Sweet William
Chapter 5
By the time Buffy and Spike reached Revello Drive, they were both walking so slowly it was a wonder they even made it at all. Small glances between the two had been shared along with tiny smiles and Buffy was amazed to find that Spike’s hand had warmed as he held hers.
She knew he could hear her heart pounding in her chest, but no matter what she did, it continued to hammer away. Being nervous around Spike wasn’t something she thought would ever happen, but here she was, holding his hand and feeling like some love-struck teenager with her first crush.
Finally seeing the house, Buffy felt Spike’s grip on her hand loosen before he dropped it and stopped. “Well, here you are, Slayer. Don’t think your scoobies will understand if I walk you to the door,” Spike said, smiling. “Not that I don’t want to.”
“Well, they might find it strange, but this is the Hellmouth,” she said, smiling before looking toward the house. “Do you wanna come in for a while?” She asked him softly.
Spike couldn’t contain his smile as he glanced at the house then back over to her. “You sure?” He asked.
“Well, I’m not so sure I want them to know about us yet,” she said, smiling that she had referred to them as an ‘us’, “but I can’t see any reason why you can’t come in.”
Spike studied her for a few seconds, seeing the almost shy smile cover her face as she shifted her weight on her feet and looked at anything but him. He grinned, hearing her heart race in her chest before taking a step toward her. “Alright then,” Spike said, a smile escaping him when Buffy smiled brightly at him before she turned to the house and started walking.
It was like some dream he had had and never thought would come true as Buffy bounced up the porch steps, turning her head to smile at him before she made it to the door. She looked happy, something he hadn’t seen on her since before the Glory ordeal.
“What in the world happened to you?” Dawn asked loudly as Buffy entered the house, with Spike following closely behind.
“A Bora-something demon,” Buffy told her, smiling.
“A Bworkthan demon,” Spike corrected, grinning as he shut the door.
“Ugh, you reek,” Dawn said, covering her nose with her hand as Buffy passed her.
“Yeah, I kinda got that already,” she said, smiling as she glanced back at Spike. “I’m gonna go shower. Be right back,” she told them before darting up the steps.
Spike watched her run up the steps, trying to hold back the huge smile threatening to cover his face at the fact that she had asked him in. He didn’t think anything in the past several years, with the exception of the “Little Buffy” episode, even came close to how happy he felt right now.
“So, wanna see something beyond cute?” Dawn asked, grinning as she turned to Spike.
~*~*~*~
Buffy finally emerged from upstairs, making her way into the kitchen where she could hear the sounds of laughter. She smiled as she rounded the corner before walking over to where Spike, Willow and Dawn sat around the bar, before peering over Dawn’s shoulder to see what they were looking at.
“Oh my god,” Buffy said wide-eyed before she reached out and snatched the picture Dawn was holding out of her hand.
“You were so cute Buffy,” Dawn said as she looked at another picture of little Buffy. “I can’t believe this was only a week ago.”
“Me either,” Buffy said quietly before she grabbed a few more of the pictures. They were all of her, most of them while she sat coloring or playing with the dolls Buffy remembered Willow buying for her. The activities weren’t what really caught her attention. It was who was there with her. In every picture, Spike was also there.
A huge smile covered Buffy’s face as she looked at the pictures. The sight of Spike sitting on the floor coloring with her caused a flutter in her stomach to swim across her entire body before she reached out and grabbed more of the pictures.
Every one of them featured the blonde vampire, and Buffy couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the pictures. She could see how happy she looked in the pictures and the look on Spike’s face caused her heart to do that fluttering thing she had trouble controlling lately.
“Oh, now how cute is that?” Dawn asked giggling. “Look Buffy.”
When Buffy tore her eyes away from the small stack of pictures she was holding and looked up to see what Dawn had found and she couldn’t help but grin. There was Spike, lying asleep on the couch with Buffy’s little body curled around him. She took the picture from Dawn, smiling as she looked at it before she looked up. “This one just might ruin your reputation, Big Bad,” Buffy said, grinning as she looked up at Spike.
“Like it isn’t already,” Spike said with a grin as he stood and walked around the bar and looked at the picture she was holding. “Bloody hell, you actually took a picture of that!”
“Yeah, you two looked so cute,” Dawn said, grinning at the expression on his face. “I wish you could have seen Spike’s face, Buffy, when I woke him up and he saw you. I think he actually blushed.”
Buffy laughed quietly as she glanced at Spike before she scanned back through the pictures. “Well they say a picture’s worth a thousand words,” she said, smiling as she placed the pictures back down on the counter. “It’s not too hard to figure out what these are saying.”
Dawn smiled as she watched the smiles being exchanged between Buffy and Spike before grabbing up all the photos. She knew Xander would probably destroy them, or at least cut Spike out of them, if she didn’t keep them safe.
Walking into the living room, Dawn smiled as she saw Spike’s duster hanging by the door. Scanning quickly through the pictures, she smiled as she found the one that had caused his smile to brighten before tucking it safely into the inner pocket of his coat.
~*~*~*~
Xander was at the Magic Box bright and early the next morning, almost bouncing on his feet as he waited for Anya to open the door. He just knew Giles would be able to do something to restore Buffy to her usual self; that is once they realized what was wrong with her.
He was convinced something went wrong with the spell. There was no rational reason under the sun for Buffy to actually be nice to Spike. Something had to have gone wrong.
“Would you stop that,” Anya said as she finally got the door unlocked and stepped inside. “All this shuffling around is starting to get on my nerves.”
“Can’t help it,” Xander said as he quickly walked in and started for the ladder. “Now which book was the spell in again?” He asked as he headed up into the loft.
“Xander, aren’t you taking this a bit far?”
“What?” He asked. “You didn’t see her last night. It was…creepy.”
“What was she doing exactly? Laughing was it?”
“Morning,” Giles said as he entered the store and smiled at Anya.
“Giles! Thank goodness. Will you please calm Xander down,” Anya said before looking up to the loft where Xander was rummaging through the spell books. “He’s driving me crazy!”
“Better you than me,” Giles mumbled under his breath. “What seems to be the problem?”
“He thinks Buffy came back wrong.”
“Really?” Giles said, his interest piqued. “How so?”
“Oh, get this,” Anya said sarcastically. “She was laughing,” she added before looking up at Xander and rolling her eyes slightly.
“Sorry,” Giles said as he removed his glasses. “I don’t follow.”
