Title: Sweet William

Rating: PG-13

Author: Zarrah

Disclaimer: Joss, blah, blah, blah, ME, blah, blah, blah, don’t own, blah, blah…

Summary: After the girls’ ‘botched’ spell on Buffy, Xander finds the newfound closeness Buffy and Spike seem to have disturbing. Determined to erase Spike’s memories of the event, he enlist the help of Anya to conjure up a spell that will rid Spike of his memories of the Little Buffy adventure, only nothing ever seems to go right, especially on the Hellmouth.

Setting: Takes place where ‘Little Buffy’ leaves off, so please go read that story first if you haven’t done so or you’ll be completely lost.

A/N…This story has been floating around in my head for a while now and I know many of you have asked for it, repeatedly! *g* I hope it’s what you wanted and I also hope you enjoy it as much as you did ‘Little Buffy’. This story is the FOURTH one I am trying to write (at the same time) I might add, so be patient while waiting on the chapters. I work as quickly as I can, but sometimes my muse wimps out and I struggle to get anything down, but please know…I am NOT the kind of Author who leaves a story once it is started, so, with that said, please know that ALL my stories WILL be finished, just give me time to get to them… Zarrah

~*~*~*~

Chapter One

Spike stood on the stoop of the crypt, watching Buffy until she was completely out of sight. He waited until he could no longer hear her laughter before he turned, a wide smile still present on his face. Stepping into the crypt and shutting the door, he walked back to his chair and sat down hard, his mind trying to wrap around the thoughts of Buffy remembering all the events of the past week.

He had hoped she would remember. Most importantly, he hoped she remembered that she hadn’t seen him as a monster but as a man, as her friend.

He knew the smile on his face would take days to wipe off. The small kiss Buffy had left on his cheek still stung from the heat of her lips. Glancing to the corner where his refrigerator sat, his smile widened as he saw the purple crayon drawing ‘Little Buffy’ had made for him. It was the only picture he had of him and her together, all though they were both stick figures and both done in purple, the memory of her face lighting up when she had presented it to him and the wide smile that had curved her lips when he took it home with him caused his face to almost ache from the huge smile he couldn’t seem to erase.

Laying his head back and resting it on the back of his chair, Spike stared at the drawing. He wasn’t sure what to make of the fact that she had kept her ‘secret’ from her friends, but was glad she had decided to share it with him.

~*~*~*~

“So, everything went okay with Spike last night? No creepy feelings or anything?” Willow asked as her and Buffy sat around the large research table at the Magic Box.

“No, no creepy feelings.” Buffy said quietly. “It was kinda nice actually.”

“Really?” Willow asked, her eyes slightly wide. “Nice as in, he wasn’t snarky or nice as in he was…well, being nice?”

Buffy smiled as she crossed her arms infront of her and laid them on the table. “Nice as in, we talked. No awkward feelings or anything.”

“Well that’s good.”

“Yeah.” Buffy replied her mind wandering as the bell above the door sent Willows head in the direction of the front of the store.

“Hello ladies.” Xander said, smiling as he sauntered down the steps and plopped down in the chair beside of Willow. “What’s the gossip for today?”

“Oh nothing much. Just discussing Buffy’s meeting with Spike.”

“You went to see Spike?” Xander asked surprised. “What in the world for?”

“To thank him for all he had done for her.” Willow answered for Buffy as she seemed to be lost in her thoughts.

“Thank him?” Xander asked, the words coming out strained. “What’s there to thank him for?” For hanging around like some leach for a week or for corrupting the mind of a four year old?”

“Xan, when are you going to see that it was more than him taking advantage?” Willow asked, rolling her eyes slightly. “He was there for her all week, and personally, I think you’re just jealous she wanted to spend her time with him and not you.” She added, giggling at the twisted face of disgust Xander seemed to be having trouble containing.

Buffy could hear their chattering, but their words were completely lost to her as her thoughts were once again on Spike. She hadn’t been able to think of much else since she had been ‘restored’ to her usual self.

The minute the spell had broken and the disorienting feelings had left her, the smiles of all her friends had greeted her and she bit back tears that she wasn’t sure why were stinging her eyes when she realized Spike wasn’t there.

She remembered every minute she had spent with him. Off all the loved ones that surrounded her constantly when she was ‘little’, the image of Spike sitting and playing with her, of him sitting with her all night as she slept and of the hours of coloring was the only memory she could seem to focus on.

Had she been truly wrong about him? Was he more than just a monster like she had repeatedly told him? She knew the answer to that question before she even thought it. He wasn’t a monster. He was a man who was in love with her and despite her rude, almost constant ridicule of his feelings; he had shown her a side of himself that she wouldn’t have even bothered to look at.

“Hey, Buff…you gonna come out of the clouds and answer me?” Xander asked, his head tilting to the side as he stared at her.

Buffy finally focused her eyes as Xander’s hand waving in front of her face finally caught her attention and she smiled, blushing slightly when she realized she had been so wrapped up in her thoughts of Spike that she had completely zoned out.

Glancing around the room quickly, hoping her face wasn’t a red as it felt she smiled slightly before looking over at her friends.

