Title: Willow and Spike
Author: Luisa
Email: luisa_barros@hotmail.com
Category: Willow/Spike (although all the major BtVS make appearances)
Rating: PG13, I guess.
Description: The characters interact with interesting consequences. All dialogue.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns all.
Dedication: To James Marsters, my favourite actor on Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.
Spoilers: None, unless you haven't seen Season Four.
Comment: It's my fictional take on what could have happened in Season Four. I prefer the ending that the writers came up with, but!, this is mine. ;-)

At Giles'.
22.


"Red."

"Yes, Spike?"

"Why so glum?"

"I had a rough day."

"Why?"

"Things didn't go the way I wanted them to."

"They never do. The trick is not to give a damn."

"I can't do that. Life's all about giving a damn."

"That's where you're wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"Life gets a kick out of being ignored. Ignore life and it worships you."

"Huh…?"

"Turn a deaf ear on it, don't go around *caring* and breaking yourself up over every little twist and turn of the road…and you've got it made."

"It's hard."

"It is, pet. But it's also numbing…soothing even. Pretend you don't feel."

"I have a heart, Spike. That makes it difficult."

"Look at me. And say: I feel nothing."

"I…I f-feel…"

"Too *much*, Red. You feel too bloody much…"

At Xander's.
23.


"Anya, you know magic, right?"

"I *knew* magic. I lost the sparks."

"Huh?"

"I'm useless as a demon, Xander. Total garbage."

"Don't say that."

"It's the glaring truth. I couldn't spell to save my ass."

"You spelled us out of Willow's-erm-mistake."

"I could barely remember the words. It was like trying to play the piano when you haven't played in years. Lame."

"Honey, you don't need it. The spells and conjurings and black arts."

"It used to be who I was, Xander. A big chunk of me."

"It's different now."

"Why? Because I'm with you? I'm still a demon, Xander, nothing's changed!"

"Don't get mad…I'm trying to be supportive here."

"To me it sounds as if you're saying that I don't have a being. That I'm Xander's girlfriend. Or groupie or *whatever*!"

"Anya! You are so wrong…"

"Then why aren't you looking at me…?"

At Giles's.
24.


"Spike, you never told me what you meant by that odd question the other day."

"I'm not sure I want to anymore."

"That is not fair. We had a gentleman's agreement."

"Sod that. I'm no flipping gentleman."

"I can see that. You just broke a deal."

"Giles, I sorta tripped on something I hadn't seen before. And it's private, alright?"

"Private? In what way, if it seems strange to you? We live on the Hellmouth, Spike. Keeping secrets is the last thing you should do."

"It's not a bleeding prophecy, or a demon or a curse or any other bloody mess!"

"It is related to us?"

"In a way. Though I sometimes doubt there's an "us" at stake here."

"Whatever do you mean…?"

"You're all living in the pit of oblivion, that's what I mean. You don't see each other, you don't know each other. Not in a way that matters, anyway."

"You are sadly mistaken, Spike. We are a family."

"Exactly. And families go bust, Giles. When you least expect it."

At Willow's.
25.


"Will, how's Tara?"

"Huh?!"

"Tara. That girl you introduced me too."

"Oh. She's great, Buffy…"

"Great? Why does that sound so…*not* great?"

"Buffy, I mean it. She's fine."

"Will, why are you getting all defensive?"

"I am *NOT* getting defensive…I just have a lot on my mind."

"Like what? We used to share all the cobwebs and ghosts, Will…"

"I know. I have nothing to share right now."

"Nothing at all…?"

"I'm sorry."

"So am I."

"Buffy, this has nothing to do with you. I'm still dealing, OK? Give me some time."

"Is it Oz again?"

"Yes and no. I can't tell you any more."

"You don't need to. I'm going out for a walk."

"Buffy!"

"See ya…"

At Giles'.
26.


"Spike, did you say something toWillow?"

"Huh?"

"I know how you adore digging into people's private lives, that's why I'm asking. Did you?"

"If I had, you'd be the last to know."

"Spike, I have itchy fingers and they're on a stake right now. So don't push me."

"Slayer, go out, get some fresh air, get a life while you're at it and stop pissing me off."

"You haven't answered my question."

"I don't intend to."

"Spike, I'm gonna count to three."

"You can *count*…? Amazing."

(…)

"TELL ME WHAT YOU KNOW!"

"NO BLOODY WAY! DO YOUR WORST!"

(…)

"BUFFY! GET *OFF* HIM!"

"Willow, this is between me and him."

"I said get *off* him. *NOW*!"

"I'm alright, Red. The Slayer's in heat, she needs to ride someone."

"UGH…"

"Buffy, what the hell is wrong with you? Spike, what did you do?!"

"I did what I usually do. Nothing. She freaked out."

"He knows *something*! And I'm gonna find out what!"

"Knows? Spike, what is she talking about…?"

"She's a raving loonie. She doesn't talk, she rants."

"GRRRRRRR……………….."

"BUFFY! STOP IT!"

"That's it. I'm getting my own place. This is just becoming a flipping nuthouse and I'VE *HAD* IT!"

"Good. Get out."

"No. Slayer, go take that walk we were talking about. I want to talk to Red. Alone."

"No way."

"Spike, why do we need to talk?"

"Just trust me on this one, pet. We *do*."

"Buffy, would you give us a few minutes? Please…?"

"Fine. I'm sick of the atmosphere here anyway. Can't *breathe*!"

"Buffy…"

"No, Willow. No Buffy. Slayer. An angry, bitter Slayer. *Goodbye*."

"Good bloody riddance…"

At Giles'.
26.


"Pet, sit down."

"I can't. I'm still shaking."