“Oh, you will,” Xander said as he turned and started back down the ladder. “You might want to sit down because this may take a while to comprehend.”
~*~*~*~
Buffy was staring into her closet, looking at all her clothes that hung there as another sigh escaped her. She had been standing there for over fifteen minutes staring at her clothes and wishing all the while that she hadn’t been cornered into going out with the gang.
She didn’t know why she couldn’t tell them no. The whole time they were asking her, her mind was screaming no, don’t do it! But the minute the question had been asked, her voice had betrayed her and said yes.
Her mind had been on Spike all day and she found that she was looking forward to seeing him. She had lain awake most of the night with her mind replaying the events of earlier for her. She couldn’t suppress the smile that tugged at her lips every time she thought of the kiss, or how the small flutter of butterflies took flight in her stomach as she thought about him.
He had stayed late the night before after Dawn practically begged him, and the movie Dawn had insisted they watch had barely even been seen as she and Spike both had trouble watching it. Small, stolen glances cast between the two went unnoticed by Dawn or Willow, and as much as Buffy wanted to keep their little secret secret, the desire for her feelings toward him to be out in the open were enormous as she wanted nothing more than curl up with him as they watched the movie.
Now, as she tried to pick an outfit to wear to the bronze, the only thing she could think of was what would Spike think when she didn’t show up for patrol. She had already made plans to meet him and now, when she didn’t show, he’d definitely get the wrong idea.
“Are you going to pick something or just stand there hoping something will jump out at you?” Dawn asked, smiling.
“I don’t have anything to wear,” Buffy almost whined.
Dawn rolled her eyes, shaking her head before walking to Buffy’s closet. “You have more clothes than any one person needs,” she said, reaching in and grabbing the red leather pants she secretly hoped Buffy would let her wear soon. “Wear this.”
Buffy scrunched up her nose, not in the mood for tight leather before shaking her head. “No, not those,” she said. “Why didn’t I just say ‘no’ when Xander pressured me into this?”
“You don’t want to go?” Dawn asked, confused. “But you always preferred Bronzing to patrol. What’s so great about patrol now that wasn’t there a week ago?” Dawn asked before slowly grinning as she thought about the question and a small giggle escaped her.
“What’s so funny?” Buffy asked when she heard Dawn laugh.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” Dawn asked her.
“No,” Buffy said as she looked over at her. “Like what?”
“You think I’m completely blind, don’t you?” Dawn asked, still smiling as she replaced the red pants back into the closet.
“Dawn, what are you talking about?” Buffy asked her, confused.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Dawn said, hiding her smile. “How about all the late night, extended patrols? The goofy smile that’s always on your face now and the fact that you allowed Spike to stay last night, not to mention the fact that you invited him to begin with.”
Buffy’s eyes were slightly widening as Dawn talked, knowing her sister had to be picking up on something. Surely she hadn’t figured out anything, especially seeing how last night had been the first time anything between her and Spike had actually happened.
“It’s okay, you know,” Dawn said, seeing the fear cross her sister’s face. “I mean, sure it’ll be hard for the others to accept, but I think it’s great,” she added with a huge smile. “Spike loves you and I think it’s great that you can finally see that.”
Buffy was in shock as she numbly sat down on the bed and stared at Dawn. Had it been that obvious or was Dawn just playing a guessing game? “Dawn, what are you talking about?” She said, trying to see what her little sister was getting at.
Dawn grinned, shaking her head before sitting down beside Buffy. “I’m talking about you and Spike,” she said, looking happier than Buffy had seen her in a while. “I think it’s great.”
“You think what’s great?” Buffy asked hesitantly.
“You and Spike being together, of course!”
Buffy went wide-eyed, clamping her hand over Dawn’s mouth as she blurted out her response. “Geez Dawn, tell the whole world why don’t you,” she said, shocked.
“So it’s true then?” Dawn mumbled before removing Buffy’s hand from her mouth.
“Well…um, it’s…complicated,” Buffy finally stuttered out, looking at anything beside her sister.
“And what’s so complicated about it?” Dawn asked as she stood back up. “He likes you, you obviously like him now. Seems pretty simple to me,” she added as she rummaged through Buffy’s closet again.
Buffy sighed heavily, looking at her sister before standing back up. “It’s not that simple Dawn, and you know it,” she told her as she started helping her sister look through her clothes. “There isn’t one of the gang, besides you, that has ever seen Spike for anything other than a monster, me included until last week. They’re not going to just accept him.”
“Well then, we’ll make them see what we do,” Dawn said, smiling. “How hard can it be?”
~*~*~*~
“Absolutely not!” Xander practically screamed as Dawn mentioned asking Spike to the Bronze with them. “I want to go have a good time and the child-manipulating, evil undead isn’t a part of that!”
“This is just for Buffy, Dawnie,” Willow said, trying to calm the tension that suddenly surrounded them.
“So, Buffy doesn’t want Spike excluded,” Dawn told them, crossing her arms over her chest. “And who, just last night may I add, fixed Spike hot cocoa?”
Willow looked sheepishly at Xander as he suddenly sounded like he was choking before she smiled as Buffy came down the steps. “Look! Buffy’s ready. Ready for the Bronze,” she said excitedly. “Better be going now,” Willow practically shouted as she hurried to the door and sprinted out.
“He was here last night?” Xander asked, shocked. “And had cocoa?”
“Yes, he was and did,” Buffy said, staring at Xander as she came down the steps.
“Buffy, I’m not liking this,” Xander told her as she stopped at the bottom of the steps.
Buffy felt her insides churn at the look on Xander’s face before she looked away. “Let’s just go, okay?” She said quietly, knowing that no matter how much she wanted Spike to go with them, arguing over it wasn’t worth it.
Xander stared at her as she walked out the door. He sighed heavily as he saw what he thought was a small pout on her face and her head hanging slightly low. Great, just great, he thought to himself as he followed Buffy and Dawn out before shutting the door.
~*~*~*~
Buffy forced a smile on her face as Xander told what he thought was another humorous joke. They had been there for over an hour and Buffy had to make herself act as if nothing was wrong.
The others were having a good time and even though she had a smile on her face most of the time, she couldn’t help but feel like running for the door every time one of them asked her if she was enjoying herself.
Truth be told, she was miserable. She had looked at her watch what seemed like a thousand times and she prayed for the night to end quickly. Sighing softly, she smiled as Willow and Dawn stood and asked her to dance with them.