“Where were you just now?” Xander asked, “I’ve been trying to talk to you for the last five minutes. You aren’t in some tortured state of mind now that you know you actually played nice with the evil undead are you?”

“No.” Buffy said quietly. “I just have a lot on my mind is all.”

“Yeah, I probably would to. I mean, having Spike around at all is torture on ones mind, not to mention how you practically worshiped the ground he lurked on.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Buffy said softly, glancing down at her hands before looking back up.

“Wasn’t that bad?” Xander asked, his face scrunching up in disgust at the prospects. “Spike hanging around for more than two seconds is bad, let alone having him around for hours at a time. Not to mention the icky sight of you fawning over him like he was the next best thing to happen since Burger King added king size fries.”

Buffy chuckled softly before standing and shaking her head. “I’ve got to go guys, I’ll catch you later.” She said before turning and heading towards the door.

“Okay, did I just miss something or did she just completely ignore me?”

Willow hid her smile behind her hand as she watched Buffy walk out the door before turning to face Xander. She wasn’t completely sure what Buffy was thinking, but she had a sneaking suspicion she remembered more about her ‘toddler time’ and Spike than she was letting on.

~*~*~*~

Buffy walked slowly through the last cemetery on her patrol, absently twirling a stake in her hand. She hadn’t encountered one vamp all night and she was getting anxious to release some of the stress she had been feeling on some dumb unexpecting night crawler.

Xander’s quick assessment that she should be feeling angry about spending time with Spike had her confused as to what to do. She knew her friends saw Spike in a different light, she did herself until a few days ago, but she couldn’t help but think that there was more to him than they were allowing themselves to see.

Sure he was a vampire who had tried to kill them repeatedly, but since the chip, he’d changed. She didn’t know why she never allowed herself to see it before and all the hateful words she had said to him since bothered her.

Sitting down on a grave marker, Buffy sighed loudly. Her head turned in the direction of Spike’s crypt and the urge to go see him was strong. She had never just paid him a ‘social’ visit and wondered how he would feel about getting one now. The fact that she ‘wanted’ to pay him a visit was more disturbing than anything. To be honest, she had gotten use to seeing him on a daily basis and now that she was her old self again, the need to see him was still there.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite slayer.” Spike said as he slowly walked towards Buffy, cigarette dangling from his lip. “Out for the nightly patrol I see.”

Buffy’s head snapped to the side at his voice, a little smile curving her lips as Spike approached her. “Hey Spike.” She said, her smile widening as he stopped in front of her.

Spike was taken aback at the smile she gave him. It looked almost friendly and that was a gesture he didn’t expect from this version of Buffy. “Hey yourself.” He said, a small smile lighting up his face.

An uncomfortable silence fell around them both suddenly and they both looked away from the other. Buffy almost had the notion to laugh at the awkward feelings she now seemed to be having. She had never felt the need to feel anything where Spike was concerned, but now that he was standing in front of her; she had to wonder why she suddenly felt a small fluttering of butterflies in her stomach.

“So.” Spike started, the silence almost deafening, “You just getting started on the patrol or finishing up?”

“Oh, um…just starting.” Buffy lied. She bit back another smile and wondered ‘why’ she had just said that.

“Really? Up for a little company?” Spike asked with a smile as he tossed his spent smoke to the ground and crushed it under his foot.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Buffy said as she jumped down of the grave marker she had been sitting on. “Let’s go.”

Spike couldn’t hide his smile as he fell into step beside of her as they headed through the cemetery. He didn’t think she would ever allow him the chance to actually get close to her, not that patrol was anything to get excited about, but she never wanted his help unless some big bad was on the loose. The fact that she was taking him on patrol, just for the company made his heart swell and he knew he’d fall in love with her even more than he already was if she continued to be nice to him.

Buffy was speechless. She didn’t have a clue as to what to say to him. Why she suddenly felt nervous was beyond her, but to be honest, she liked the feeling, not that she would tell anyone though.

“So, how’s the nibblet doing?” Spike asked, the silence starting to get to him.

“Oh, she’s good.” Buffy answered. “Well, I think she’s still upset they turned me back, but she’s dealing.”

“Well not that I minded the little you, but I’m much rather have the adult version walking around.”

Buffy turned her head, glancing at him briefly and turning away with a smile as she saw the look on his face. She knew he probably heard her heartbeat speed up, but at the moment, she really couldn’t find a reason to care. The almost ‘puppy dog eyes’ he had always given her that usually grossed her out had just made her heart flutter, and the feeling made her giddy with possibilities that just a week ago would have had her staking him for sure, now, it was a pleasant change she was looking forward to.

~*~*~*~

Dawn looked up from the couch when the front door opened and her face fell when she saw Willow instead of Buffy. She had purposely stayed up past her bed time to have a talk with her sister about her sudden change in behavior and about her feelings towards Spike now that she was back to her normal self.

“Hey Dawnie, where’s Buffy at?” Willow asked as she walked into the Living Room, finally convinced she needed to have a talk with her best friend.

“She’s not back from patrol yet.” Dawn told her, her head turning back to the TV.

“Really?” Willow asked surprised. “She’s been gone for hours.”

“I know.” Dawn said as she turned to look at Willow. “You don’t think something happened do you?” she asked, suddenly getting worried.

