brothers soon knocked out, Buffy faced William, a frown on her face as she tried to catch her breath.

"What the hell is going on?" she asked, "How did you...?"

"We’ll play twenty questions later, luv" Spike interrupted, yelling over the horrendous noise of Machida’s approach, "Kill the demon first, Slayer"

The snake demon finally burst forth into the open and Buffy wasted no time in attacking, with William at her side. She was surprised by his fight skills, but pleasantly so. As strong as she was the drugs and alcohol she’d consumed had left her feeling more woozy than she liked and a fight partner was a handy thing to have right now. Swords in hands the pair attacked, hacking and slashing until Machida slumped forwards with green blood oozing from too many wounds - it was dead.

"Well, that was a fun" Spike said honestly, but Buffy barely noticed he’d spoken.

"You knew" she said almost accusingly, "That I’m the Slayer"

"Yes, pet" the bleached blond nodded, "I know this world, demons and what-not, Sunnydale bein’ on the Hellmouth"

"What are you?" she asked as she looked him over. He seemed human, he was so incredibly sweet, and gorgeous obviously, and she really liked him. If he turned out to be something awful, she couldn’t bare it.

"A fighter" he half-lied, "Just doin’ my bit, y’know, helpin’ where I can" he shrugged, the lie falling from his lips as if it were a the most natural string of syllables he ever uttered.

"You didn’t tell me" Buffy shook her head, "If you knew I was the Slayer, why didn’t you tell me?"

"Wasn’t sure how you’d take it" he told her, glad the dark hid his face in half-light, made the lying a lot easier when she couldn’t see the eyes that might betray him.

"I could’ve died tonight if you hadn’t..." words escaped her as she realised the truth of her own statement and she stepped forward, sword dropping from her hand as she reached up and kissed him, chains jangling from her wrists as her arms wrapped around his body, inside his coat.

Spike couldn’t believe this was happening. His plan had gone so completely to hell, his cover was almost blown, he was getting deeper and deeper into a web of lies that he worried he would not be able to keep up with, but worse than all this he knew right in this moment as he kissed this beautiful girl, that he was possibly the biggest idiot to ever walk the earth - he was the vampire in love with the Slayer.

To Be Continued...