“You go ahead, think I’ll sit this one out,” she told them with a smile.
“Come on Buff,” Xander said as he stood with Anya. “We came to dance and cut loose.”
Buffy laughed quietly, shaking her head as she looked at him. “No, go ahead,” she told him. “I think I’ll just go refresh my drink.”
Xander watched her stand and turn toward the bar before shaking his head. “I don’t get it,” he said as he stared at her. “She acts like there’s a hundred places she’d rather be than here.”
“Maybe she’s just tired,” Anya said before grabbing his arm and dragging him to the dance floor.
Buffy stood by the bar, waiting for the bartender to notice her as she looked around. The place was packed. She remembered now why they didn’t Bronze it on Saturdays much any more as it seemed like the whole town showed up.
“Care to dance?”
Buffy’s heart felt like it slammed against her chest as the rich, deep voice sung through her body. A huge smile covered her face before she turned her head to the side. “What are you doing here?” she asked as she saw Spike smiling at her.
“What? Not happy to see me?” He asked with a grin.
“I didn’t say that,” she told him softly.
Spike stared at her for a minute before his smile widened. She was looking at him with a huge smile covering her face and his urge to just lean down and kiss her was overwhelming. “Well I waited by the cemetery gates and when you didn’t show, I went looking for you.”
“Sorry,” Buffy said softly. “The gang wanted to ‘show me a good time’, as they put it.”
“And you don’t think I could have done that?” Spike asked as his eyes roamed over her body.
Buffy felt her face flush at Spike’s question. The way he was looking at her and the tone of his voice when he asked her let her know he meant more than the occasional dance and adult beverage.
“Not sure. What did you have in mind?” Buffy asked suggestively and barely had time to sit her empty cup down before Spike grabbed her around the waist and pulled her through the crowd of people standing around the bar. Her blood was racing in her veins and as they ended up in a darkened corner, she barely even had time to catch a breath before his lips were on hers.
Her eyes widened in response, only to close a second later as she felt his tongue probe her closed lips before he pushed past them. A small moan escaped her before she felt her knees go weak and she slumped against him.
She didn’t even have a name for what he was making her feel. It was every bit as exciting as the first kiss they had shared the night before, but this time she knew they could be caught any minute by her friends. As his arms tightened around her waist, the adrenaline rush of the situation heightened the excitement of it all before she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave as good as she was getting.
<><>
“Okay, now where did she go?” Xander asked as he and Anya made their way back to the table.
“Xander, will you please chill out?” Anya told him. “She probably just went to the bathroom or something.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he said, taking his seat and looking around the club.
Anya watched him out of the corner of her eye as he scanned the club and tapped his fingers on the table. She exhaled loudly, wondering what the sudden obsession with Buffy was all about. The gang wanted her happy again and from what she had seen that was what she was.
Xander was still searching the club for Buffy. She hadn’t acted right all evening. No matter what the others thought, he knew the smile on Buffy’s face was fake. He had known her long enough to know her facial expressions and the fact that she was suddenly missing made him wonder just where she had gone.
“I’ll be right back,” Xander said as he stood and walked away from the table.
Anya shook her head, watching him walk away before looking out at Willow. The whole evening was beginning to become a total drag. Between Xander’s obsession with Buffy and the overcrowded bar, the entire night was turning into a complete disaster.
Xander had walked the entire bar, even giving two sweeps of the upper floor and still no sign of Buffy. The ladies room was the only place he hadn’t checked and, seeing the long line at the door, he figured that was where she had to have been. Making his way around a group of teens, he squeezed between the wall and an overly large jock before his eyes spotted the shockingly white peroxide locks of the creature he loathed most in the world.
Stopping, he tried to focus his eyes in the darkened room and as his vision cleared enough to see into the corner where Spike was standing, his eyes widened when he saw the two, clearly feminine arms around his neck. “Now that is just…ewww,” he said quietly to himself as he watched Spike and someone, he figured, apparently more desperate than him, make out. Shaking his head, he started walking again and glanced back over to Spike as he rounded the corner and froze dead in his tracks.
With wide eyes, Xander stared at the girl that was wrapped around Spike. The bright smile, the sparkle in her eyes and most importantly, the face of his friend stood there smiling up at Spike. “Oh god,” he whispered out in horror. “Please let that be the Buffybot.”
To Be Continued…….
Sweet William
Chapter 6
“Oh god, please let that be the Buffybot.”
Xander stood in shock, watching as Buffy pulled away from Spike and smiled up at him. He blinked repeatedly, hoping that what he was seeing wasn’t real, but when the crowd around the couple thinned out and Buffy leaned up to initiate another kiss, Xander could see the light pink blouse Buffy had been wearing.
Anger surged through him at the sight and, fighting for control of it, he darted through the crowd toward them.
Buffy finally pulled away from Spike, gasping for much needed air. She thought the kiss in the cemetery was mind-blowing but judging from the one she just received, it paled in comparison.
She had been thoroughly shocked when Spike approached her at the bar and, to be honest, she was thrilled beyond belief he had shown up. She hadn’t been able to think of much else other than him and now the excitement of stolen kisses while her friends were on the other side of the room was exhilarating, not to mention Spike himself. Just looking at him made the butterflies in her stomach swim and the fluttering of her heart made her almost dizzy.
Spike smiled as he watched her. Her eyes were still half closed and she was panting for breath and he couldn’t help but delight in the look on her face, knowing he was the reason it was there.
The noise in the club was bouncing off the walls and the mass of people crammed into the place made the air thick as people were practically bumping into each other. Spike didn’t think he had ever seen it so crowded and as someone’s elbow landed in his back, he turned his head. That’s when he saw him. Charging straight ahead and the look on his face was far from the normal goofy calm that usually resided there.
“Time to fly kitten,” Spike said quickly as he grabbed Buffy’s arm and started dragging her away.
Buffy had barely gotten her eyes open when Spike grabbed her and started weaving through the crowd. She wasn’t sure what was going on until she heard her name being called and turned her head. “Shit,” she hissed out, seeing a very red-faced Xander pushing his way through the crowd.
Spike maneuvered them through the crowd, pushing his way through the mass of teens and toward the stairs to the catwalk. Clearing the way was easy and the loud protests of the other patrons were ignored as Spike ushered Buffy up the stairs and into the darkened upper level.