“No.” Willow reassured her with a smile. “Buffy can take care of herself.”

“Well I know, but she’s been a little out of it lately, maybe if she wasn’t thinking clearly then something…”

“Shhh.” Willow said, holding her hand up and quieting Dawn. “Did you hear that?”

Dawn sat up and hit the mute button on the TV remote and listened quietly to see what Willow had heard. Her lips curved into a smile when they heard the muffled sound of Buffy’s laughter. “Sounds like it’s coming from out back.” Dawn whispered, her eyes bright as she stood up from the couch.

Willow grinned at her as she followed Dawn to the Kitchen, Buffy’s laughter getting louder as they entered. It had been a while since they had heard her actually laughing and the sound of it had them both wondering what was going on.

Walking quietly to the back door, Willow and Dawn both peeked out through the blinds and was surprised to see Buffy and Spike sitting on the steps. They both had huge smiles on their faces and Buffy was still laughing. The fact that she was with Spike was strange enough, let alone the fact that she was apparently enjoying herself.

“Well, looks like someone has some explaining to do.” Willow said grinning as she watched the two on the back porch laugh. Her face broke out into a smile at Buffy’s apparent happiness but it soon fell away when she remembered the source of said happiness.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” Dawn asked, her overjoyed face a light with the new found friendship Buffy had apparently found with Spike.

“Not sure, but I’m going to find out.” Willow said as she stepped back from the door and grabbed the door knob.

Buffy wiped the tears away from her eyes as she tried to get her laughter to calm down. Spike’s retelling of Xander’s reaction when she had called him a ‘poophead’ and her kicking him was much funnier than when Xander had told her. In fact, to hear Spike tell it, the whole adventure would have made for very entertaining television. She had spent most of her time with him, so he had more stories than all of her friends did combined.

“Well, it’s about time you made it back.” Willow said as she leaned up against the doorframe, her arms crossed over her chest. “We’ve been worried sick about you.” She lied.

Buffy and Spike both turned their heads towards the door, neither one of them hearing Willow when she had opened it.

“Oh, Hey Wills.” Buffy said quickly as she stood up, “It’s not that late is it?” she asked, seeing Dawn standing behind her friend.

”It’s after twelve and since when does patrol take six hours?” she asked, the smile biting at her lips becoming painful as she held it back.

“It’s midnight?” Buffy asked shocked. “Dawn why are you still up, tomorrows a school day?”

“I was waiting for you, where have you been?” Dawn said, looking from Buffy to Spike. “Was there some nasty running around tonight?”

“Um, no, no nasty.” Buffy said glancing over at Spike. “It’s past your bedtime, go to bed.”

Dawn rolled her eyes before her shoulders slumped. “Fine whatever.” She mumbled. “Night Spike.” She said before turning and walking out of the Kitchen.

Spike smiled after telling Dawn goodnight. He was still on a high from spending the last couple of hours with Buffy and now that Willow had informed them that Buffy had been gone for six hours, he knew she had extended her patrol. The thoughts of her doing it to spend time with him gave him a sliver of hope that things had changed, but the history between them didn’t let him get his hopes up to much.

“So, where have you been?” Willow asked again as she looked at Buffy. “You left here hours ago.”

If there hade been a rock big enough, Buffy would have surely crawled under it. She had told Spike she had just started patrol, now he would know she had lied. “Um, just got side tracked, took longer than expected.” She told her hoping her explanation worked.

“Uh huh.” Willow said, a smile finally breaking out on her face. “Well I’m going to bed. Goodnight you two.”

Buffy and Spike both said goodnight and watched as Willow walked back into the house and closed the door. The awkward silence that had taken them a while to overcome had finally resurfaced as Buffy slowly turned and faced Spike.

“Well, I guess I better go in.” she said quietly, unable to keep eye contact with him long.

“Yeah, seems you’re going to have some explaining to do.”

Buffy’s eyes widened. He knew she lied about the patrol and just said it to be able to spend time with him.

“Getting caught with the likes of me isn’t going to have an easy out.” Spike said smiling, knowing the deer in headlights look came from the ‘six hour patrol’ she had taken and not that she was caught with him. “Catch ya later Buffy.” He added before smiling and walking down the steps.

“Goodnight Spike.” Buffy said as she watched him walk towards the fence and into the shadows. Buffy stood there, trying to see him and trying to figure out how to explain her absence to Willow before she finally turned back to the house. Opening the door, she walked in, turning the latch to lock the door before flipping off the lights and headed for the stairs. The little smile that had been etched on her face all night had crept back up as she rounded the corner of the Dining Room and made her way towards the stairs.

“Okay missy, spill.” Willow said when Buffy stepped on the bottom step and looked up.

Buffy jumped; startled to see Willow perched on the top step smiling like the Cheshire cat as she looked at her. “Spill what?” she asked as she slowly took a few more steps up.

“Spill why it took you six hours to do a patrol that normally takes just a few and the fact that I found you making friendly with Spike on the back porch, in the dark I might add.”

Buffy looked away, her bottom lip finding it’s way between her teeth and she walked up the steps. “Um, no reason for the long patrol and I just ran into Spike.” She said as she hurriedly made her way up the steps as Willow stood up.