Xander stopped, scanning the area and cursing to himself after losing sight of Buffy and Spike. He turned in complete circles, searching for the couple and with a final curse; he turned and hurried back to the table.
“I think we lost him,” Spike said quietly as he peered down over the railing and watched Xander make his way back through the crowd. He sighed heavily before turning to face Buffy and knew he had probably blown any chance with her by being so careless as she stood there nervously chewing on her bottom lip.
“Is he gone?” Buffy asked, glancing over the rail before looking up at Spike.
“Yeah, went back to the table I think,” he told her, giving her a tiny smile.
Buffy let out a long breath, lowering her head and scrubbing her hands over her face before looking back up. Spike was standing there looking at his feet and she couldn’t help but smile. “I guess that’ll give him nightmares, huh?” She asked, smiling.
Spike looked up, giving her a tight smile before shoving his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, probably so,” he said before taking a step back away from her and moving further into the shadows. “Guess I shouldn’t have been so impatient and waited to get you along.”
Buffy grinned as Spike leaned his head to the side and looked at her. The forced smile on his face gave way to the real thing as she took a step toward him, placing her hands on his chest and pushing him back into the darkened corner. “I kind of like you impatient,” she said, smiling bigger before she leaned up and brushed her lips across his. “Takes all the fun out if you’re predictable.”
Spike smiled against her lips, wondering who this girl was, before pulling his hands from his pockets and wrapping them around her. He knew he must be dreaming as he looked down at Buffy and saw the sparkle in her eyes as she continued to lightly kiss him. His hold on her tightened as he felt her tongue glide across his bottom lip and as he opened his mouth, a small moan escaped him as Buffy deepened the kiss.
<><><><><>
“Anya!” Xander yelled as he finally made his way back to the table and grabbed his girlfriend’s arm and turned her to face him. “Come on.”
Anya gasped loudly as Xander dragged her from her chair and started pulling her through the crowd. “Xander, what are you doing?”
“I’m going to prove to you that I’m not crazy,” he shouted as he walked back to the corner where he had seen Buffy and Spike.
“Well you’re doing a real good job at it,” Anya said as Xander dragged her through the club. “’Cause this doesn’t seem crazy a bit.”
“I saw them,” Xander told them, stopping where he had seen the couple. “I saw them, here in this corner, kissing.”
“Who?” Anya asked as she looked up at him.
“Buffy and that…that thing!”
Anya stared up at him, watching him with slightly wide eyes before she looked around her. “Spike and Buffy? Our Buffy. Kissing Spike?”
“Yes!”
“Okay Xander,” Anya said, taking a deep breath. “Are you sure you saw Buffy?”
“Dammit Anya!” Xander yelled. “I told you something was going on with those two and now I know for sure. I saw them, right here, making with the lip lock.”
“Okay, okay. Calm down,” Anya told him. “If you say you saw something then I believe you.”
“Well, it’s about time you did,” Xander said, looking around. “He pulled her off in that direction.” He pointed to the stairs. “Let’s go see if we can find them.”
Anya was worried about Xander as they searched the club. She didn’t know what to make of him anymore. He was almost obsessed with the whole Buffy and Spike thing and she wondered what he would do if they found his tales to be true.
She had heard more stories about Buffy and Angel than she ever cared to know and the end results of that little tryst were disastrous. Would the same hold true if Buffy and Spike hooked up? And denying Buffy of something she wanted wasn’t exactly their place…was it?
“Hey guys. Where’s the fire?” Buffy asked, smiling as she stepped in front of Anya and Xander.
“Buffy!” Xander yelled over the roar of the music. “Have you gone completely insane?”
Buffy’s eyes widened slightly before she shook her head and answered him. “Um, I don’t think so. Why?”
“Why?” Xander laughed.
Anya watched the exchange before her eyes landed on Buffy. She seemed completely calm for someone who had been caught in the act. A tiny smile graced Buffy’s face as she stared at Xander while he launched into speech number fifty-seven about the evils of Spike, and Anya had to wonder if Xander hadn’t imagined the whole thing.
“Um, in the bathroom, if you must know,” Buffy lied as she stared at Xander. “Have you seen the line in there?”
Xander let out a bitter chuckle as he shook his head. He glanced over at Anya, pointing to Buffy before widening his eyes, silently asking her for her help.
“Yes, I’ve seen the lines,” Anya said, smiling. “I’ve never understood why this place doesn’t do something about it.”
Xander’s mouth gaped open as he looked at Anya and the bright smile she was wearing as she looked at Buffy, before he glanced over at his friend. He couldn’t believe this was happening. He knew what he saw, and no matter what Buffy told him, he knew she was lying.
Spike watched the whole scene play out before him and he smiled as he saw Buffy and Anya laugh together before they turned and walked away, leaving Xander standing there fish-mouthed. His eyes followed the blonde who only minutes before kissed him completely breathless, a small feat in itself, seeing how he didn’t need to breathe, before his smile widened.
As she sat down and picked up her drink, he sighed heavily, wishing he could be down there with her, sharing her laughs. The more he thought about it, the more his smile disappeared. He wondered if Buffy would ever tell her friends about them or if he would always be the secret she guarded like she did so many other things in her life.
As she looked up at him briefly, he couldn’t help but smile. He loved her and knew he would play this her way, even if that meant always existing in the shadows. She had finally given him the tiny crumb he had asked for. How could he ever ask for more?
To Be Continued……
Chapter 7
Buffy tossed and turned in her bed before she finally threw her covers back and sat up. She hadn't been able to sleep because her thoughts constantly drifted to Spike and what happened at the Bronze earlier that night. She felt almost bad for lying to Xander but at the same time her annoyance at having to hide Spike and whatever it was between them was eating her up inside.
She knew Spike wouldn't say anything to any of her friends about what was happening between them and that thought also saddened her. She didn't want to hide her feelings for him or not be able to act like a somewhat normal couple in public. Xander was her biggest fear. It was no secret that Xander hated Spike with an unhealthy passion. The rest of the gang's reaction, although not quite as verbal as Xander's, wasn't much better. The looks of disgust aimed at Spike made Buffy's heart break, remembering that she had looked at him the same way not so very long ago. She still didn't understand what was going on as far as her feelings were concerned but something definitely had changed.
Standing, Buffy let out a long breath before walking across the room and opening her door. The occupants of the house were all sleeping and she walked quietly to the steps before going down. She made her way into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator and looking inside before sighing and leaning her head on the door as she stared at its contents.
"The food won't just jump out at you," Dawn said softly, smiling as Buffy jumped and slammed the door shut.
"Geez, don't do that," Buffy scolded. "You trying to give me a heart attack?"
"Sorry," Dawn smiled.
"It's okay," Buffy told her as she leaned back against the counter and stared at her sister. "What are you doing up anyway?"
"Couldn't sleep."
"Must be going around," Buffy commented.
"Seems so," Dawn told her as she walked to the island bar and sat down. "So, what's up? Why can't you sleep?"
"I just have a lot on my mind is all," Buffy told her before joining her at the island.
"Any of this happen to be about Spike?"
"Shh, keep your voice down," Buffy told her, glancing behind her to make sure Willow wasn't also up and about.
"Sorry. So, what's got you so worked up? Did something happen?" Dawn whispered.
Buffy laughed quietly before shaking her head. "Boy did it ever."
"Well, come on, spill," Dawn grinned.
Buffy looked over at Dawn and smiled as she stared at her. She wasn't sure how much she could trust Dawn to keep quiet about the Spike stuff but she desperately needed to talk to someone. She was getting more confused by the day. "You promise you won't mention this to another living soul?"
"I promise," Dawn beamed. "It'll be our little secret."
Buffy smiled back at Dawn, knowing she had ignored her little sister for months now. Maybe this was what they both needed, a little bonding time - and nothing brought sisters closer than talk of boys and secrets.
~*~*~*~
Buffy made her way into the Magic Box and smiled as Anya greeted her before making her way to the table and sitting down. She had talked to Dawn for over an hour the night before and everyone's concern over her missing the meetings was enough for her to show up. No matter how much she wanted to run to Spike's crypt, she couldn't let mindless mistakes draw more suspicion onto her and Spike's doings. As the others slowly made their way inside, she swallowed heavily as Xander practically stared a hole through her head.
"Well, look who decided to make the meeting," Xander said sarcastically as he took a seat.
Buffy just stared at him and she didn't know whether to be mad or hurt by his tone of voice. Who did he think he was anyway? He was living with an ex-demon. What made him any better than her?
"Xander, remember what I told you?" Anya asked angrily from her spot behind the counter.
Xander glanced over at Anya before sighing heavily and leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. Sure the prospects of no sex were a little disconcerting, but letting Buffy carry on with Spike was unacceptable. He knew what he saw and no matter how many times Anya told him he imagined it, he knew he hadn't. He had seen Buffy and Spike kissing. Something was definitely wrong with her and he was going to find out what.
The meeting was uneventful and Buffy had to force herself not to yawn as the conversation drew lengthy. She was itching to get out of there but wasn't about to end things to quickly in fear of sending Xander off in another overly dramatic rant. After running through every excuse she had, Buffy finally managed to escape alone for patrol. She couldn't believe how much Xander had persisted he accompany her. She hadn't had the gangs help in ages. Why would she need it now?
Making her way quickly down the sidewalk, Buffy's mind was on one thing and one thing only. Finding Spike. She walked quickly across town to where she knew he was waiting for her. As the graveyard came into view she smiled before she broke out into a slight jog. Of course things never worked the way she planned. As she made her way inside the cemetery gates a distant scream sent her running to the rescue of another unlucky victim.
~*~*~*~
It didn't take him long to find her and Spike smiled as he saw Buffy crossing the graveyard. His steps quickened and the closer he got to her the stronger her scent became. It wasn't the usual scent he associated with her but her blood. He was running before he even saw her stagger.
Buffy saw him coming toward her and she smiled best she could before everything started to blur. He looked panicked and she tried to stay on her feet but as she blinked her eyes everything started to spin before it went black.
Spike caught her before her body hit the ground. He was breathing heavily, heaving in large amounts of unneeded air as he pulled her into his arms. "Buffy, luv, what happened?" He asked her as he laid her down. He realized she had passed out as he began to check her for injuries. There was a large gash down her right arm extending from her shoulder to her elbow. Scratches marred her face and the bright red spot that soaked the front of her shirt caused Spike to growl softly as he lifted the hem of her shirt. There was a large gash across her stomach and the sight of her blood forced him to fight back his demon.
Picking her up, Spike turned and practically ran back to his crypt. Kicking the door open he crossed the room and laid her on the sarcophagus before he turned and jumped down the opening to the lower level. He came back a few minutes later with his first aid supplies and clean water.
He ripped her shirt up the center and clenched his jaw as he saw all the blood she had spilled. He didn't know what had done this to her but he knew that if Buffy hadn't already killed it, that it would be sorry it had ever crossed her path when he found it.
He silently cleaned her wounds and was relieved to see that her injuries weren't as serious as he had initially thought. The smaller cuts had already closed and the two larger ones had stopped bleeding. He didn't realize how bad his hands were shaking until he tried to tape the bandage across the cut on her stomach. He stopped for a minute, taking deep breaths as he closed his eyes and tried to get a hold of his emotions. When he felt warmth cover the back of his hand, Spike opened his eyes and let out a breath as he saw Buffy looking at him.
He smiled at her before leaning down and kissing her. The bandages were forgotten as he ran his fingers through her hair and he inhaled deeply to take in her scent. He savored the taste of her, drinking her in like fine wine before pulling back so she could breathe. He covered her face with small kisses and when he felt her hand on the back of his head, he buried his face into and neck.
"I'm okay," Buffy said quietly as she held him to her. She could feel him shaking against her and she had felt the desperation in his kiss. The look on his face when she woke up told her everything he was feeling. She had never seen Spike scared but she knew he was now. The mere thought that her being injured had scared him made her smile as she closed her eyes and sighed.
Spike wasn't sure how long he awkwardly held her as she lay on the cold stone sarcophagus but giving her neck a small kiss he finally lifted his head and looked at her. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Buffy smiled. She watched him as he smiled at her before he stood up straight again and finished covering the wound on her stomach. Then started on her arm. He worked silently and she could still see the fear in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile as he tended to her. His touch was gentle and as he finished up and turned his eyes to her, she smiled. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me Buffy," Spike told her. "There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you."
Buffy knew at that moment as she looked at him that she would do everything in her power to get the gang to see him for who he really was. He wasn't the same demon who came into town boasting about how many kills he had made. He was a man. A man who loved her. She could see it in his actions, hear it in the sound of his voice and see it in the way he looked at her. He loved her no matter what.