“Yeah, and what was with the happy laughter you two were doing?”

“What, is it a crime to laugh now?” Buffy asked as her quickened her step with Willow right on her heels.

“No, not a crime, unless it’s with someone who just last week you persisted you hated.”

Buffy stopped at her door, her hand on the knob as she turned her head to look at Willow. She sighed lightly, the smile on Willows face letting her know she knew more of what Buffy was feeling than she would have liked. “I may have been wrong.” She said softly, looking down at the floor. “He’s not really that bad once you get to know him.”

“Really?” Willow asked. “And how ‘well’ do you know him now?”

Buffy looked up, a little smile on her face. “Can we talk about this tomorrow, I’m really tired.”

Willow giggled and shook her head. “You remember it all don’t you?”

Buffy’s smile was the only answer she needed but the small ‘yes’ Buffy let slip out had Willow laughing. “I want full details tomorrow, got it?”

“Loud and clear.” Buffy said as she opened her door and walked inside. She leaned against the door once she closed it behind her, the night replaying in her mind. She smiled as the memories replayed for her. It was the best time she had had in a while. She couldn’t remember the last time she had actually laughed and felt good to be doing so.

Stripping her clothes off, Buffy grabbed the over sized night shirt from her dresser and slipped it on before walking to the window. Grabbing the string on the blinds she pulled it to close off the offending light from the streetlight but stopped as the red flicker of light under the tree caught her attention. She smiled when she saw it get brighter before it fell to the ground and was gone. “Goodnight Spike.” She said quietly, knowing he was there, still watching over her as she slept.

To Be Continued………….

Sweet William

Chapter 2

Buffy reached over, slapping at the shrill blast of noise that had disturbed her dreams. She popped one eye open when she heard a crack and saw that she had hit the alarm clock a little too hard again.

Sighing loudly, she flipped over to her back, staring up at the ceiling before a tiny smile curved her lips as her dream floated back to her mind. She suppressed a giggle as visions of Spike running through her house being chased by the tiny girl she had been a week ago replayed for her.

She still couldn’t believe most of the things she remembered. Spike certainly wasn’t the person she thought he was, a cold blooded killer whose greatest thrill was tracking down slayers and ending their short lives, but a sweet attentive man who had spent his days playing hide and go seek with a four year old. The thoughts alone were mind blowing and she still wasn’t sure if even that thought was correct. *Who is Spike? Who is the man behind the cocky, snarky attitude?*

“You going to lay in bed with that goofy grin on your face all day or are you going to come down for breakfast?” Willow asked as she leaned up against Buffy’s door.

Buffy looked over at the door, smiling as she sat up. “Morning Will.”

“Morning. I made breakfast.”

Buffy inhaled deeply, smiling wider as she flipped the covers off of her. “I can smell. What’s the big occasion?”

“Uh, that would be you and the little secret you’ve been keeping from me.” Willow answered her with a grin. “Remember, you, little girl, a week worth of memories you forgot to mention? That and what ever just put that smile on your face.”

“Oh yeah.” Buffy said, ducking her head slightly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep it from you.”

“Well, come on and you can explain why you did.” Willow said as she turned and walked out of Buffy’s room.

Buffy took a detour into the bathroom, getting herself together before heading down the stairs. Her eyes widened as she entered the Kitchen seeing enough food prepared for a small army even though her and Dawn were the only other ones there. “Uh, Will, over do much?” she asked smiling as she looked at the mounds of bacon, pancakes and eggs.

“Well, I was so wrapped up in thoughts of you remembering that I was a little distracted.” Willow said grinning. “Now sit, I want to hear everything.”

Buffy smiled as she took her seat and Willow piled a plate full of food and sat it down infront of her. Picking up her fork, she pushed the food around a minute before turning and looking at Willow who was staring at her. “What?”

“You know what, now spill.” She said as she leaned her arms on the bar and looked at Buffy.

“Fine, what do you want to know first?”

“Well, how about, do you remember everything?”

Buffy smiled, jabbing at her eggs before taking a bit and chewing slowly. “Yeah, I remember everything.”

Willow’s small squeal made her jump, a giggle escaping her before she shook her head.

“I remember Spike finding me in the training room, Xander’s reaction, everything.”

“All the Spike stuff?”

Buffy looked back down at her plate, a smile tugging at her lips before she slowly shook her head again. “Yeah, all the Spike stuff.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“And how do you feel? About the Spike stuff?”

Buffy really couldn’t answer that one. She didn’t know how she felt about it. She knew she didn’t see him the same way she had a week ago, but what did that mean exactly?

“I mean, if you need to talk about it, you know I’m here.” Willow told her. “I know having Spike around was hard on all of us and you having actually played nice with him must be hard to get a grip on and if anything I know that he’s not going to just go away now that you’re back to your normal self, not after the way you treated him.”

Buffy looked up at her friend, seeing the look on her face and knew she wasn’t happy about the thoughts of Spike still hanging around. Willow never said much about Spike. Buffy thought it was more of her ‘tolerating’ him than anything. No one, with the exception of Dawn had ever been nice to Spike, herself included. Why would that change now? And how could she tell them that she didn’t see him in the same light anymore?