Sitting up, Buffy smiled as Spike tried to get her to lie back down and she giggled as he growled at her for not listening. "Now don't go thinking you can boss me around just because I finally realized what a sweet guy you really are."
"Sweet?" Spike scowled. "'M not sweet slayer! Far from it. Big bad here, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Buffy laughed. "I remember."
Spike growled again before smiling as Buffy continued to laugh. He knew his threats were useless, not that they had ever worked before, but a guy had to believe something, right?
When a slight draft caused a chill to run up Buffy's spine, she looked down and her eyes widened before she quickly grabbed the sides of her torn shirt and held them together. She felt her face flame and her heart beat double-time in her chest before she saw Spike turn from her and jump down into the lower level.
She tried to get her breathing under control and her mind conjured up images of Spike looking at her in nothing but her bra. The thought made her already red face glow in the dim light of the darkened crypt. Hearing Spike coming back up the ladder, Buffy slid to the edge of the sarcophagus and put her free hand down to steady herself as she prepared to jump down.
"Hey, don't go hurting yourself," Spike told her as he made his way back to her. "Just stay put."
"I'm fine," Buffy told him as she leaned forward and tried to jump down.
"No you're not. Now don't move," Spike told her as he reached out and held her arm in an attempt to get her to stay put. He saw her holding her shirt together and sighed heavily before giving her a tiny smile. "I'm sorry about your shirt Buffy. I didn't mean to rip it all the way up. I just got a little anxious to stop the bleeding is all."
Buffy nodded her head and glanced up at him before she saw the white material he was holding in his hand. She smiled as he held it out to her.
"Not as nice as the lilac you had, but at least it's in one piece."
"Since when do you own anything that isn't black?" She smiled, trying to calm herself down as she took the shirt from him.
"Since my disastrous GAP phase," Spike grinned. "If I remember correctly, you weren't too impressed."
Buffy giggled slightly before shaking her head at him. "Turn around."
"Why? `S not like I haven't already seen it," Spike grinned.
Buffy tried desperately not to smile as he looked at her but failed. She felt her cheeks flush again before shaking her head. "Well you can't see it again until I'm ready for you to."
"So, that means I will, then?" Spike asked her as he took a step closer and positioned himself between her legs.
Buffy smiled as she looked at him before looking down as his hands slid to her waist. "Maybe," she said softly. "But not tonight."
"Tomorrow then?"
Another laugh from Buffy caused Spike to smile big before he leaned up and kissed her. He hated that she felt uncomfortable about being half-undressed in front of him and he really hadn't meant to rip her shirt as much as he had. To be honest he had barely even looked at her. His main concern was getting her patched up, not taking a peek at her half-clothed body. The more he thought about it, the more he wished he had paid more attention.
Buffy was the first to pull away from the kiss and she smiled as she looked at him. "Now turn around so I can change."
Spike sighed dramatically before turning his back to her and Buffy couldn't help but smile as she laid his shirt on her lap before slipping her old one off her shoulders. When the bloodied scrap of material hit the floor, she looked up as Spike turned his head to the side. "No peeking," she grinned as she grabbed his head and pushed it back the other direction.
"Taking all the fun out of everything," Spike mumbled with a huge grin as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Buffy groaned slightly as she lifted her arm and slipped it into the shirt before pulling it over her head. She smiled as the material slipped over her face and she was once again surrounded by Spike's scent. As she pulled the shirt into place, she sighed lightly before looking back up at him. "Okay, I'm finished. You can turn around now."
Spike smiled as he took a step toward her and when she reached out and her arms slid up around his neck his smile widened. "So, I guess patrolling isn't an option now, is it?"
"Nope," Buffy smiled.
"Guess you'll be going now?"
Buffy shook her head as she smiled before she leaned down and kissed him softly. "If you really want me to," she whispered against his lips.
"Not bloody likely," Spike smiled before he leaned up and deepened the kiss.
Chapter 8
"Xander, did you hear me?"
Xander finally looked up when Willow tapped him on the arm and he shook his head before straightening in his seat. "I don't get it."
"Get what?" Willow asked him confusedly.
"Buffy," Xander answered her. "I mean, we are always here for her. We've fought by her side since high school. We're her friends."
"Yeah," Willow said slowly, not understanding what he was talking about.
Anya rolled her eyes before stalking over to the table where the others were. "He's on his Buffy and Spike train again," she told them. "He thinks Buffy and Spike have something going on."
"Going on?" Giles asked.
"Yeah, you know, orgasm buddies," Anya smiled brightly.
Gasp and coughs and giggles were heard as Giles, Willow and Dawn shared different reactions to Anya's blunt assessment of the situation. "And what exactly is your basis for this?" Giles was the first to recover from the announcement.
"I saw them," Xander said angrily. "At the Bronze. They were in the corner making out like teenagers. It was.disgusting!" He said with a shudder.
Dawn grinned before ducking her head. She knew all about what happened and had sworn her secrecy in the matter.
"Are you sure?" Willow asked before she slowly took a seat.
"Yes I'm sure!"
Xander watched all their reactions before sighing heavily when no one spoke. "So, what are we going to do about it?"
"Well, I'm not sure," Giles said. "Buffy is an adult."
"Please," Xander practically yelled. "We know what happened with Angel."
"Spike is nothing like Angel," Dawn cut in hastily.
"Exactly! He's worse," Xander spat out. "We can't allow her to..."
"Allow her?" Dawn asked with wide eyes. "She doesn't need our permission to do anything."
"No, but she's clearly messed up. She hasn't acted right since that stupid spell. She came back wrong!"
Dawn shook her head and bit her lip to keep from saying anything. She knew if she were mad enough, she'd spill all of Buffy's secrets and that wasn't something she wanted to do. Sitting back in her chair, she decided a little cold, hard stare at Xander would do just as good.
~*~*~*~*~
Buffy walked slowly up the steps to her house and smiled as she looked back at Spike while he crossed the street. She wished he would have accepted her invitation to come inside. He insisted that her friends would eventually catch on if things got too cozy too fast between them and he was probably right. She knew he wouldn't go far though. He still found the need to sit under her tree at night and watch over her as she slept. He denied doing it, but she had seen the red glow from his cigarettes on too many nights and no matter how many times she told him it wasn't necessary, she would always see him there.
Sighing lightly, Buffy opened the door and came face to face with all her friends. "Uh, hi guys. Something wrong?"