~*~*~*~

Spike had practically beaten his crypt door down waiting for the sun to set before stepping out into the night air. His destination had been on his mind all day and just the thoughts of her put a smile on his face.

Taking a long drag off of his smoke Spike walked quickly through the cemetery. Buffy had treated him like he ‘was’ somebody, not just a thing, the night before and that was a feeling he could get use to and he needed to know if it were just a fluke or if she had finally seen what he had been trying to get her to see for a while now.

Passing the cemetery gates, Spike tossed his spent cigarette to the ground, stepping on it before walking out onto the sidewalk. Shoving his hands deep into his pockets, he turned towards Buffy’s house and quickened his steps.

“Well, someone’s in a hurry.”

Spike stopped, his head snapping to the side as he turned and looked behind him. A smile broke out on his face as he saw Buffy leaning against the wall of the cemetery smiling at him.

Buffy pushed off the wall, unsure of what she was supposed to do now. She had been on her way to see him when she saw him walking through the cemetery as she had entered and walked back out to wait on him. “So, where’s the fire?”

“No fire.” Spike said smiling as she walked towards him. “Was on my way to see you actually.”

Buffy couldn’t explain the odd sensation that swept through her at that. Spike had come to see her plenty of times and the thoughts usually sickened her, but now, they left a tingling in the pit of her stomach.

“What are you doing here?” Spike asked, “Kinda early for patrol.”

“Well, I um….I was on my way to see you.” Buffy said quietly, shoving her hands in her jacket pockets as she ducked her head briefly before glancing back up at him.

Spike couldn’t contain the smile on his face as it grew; the slight rush of thumps Buffy’s heart made as it sped up or the pink tint her face had taken on. “Well, this works out nicely then.” He said, taking a few steps closer to her.

“Yeah, I guess so.” Buffy said, a tiny smile gracing her face as she looked up at him. The look he was giving her was one she had seen a thousand times, but this time, she welcomed it. “So, um do ya wanna patrol with me?” she asked softly, the nervousness in her words spilling out and making her cringe at their sound.

“Only if we make it the six hour kind.” Spike said grinning as he stared at her. “Lot’s of evil running ‘round the Hellmouth ya know?” he added in a soft whisper.

Buffy giggled; her face heating up more as she knew she had been caught from the night before. “Okay, six hour patrol coming up.” She said as she turned and headed for the cemetery, Spike following along beside of her. “Sure you won’t get tired of me after a few hours?”

“Never.” Was Spike’s only response. Buffy glanced over at him, the smile on his face causing her own to break into a small laugh. “Okay then, let’s go kill stuff.”

~*~*~*~

The bell above the door rang, three heads turning and smiles lighting up their faces as Willow walked into the Magic Box. Xander, Anya and Dawn were already there, waiting for the nightly Scoobie meeting to begin as Giles walked out of the training room.

“Hey, what took you so long?” Xander asked as Willow took a seat beside of him.

“Oh sorry, I feel asleep waiting for Buffy, but she never showed up. Guess she decided to head on over here instead of coming home first.” Willow said looking at Giles as he approached the table.

“Buffy’s not with you?” Giles asked, removing his glasses and giving them a slight polish before placing them back on his face.

“No, I haven’t seen her since breakfast.”

“Hum, well I suppose she’ll be along directly then.” Giles said moving around the table and picking up a large book from the shelf. “How did her patrol go last night?”

“Okay I guess.” Willow told him shrugging her shoulder as she turned her head to look at him. “She didn’t say she had any problems.”

“Well there shouldn’t be anything left for her to slay after last night.” Dawn said flipping through her history book. “She’s probably already killed it all.”

“What do you mean?” Xander asked confused.

“She was gone for over six hours.” Dawn said absently, glancing up briefly before going back to her homework.

“Six hours!” Xander said loudly, “What in the world was she doing for six hours?”

“I don’t know, killing stuff.”

“Did she say anything Will?” Xander asked, turning to look at his friend. “Is there a new big bad to worry about?”

“No, nothing specific.”

“Well she has had a lot on her mind.” Anya said, jumping into the conversation. “Maybe she was just distracted.”

Dawn’s giggle had them all looking over towards her. “Yeah, her distraction being a very bleached blonde vampire.” She said happily, not even looking up.

“She was with Spike?” Giles asked, finally turning to look at the group.

“Yeah.” Dawn giggled again, “Willow and I caught them out back….”

“Caught them what!?” Xander yelled. “Oh god, please tell me they were trying to kill one another.”

“Geez, calm down Xander, what’s up with you?” Dawn asked, her face a cloud of confusion.

“Sorry.” He said sheepishly, “It’s just…..I don’t know. Has anyone else thought she’s been acting weird lately?”

“Well why shouldn’t she?” Anya asked. “I mean we did turn her into a four year old. It must be a hard transition for her coming back from that.”

“Yeah, not to mention all the repressed disgust of having Spike as her designated best fiend.” Xander laughed.

All eyes fell on Xander, each girl rolling them before shaking their heads.

“What, that was funny.” Xander said. “Don’t you get it, best fiend?”

“Yeah, we get it.” Willow said with a sigh, “So Giles, what’s on the agenda tonight?”

“Well, there really isn’t much to discuss.” He told her. ‘No impending apocalypse to speak of. I was hoping Buffy might have seen something on patrol.”

“Well, speaking of Buffy, is it not rude of her to not even attend her own Scoobie meeting?” Anya asked as she stood up and walked to the counter, “I mean, we do have other things to do.” She said giving Xander a knowing smile.

“Yeah, it’s after eight, she should have been here by now.” Willow added, “You don’t think something happened do you?”

~*~*~*~

Buffy lifted her head, steadying herself on her hands as she looked down at Spike. They were both breathing heavily, the large demon they had been fighting almost getting the better of them both before the killing blow had been dealt and they were both thrown off their feet.

“Nice catch.” Buffy said softly, her face mere inches from his. She wasn’t sure if her shortness of breath was from the fight or the fact that she was lying almost completely on top of Spike and his arms were still in a vice like grip around her waist.

Spike was afraid if he moved or spoke he’d wake up and the dream would end. He stared up at Buffy, who still hadn’t made any attempt to move as she stared down at him, and the feel of her body against his was better than anything he could have ever imagined. Her breathing was erratic and he could feel her heart pounding in her chest and their faces were so close her warm breath played against his flesh sending chills to every part of his body.

Buffy smiled, seeing the almost terrified look in Spike’s eyes and knew their close proximity was having as much effect on him as it was her. He was heaving deep breaths of air he didn’t even need and his once clear blue eyes were getting darker every second. She glanced down at his face, the contours she had tried to erase from her memory coming into focus. She blinked, trying to clear her head as his tongue flicked out, moistening his lip and she couldn’t think of anything else in that moment except if they were as soft as they looked.

“Buffy.” Spike breathed out as he raised his head slightly, raising his hand and sliding it up her back.

Buffy braced her self, knowing he was going to kiss her, her heart pounding relentlessly in her chest as her eyes slowly closed, waiting for the moment she knew would change her life.

“Well, if it isn’t the Slayer and her pet vampire.”

Buffy’s eyes snapped opened and she turned her head, seeing a lone vampire standing off to the side smiling at them.

“Am I interrupting?” he laughed.

*Actually you are* Buffy shouted in her head and her eyes slid into small slit as she grudgingly rose up and stood. Without much more than a flick of her wrist, Buffy hurled a stake into the air, the rush of wind it made as it cut through the air the only noise to be heard before the vamp looked down with a grunt as it imbedded into his chest.

“Oh man.” He said before he looked back up, the world falling away as he turned to ash and fell to the ground.

Buffy sighed heavily, rolling her eyes before she turned to Spike who had picked himself up off the ground. She smiled weekly at him before turning back and retrieving the fallen stake.

Spike watched her and knew he had lost his chance. The moment was broken, there was no way to get that back now. He smiled to himself, knowing that if they hadn’t been interrupted, she would have let him kiss her, that thought alone was almost as sweet as he knew her lips would have been. That was something, right?

Buffy finally turned, seeing the look on Spike’s face and knew he was thinking the same thing she was. He looked every bit as disappointed as she felt. Smiling at him, she pocketed the stake and turned, glancing back over her shoulder. “Come on vampire, we still have four hours to go.”

A smile grew on his face as he slowly walked. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this good. Probably when ‘Little Buffy’ had said she loved him, but this was completely different. Buffy, his Buffy wanted him around and almost kissed him. That was better than anything in this decade or any other he had lived through.

To Be Continued……………..

Sweet William

Chapter 3

Buffy was smiling as she entered the Magic Box, her good mood showing on her face. As the bell above the door signaled her arrival, Anya and Giles both looked her way.

“Good morning.” Buffy said, smiling brightly.

“Er, good morning Buffy.” Giles said, surprised by her apparent happy mood before returning the huge smile she wore.

“Did you finally have sex?” Anya asked bluntly, leaning her head to the side as she studied Buffy.

“WHAT!?” Giles and Buffy both replied.

“Well, Buffy has that goofy ‘I just had sex’ smile that Xander always gets when…”

“NO, Anya. No sex.” Buffy interrupted giggling at the look on Giles’ face.

“Then what’s with the happy face?”

“No reason, I’m just in a good mood is all.” Buffy told her as she sat down at the research table beside of Giles. “So, what’s on the agenda for today?” she asked Giles, her smile still in place.

Giles finally looked away from her and closed the book he had been reading before looking back up at her. He didn’t think he had seen her smile that big since before the ordeal with Glory. “Well, a full report on the last two nights of patrolling would be helpful, seeing how you didn’t show up for the meeting.”

“Oh,” Buffy said, ducking her head slightly, “Sorry about that, I just got busy and didn’t really pay attention to the time.”

“I see.” Giles said as he looked at her. “What sort of distraction was it? A new demon? A nest of vamps?” he asked, pulling out his journal and finding his page.

“No, just regular slaying stuff.” She lied. No way could she tell him she had spent the last two evenings with Spike…BY CHOICE!

Giles looked up at her then, noticing a slight pink tint to her face as she idly picked at her fingernails. “I see.” He said, wondering what had brought on the blush that stained her cheeks.