"You can say that again," Xander sneered.
"Xander," Willow warned. "You promised."
"Okay, did I miss something?" Buffy asked before slowly walking into the living room. She gave a small glance and saw her sister mouth "sorry" before she turned and looked at the others. "What's going on?"
"Buffy, we're sorry to barge in on you so late, but Xander has some concerns," Giles said with a tiny smile.
"Okay," Buffy smiled lightly. "What kind of concerns?" She asked already knowing what this was about. Good thing Spike didn't stay she thought to herself.
"It's about Spike," Giles told her. "Xander seems to think you two are...involved."
"Involved?" Buffy asked trying to figure out exactly what they thought was going on.
"Yes, as in romantically," Giles clarified for her.
Buffy gave a small laugh. She didn't know if it was the fear of being caught or the ridiculousness of having to explain anything to her friends that had her shaking her head and saying the first thing that popped into her head. "That's insane! Why would I be.anything with Spike?"
Dawn sat there and listened. The more she heard the madder she became. She knew Buffy's reaction was just her normal defense mechanism, but it wasn't fair to Spike. He deserved more than that. Hearing Buffy agree with the gang's assessment that Spike was an evil monster had her biting her tongue before she got up from her seat. She glared hard at her sister before stomping out of the room and up the stairs.
Buffy couldn't even look at Dawn as she stomped by her. Buffy watched as the others seemed to all talk at once. She didn't know why she couldn't just tell them how she felt or how much she really enjoyed Spike's company. She sat back in her seat and listened to her friends explain "why" Spike wasn't a suitable boyfriend. She leaned her head back against the chair before sighing heavily and looking out the window. Her heart nearly stopped when her eyes met Spike's and the look on his face nearly broke her heart.
She stared at him until he turned and walked away and as much as she wanted to go to him and tell him she didn't mean what she had said, she knew her friends would eat her alive if she did.
Spike walked slowly across the yard before stepping out onto the sidewalk. He stopped and pulled his smokes from his coat pocket, lighting one before taking a long drag. He closed his eyes and exhaled before he crossed the street.
He shook his head and laughed lightly as he thought about it. What did he really expect from her? Did he honestly think she'd tell her friends about them? He knew that answer to that before the thought even had time too fully surface. She'd never tell her friends about them and he had tried to tell himself that it didn't matter. That just knowing she cared for him was enough. He now knew it wasn't. He wanted more. He wanted whatever it was between them to be out in the open.
Remembering the look on her face while she denied the accusations her friends threw at her, Spike knew that would never happen. He would always be the one thing she hid away from the rest of the world. He was her dirty little secret and in the shadows is where he would stay.
~*~*~*~*~
Buffy took a deep breath as she stood outside of the crypt door. She had spent the whole night after the gang left and most of today trying to figure out what she was going to say to Spike. The look on his face when she saw him standing at the window caused her eyes to close in an attempt to drown out the painful image. He had looked more hurt than she had ever seen him. Causing Spike pain wasn't something she would have cared about doing several weeks ago, now it hurt her just as much as it did him.
Knocking softly on the door, Buffy put a smile on her face before pushing the heavy door open. She could smell candle wax as she entered and the dancing flames that shadowed across the crypt walls made the inside look almost homey.
She had never really paid much attention to Spike's crypt, but as she finally took the time to look at it, she realized it wasn't that bad. Well, for a tomb, that is.
"Spike, are you here?" Buffy called out before walking to the trap door and looking down when she didn't get an answer. "Spike?"
Bending down, Buffy made her way down into the lower chamber. There was a faint glow of candlelight flickering against the stone walls and even though she had only been this far inside Spike's crypt once, she found herself slightly excited as she jumped from the bottom of the ladder.
She walked slowly, looking into the darkened corners before turning the corner. She froze when she saw what lie there.ÿ She couldn't help but smile as she saw the large four-poster bed up against one wall and the bright rugs that littered the floors. It looked like any other bedroom, except for the occasional coffin jutting out from the stone walls.
"Spike, are you down here?" Buffy walked across the room, taking in the space as she made her way to the bed. She couldn't help but smile as she saw the silk sheets that lay haphazardly across it. She had to admit that the room was quite cozy.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and sighed heavily when she realized he wasn't there. Her eyes scanned the room and her shoulders slumped as she tried to figure out where he had gone. The sun had only set an hour ago and she was sure he would have been waiting for her. He would want an explanation to what she had told her friends. So where was he?
~*~*~*~*~
Spike watched her from the entrance of the tunnels and he cursed himself for hiding from her. He didn't even know why he did. The minute he heard her approach the crypt, he had jumped into the lower level and made a dash for the tunnels.
She was sitting on his bed looking around the room and he smiled when she ran her hands over the silk sheets. He had spent many nights fantasizing about her in his bed and now that she was there, he wanted nothing more than to make himself known. Sighing heavily, Spike leaned his head against the cold stone wall and just watched her. He had wondered all day if she would come and he had thought of everything she might have told him and his reaction to each. Nothing ever brought the satisfying relief he hoped for other than her coming clean to her friends and he knew that would never happen.
Buffy finally stood and made her way to the ladder and Spike watched her walk away, closing his eyes when she was out of sight. He didn't open them until he heard the crypt door close and he finally stepped out of his hiding place.
Maybe he could help them both by trying to get to know the scoobies a little better. A harsh chuckled escaped him when that thought reminded him of how ridiculous the idea was. The scoobies would never accept him. Not in this lifetime or any other.
Chapter 9
Buffy walked purposely toward Spike's crypt. She had searched all night for him and came up empty in every place she looked. He must have been more upset than she initially thought. She knew he wasn't ready for her friends to know about them anymore than she was but to hear her say the things about him that she did must have hurt. It had hurt her to say them.
She knew he would be home. Where else would a vampire go during the day? Opening his crypt door, she walked inside and started for the trap door.
Xander gritted his teeth when he saw Buffy enter Spike's crypt. He had been on his way to give Spike a little unsolicited advice concerning Buffy when he saw his friend practically running for the crypt. He forced back the urge to call out to her, to ask her what she was doing and followed her instead. When he stood before the crypt's door, he listened to her footsteps before entering quietly.
Buffy saw him lying in bed and she smiled. He was on his stomach facing away from her. She took a few steps before stopping when he shifted slightly. Lean, strong muscles that lay hidden from view were exposed to her when the sheet covering him slid down and rested low on his hips. She sighed at the sight of him.
"Enjoying the view?" Spike's muffled voice broke the silence.
Buffy jumped at the sound of his voice and her smile widened when he rolled over and faced her. "Actually I was," she grinned. "You naked under there?"
Spike couldn't hold back his smile as he looked at her. He knew the minute he saw herÿ his anger at her would be gone. He could never stay mad at her. Sitting up slightly, he propped himself up on his elbows before tilting his head to look at her. "What do you want slayer? Trying to get my beauty rest here."
Buffy stared at him and when he moved his leg and the sheet slid down even further, she felt her face heat up as she blushed. She looked away briefly and could hear his chuckle before she looked back up. "I came to apologize," she told him as she tried to keep eye contact with him. "I came by last night but you weren't here."
Spike held back his smile as he looked at a very red-faced Buffy. He propped his leg up and a smirk crossed his face when she averted her eyes from him. Who knew getting to her would have been so easy? "And just how do you plan on doing that?"
Buffy looked back up and could see the grin on his face and knew what he wanted by the sound of his voice. Was she even ready for that? Taking a few steps toward him, she let out a small sigh as she looked at him. He really was beautiful.
Xander peeked around the corner when Buffy and Spike stopped talking and his eyes widened when he saw Spike. He was barely covered and Buffy was just standing there staring at him. He gritted his teeth together when he saw her take a few steps closer to the bed and just the way Spike was looking at her made his blood boil.
Buffy smiled as she stared at Spike. The longer she looked at him, the more she wanted him. Just the way he was looking at her made her heart pound in her chest. She watched his smile grow slightly before his tongue brushed over his bottom lip and the distraction was all Spike needed. Buffy yelped when his arm reached out and caught her around the waist and pulled her into the bed with him.
She couldn't help but giggle as she landed flat on her back with a very naked vampire pressing her into the mattress. She stared up at him before raising her hand and running it through the unruly curls that looked as soft as they felt. She sighed as her eyes met his and she leaned up and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I didn't mean what I said last night," she told him with a tiny smile. "They kind of ambushed me and I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind."
"I know," Spike told her before he returned her smile. "Just haven't heard that much contempt from you in so long; it just kinda hurt a little."
"I know and I'm sorry," Buffy smiled. "So you forgive me then?"
"Maybe," Spike said, smiling before he lowered his head to her neck. Buffy's eyes closed when she felt his lips graze her neck and a small bite with blunt teeth caused a small gasp to escape her throat. He wasn't even touching her and her whole body felt like it was on fire. Bringing her hand up Buffy grabbed the back of his head before crushing her lips to his.
Xander watched them from the darkened corner he was hiding in and his breathing was getting heavier every second. He couldn't believe Buffy would let that "thing" touch her. Something was definitely wrong with her. Either she came back wrong from the spell or Spike had done something to her. No way would she be interested in Spike. He was evil. A foul, disgusting creature that didn't deserve anything other than to be put down.
When he heard Buffy moan and saw her guide Spike's hand under her shirt, he turned and made his way quietly up the steps and out of the crypt. He'd show her. He'd make her see. One way or another, he'd show them all what he's always known. Spike was nothing but a monster and he'd prove it.
~*~*~*~*~
"What are you doing?" Anya asked as she stared up into the loft at Xander.
"Hunting a spell," he said, tossing the book he had been looking at into the discarded pile before grabbing another one off the shelf.
"A spell? What kind of spell?"
"Something to show her what she's doing," Xander said quietly as he thumbed through the pages.
"Xander," Anya sighed. She didn't even have to ask. She knew exactly why he was looking. "Would you please come down from there and stop this craziness?"
"It's not crazy," Xander practically yelled as he glared down at her. "I saw them not two hours ago getting cozy in Spike's crypt."
"And how exactly did you manage this?"
"I went to talk to Spike and saw Buffy headed there," he said as he went back to his book. "I followed her in."
"So, you're spying on her now?"
"Not exactly."
Anya watched him for a few minutes before she sighed
heavily and headed up the stairs. She had no idea what he was thinking, but she
knew enough about spells to know that one wrong turn could turn the simplest
things into major catastrophes. The "little Buffy" episode was proof of that.
Sitting down next to him she looked at what he was reading before grabbing it
and sitting it on her lap. "Okay, tell me exactly what you want."
Xander smiled at her before kissing her knowing she was going to help. "I want Spike to completely forget about Buffy. Forget he thinks he's in love with her and forget all about, well, all of us would be good," he grinned.
Anya shook her head before closing the book she took from him. "Can't do that Xander," she told him.
"And why not?"
"Well, for one, spells on vampires work differently than on humans so you have to be careful what you do. They're tricky. Secondly, a forgetting spell? You have no idea what damage that could do."
"Damage? Like I care what happens to Spike."
"I don't mean damage to Spike. I'm talking about, well.everything. If he forgets Buffy, then he won't help her when she needs him. Not to mention him trying to kill all of us again."
"He can't. Chip remember?"
"That chip doesn't stop him completely Xander," Anya told him as she rolled her eyes. "He could set this shop on fire or Buffy's house for that matter or hire some thug to do it for him. Do you want that?"
Xander stared at her for a long minute before shaking his head. "I never really thought about that," he said sullenly.
"Didn't think so," she smiled before laying the book aside and rummaging through the pile he had made. She already knew what she was looking for and smiled when she found the book. "We could just erase the little Buffy stuff - or try to."
"Oh, perfect!" Xander grinned. "Then he wouldn't even remember her being nice to him. He'd still help out when she asked him to and he could go back to stalking in dark corners."
"Yeah, but if Buffy has feelings for him like you claim, it might not work," Anya said more to herself than to Xander. "I mean, Spike's already in love with her. If she likes him then it won't take long for Spike to pick up on that and we'd be right back where we are now."
Xander stared at Anya as she frowned and tossed the book aside, knowing that idea was also a bust. He sighed before his shoulders slumped. He was sure a spell would work but now it seemed hopeless. If they couldn't find one to get rid of the Spike problem then what was the use? Confronting Buffy hadn't helped. She only lied to them all about her involvement with Spike. That was something Xander still couldn't comprehend. His friend was changing right before his eyes.
"I got it!" Anya yelled causing Xander to jump as she startled him. "I know the perfect spell."
"Well, come on woman. Don't hold out," Xander grinned. "What is it?"