“Are we going to train?” Buffy said as she stood and looked over at the training room. “I’m prepared to kick your butt today.” She told him, her smile once again returning.

“Yes.” Giles answered as he also stood. “We can go over your patrol later I suppose.”

Buffy nodded her head at him before walking towards the training room. She entered quickly, hearing Giles push his chair under the table. She sighed heavily, knowing her happy mood was going to be questioned and she wasn’t prepared to talk, at least not yet.

She had woke up that morning feeling better than she had in longer than she could remember and the reason behind it put a smile on her face she couldn’t seem to wipe off. ‘Spike’. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly as she thought of him and the growing flutters in her stomach whenever he was near came to life as the previous night once again played through her mind.

The near kiss they had almost shared made her skin tingle in anticipation at the mere thoughts of it and the light hearted banter they had shared the rest of the evening almost made up for the disappointing interruption that had taken away a moment she hoped to find again.

She had tried to figure out what was so different now, why the sight of Spike made her heart flutter instead of making her stomach turn as it had a few weeks ago. He was exactly the same, in every way but now……

Giles was standing off to the side, watching as Buffy stared blankly at the wall, a ghost of a smile on her face. He didn’t know what had her in such a good mood, but whatever it was, he had to be grateful for it. He had seen her depressed for so long; it was heart warming to see her seemingly happy again.

Clearing his throat, he slowly approached her, giving her a smile when she finally acknowledged him. “So, any preference to what we should work on first? I have some new techniques we need to go over, we could start there if you’d like?”

Buffy finally turned her head towards him, his voice finally snapping her from her thoughts. “Yeah, whatever is fine.”

“Alright then.”

~*~*~*~

“Hey G-man” Xander said smiling as Giles finally emerged from the training room.

“Xander, I do wish you would cease from calling me that.” Giles said as the others slowly filtered in. “It is most distressing.”

“Ah, come on Giles, you know it’s said with the up most respect.” Xander said grinning as Giles rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Yes, well respect me more by not using it in the future.”

“Where’s Buffy? She was supposed to meet with my teacher today?” Dawn said flopping down in a chair. “She’s missed that meeting twice now.”

“Yeah, where is Buffy?” Xander asked looking around. “Anya said she was here.”

“Oh, she had a few errands to run before patrol.” Giles told them as he grabbed his notes. “She has already discussed last night patrol with me and it looks as if everything is surprisingly quiet.”

“She’s not going to be here again tonight?” Willow asked, confusion marring her face. “I thought she was the one that wanted these meetings?”

“Yes, well….Buffy has had quiet a bit to deal with lately, so I wouldn’t think too much of her distracting behavior.” Giles said smiling. “I think she’s coping quiet well for what she has been through.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Willow replied. “She was actually smiling when she got up this morning.” She told them grinning. “Come to think of it, she had a goofy grin on her face yesterday morning as well.”

“I know.” Dawn said pitching in smiling. “She didn’t even tell me no when I asked if I could sleep over at Janice’s house all weekend, usually she’d just freak out and give a quick no.”

“Well, maybe her being little actually helped her see what we wanted.” Anya added as she joined the group at the table. “I mean, we all wanted her happy and now, for some reason she seems to be. Mission completed.”

~*~*~*~

Buffy walked slowly through the graveyard, her eyes scanning the darkened shadows that lined either side of her. The smile tugging at her lips was being forced away by the slight tingle of pain as she bit at the inside of her jaw.

She could feel him stalking her, moving slowly in the shadows as she made her way through the marbled markers that stood eerily quiet in the bright moonlight, casting shadows along the grass.

The slight crunch of dead leaves under her boots seemed to echo through the quiet cemetery, breaking the silence that hung around her. Stopping, she listened, her head turning from right to left, trying to get an exact fix on him. The slight tingle on the back of her neck signaled his presence, but there was something more than just that, it was as if she could feel him. She could feel his eyes on her, roaming over her form and the thoughts of it excited her more than it ever should.

Spike watched her from his spot leaning against a tree. A big smile graced his face as she turned in a circle looking for him. He knew she knew he was there, but he wanted her to come to him, needed her to make the first move. Not that following her didn’t make it easy, but the fact that she was actively searching him out thrilled him to no ends.

He had been near the cemetery gates after leaving his crypt when he saw her. She was almost running towards his crypt and he hid in the shadows and watched her. He was surprised to see her actually knock on his crypt door before entering and the disappointed look on her face when she stepped back outside made him giddy with joy.

“I know you’re there.” Buffy said, the smile that had been trying to break free since she first felt his presence finally winning as her lips curved.

Spike smiled, digging in his pocket for his smokes as Buffy slowly walked in a small circle searching the shadows. Pulling a cigarette from the pack, he placed it between his lips before grabbing his lighter.

Buffy saw the small flash of red out of the corner of her eye and turned her head quickly, staring into the darkness at it before it went out. Turning, she slowly started walking forward, the smell of cigarette smoke finally reaching her before her smile grew.

“You going to follow me around all night or help?” she asked, stopping a few feet from the darkness that hid him from her.

“Depends Slayer.”

“On what?” Buffy asked, seeing the red flame from his cigarette glow brightly before dimming again.

“On how badly you need my help.” Spike told her, still encased in the black recesses of his hiding place.

Buffy grinned as she leaned back on a grave marker and crossed her arms over her chest. “Well, I don’t ‘need’ your help at all.”

“Oh?” Spike asked smiling, “So what do you want with me then?”

Buffy’s smiled faded slightly as she brought her hands down and placed them on either side of her on top of the grave marker. “Who said I wanted you?” she asked him softly, the fluttering in her stomach increasing as she saw the red flame of his cigarette glow brightly before it fell. She heard the slight crunch of leaves and watched as the red ember faded into nothing before she saw Spike emerge from the shadows.

The look on his face made her pulse race as his eyes bore into hers. His footsteps were silent as he slowly walked towards her; the only sound to be heard was the steady thumping of her heart as it beat wildly in her chest.

Standing, Buffy stare back at him, unable to tear her eyes away as he slowly approached her. The light from the full moon cast shadows across the sharp plains of his face, making his skin look paler than usual.

“You don’t want me?” Spike asked, his voice deep and sultry as he stopped in front of her. He could hear the rush of her blood as it surged through her veins and the thumping of her heart increased as looked at her.

*Oh God* Buffy said to herself as she swallowed hard and looked up at him. *Yes* her mind screamed, the word trying to force itself out of her mouth and she felt almost criminal thinking it. The bright blue in his eyes that had been there seconds ago were darkening by the second and her throat seemed to go completely dry as visions played through her mind. The usual disgusting thoughts of it, instead made her pulse quicken and her skin heat up as his question bounced across her brain.

Spike could see the inner battle she was waging with herself and a slow smile finally played across his face. “No need to answer just yet Buffy; plenty of time for that.”

Buffy finally released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding in and realized how close he was standing to her. The look in his eyes caused her to swallow hard as she stare up at him before she smiled weakly.

“I need to patrol.”

“Figured as much.” Spike said, smiling at her breathless words. “Want some company?”

Buffy shook her head yes, unable to get her words out without it sounding like a breathy whisper.

Spike smiled before taking a step back away from her. He had to resist the urge to just lean down and kiss her, fearing she would resist him. He had taking enough rejection from her to last him two life times and he wasn’t about to mess things up now that they seemed to be working in his favor for once.

Buffy finally managed to compose herself, smiling as she turned and started walking, Spike falling into step with her. She had thought for a minute that he was going to try and kiss her again and she would be lying if she said she weren’t disappointed that he hadn’t. She still couldn’t figure out why the sudden change of heart where Spike was concerned came from. It had to be more than just the fact he had been so attentive to her when her friends spell had gone wrong. He had always been that way, only she never gave him a chance to do much before she would stop him. Could there have been more to her feelings for him all along that she had purposely denied?

Glancing over at him, Buffy’s eyes roamed over his features. She didn’t know why she hadn’t ever really paid much attention to him before, but she couldn’t deny that for a dead guy, he was quiet pleasing to look at. Hell, he was more pleasing to look at than most pulse having men she had seen.

She smiled to herself as she glanced away from him as he turned his head towards her. She could feel his eyes on her and she couldn’t help but crack a grin as she glance over at him.

“What’re you grinning at?” Spike asked smiling as he and Buffy neared the cemetery gates.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” he asked, “Then what’s with all the staring and smiling then?”

Buffy giggled, shoving her hands in her pockets before looking over at him. “Well, I was just wondering why I had never thought of you as attractive before.”

Spike smiled at that, a truly huge smile. “You think I’m attractive slayer?”

Buffy laughed, “Well, cute maybe, I don’t think I’d say attractive.” She told him, leaning her head to the side as she looked at him.

“CUTE!” Spike said loudly, his face twisting in disgust. “Puppies are cute slayer, the Big Bad is NOT cute, handsome maybe, sexy definitely.”

“Oh, Big Bad sexy vampires, Slayers of the world beware.” Buffy giggled, “What is that, a new way to get rid of us?”

“Hey, I’m very sexy I have you know.” Spike said grinning, “Damn fine specimen if I do say so myself.”

“How would you know?” Buffy said laughing, “You haven’t seen yourself in over one hundred and thirty years.”

“Been told, that’s how.”

“Well, they lied.” She said grinning.

Xander watched from the cemetery wall as Spike and Buffy laughed and joked with each other. His eyes were hard and cold as he watched; his knuckles white as he gripped the handle of the axe he had swung over his shoulder as he squeezed it with all his strength.

He had come to help out on her patrol and knew now why she didn’t ever ask for their help anymore since she had been returned to her normal self. The sight of them together was a little disconcerting but the fact that she was laughing and apparently enjoying herself in Spike’s company was more than disturbing.

Watching them exit the cemetery, Xander slowly moved from his hiding place, the scene he had just witnessed in the last ten minutes weighing heavily on him. Walking towards the cemetery gates, his mind tried to reason out Buffy’s state of mind since the restoration spell and knew something had gone wrong when they returned her.

Determined to make things right and get Buffy back to normal, he quickly walked in the opposite direction Spike and Buffy had went and made his way back to the Magic Box. If anyone would know if something went amiss in the spell, Giles would.

To Be Continued………….

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