"What? From the Slayer's theatrics? Come on…"

"She's my friend and I'm being a total jerk."

"You're being what you are. Normal."

"I am not normal…I am *not* normal, Spike."

"What are you going on about? And just *sit* down, *alright*?"

"Fine…"

"You look like hell."

"Thanks…"

"Worse than hell, actually."

"So this is what I sent Buffy away for? Great."

"Sorry, love. I'm bad with words."

"*You*? Bad with words? Yeah and I'm Miss USA."

"OK…what's on your mind?"

"What do you mean? Geez…we're cryptic today."

"Yeah. I'm doing the Angel act and it's doing strange things to my stomach."

"Have some Alka-Seltzer."

"Pet, what's the trouble? Why are you so…*blue*?"

"It's personal, Spike."

"I'm good at personal. I have a bunch of personal."

"I'm confused about something."

"And angst-ridden and depressed and heartbroken."

"Yeah…"

"And lots of other things I haven't figured out yet."

"You're well on your way."

"Pet, tell me."

"I'm in love with someone."

"Who?"

"A girl."

"…"

"OK. Maybe we should just cut this short. I don't wanna be a health-hazzard."

"You're not. I'm just…digesting."

"You're not *succeeding*! You look as if you're about to *faint*!"

"I'm unused to such juicy gossip. Sunnydale disappoints most of the times."

"This is *not* gossip! You tell this to anyone and I swear I'll-"

"Stake me? Would you really? I doubt it."

"I'll ask Buffy to do it."

"That's not gutsy."

"I'm chicken."

"No, you're not."

"I'm afraid of this."

"The girl?"

"Yes. The whole idea."

"You should. It's new. And alien."

"Alien…I feel like ET."

"Who is she?"

"Tara. She's a Wicca…I met her some time ago."

"Does she know?"

"I don't know…I haven't told her."

"She might. She's a chick. Chicks see things."

"Wow…I'm overwhelmed. Spike complimenting women…is it doomsday already?"

"Nah. The brandy."

"Anyway…what's your advice?"

"I'm not good at that. I can tell you what I think. That's all."

"Tell me."

"She's one helluva lucky bird to have you love her."

"…"

"You're not gonna sob, are you? I had an outburst from Xapper already…I can't for the unlife of me take another one."

"No. Sorry. I'm OK."

"You will be…in time."

At Tara's.
27.


"Hi…"

"Hi…Willow, I-uh…I-"

"I am too. Sorry, that is. So very sorry."

"I've missed you. I felt so guilty."

"Why…?"

"For pushing you like that. Putting pressure…"

"You didn't. I do that on my own."

"You shouldn't. You're so…strong."

"Tara, you think you know me."

"I don't…?"

"Not yet…"

"Then let me. Know you."

"I am. As of now. I'm open to research."

"You're a real book of secrets, Will."

At Buffy's.
28.


"She got all weird and miserable when I asked her about her new friend."

"What new friend?"

"Tara."

"Who's Tara?"

"A girl who's also a Wicca. I met her the other day."

"So what happened? Why do you say she was weird?"

"Riley, I don't know. She just got all red and upset."

"Sounds like she's got a secret."

"She can't. We share. That's what we do. We *share*."

"You can't expect people to show you everything. It's not fair."

"Why not…?!"

"Because they need to have a small space that's private. Access denied."

"I wanna get in…I have to."

"No, Buffy. Listen to me. It's painful, but you have to. Some things are not yours. They're hers. And that's how it should be."

"What if she's in danger?"

"If she is, she'll tell you. Willow's smart, she knows better."

"We used to talk about everything. And laugh…"

"You still do. There's probably a bunch of things I'm dying to know, but won't cause you're shutting me out."

"I tell you everything."

"Sure you do…"

At Xander's.
29.


"I'm dying for a fight."

"So go out and start one."

"I can't, Spike. It's…stupid."

"Why? I bet there are a bunch of chaps out there who're itching for a brawl."

"This is not the eighteenth century, Spike. We don't fight outside the taverns."

"Oh no…?"

"Well, OK. Buffy does. But just when she's in saving-mode."

"Saving…? She's spreading vamps' guts all over the bleeding sidewalk."

"Yeah and vamps are regular Mother Teresas…"

"Some of them are. Angel…ugh."

"Angel. I haven't thought of him in ages."

"Consider yourself one of the lucky few."

"You think about *Angel*?"

"Not deliberately."

"How then…?"

"He creeps into my skull and poisons it."

"Ouch…"

"Angelus was something to behold and worship. This one's…"

"Definitely different."

"Worse. Much worse."

"Depends on the viewpoint."

"I miss the old bastard."

"There, there…have a drink."

At Giles'.
30.


"Look who's *beaming*..."

"Spike, I told her!"

"Told who what, Red?"

"Tara, you ninny! Everything!"

"Stop spinning around. You're giving me a migraine!"

"Sorry…"

"Don't deflate either. Just sit and talk."

"I kissed Tara. I leaned over and-"

"Like this?"

"Yeah. I'm describing what I did, not giving instructions. Lean back."

"Right. Got a bit sidetracked there."

"Yeah…anyway, she was so…*sweet*. I swear I heard bells!"

"Yeah. Of alarm."

"No…she kissed me back."

"Yeah? And then you two-"

"*No*! Are you kidding me?! We just found each other."

"What better time? You're still strangers, there'll be no hard feelings when it's over."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Pet, let's face it. Love ends. You shag her a couple of times, then find out you don't like the way she looks in the morning. The end."

"No! It's not like that at *all*!"

"It is. I'm 126-years-old. I've been more than around. I know."

"You don't know everything."

"I know more than you do."

"Spike, I can't believe you're acting like this! I just told you something really personal and you're-"

"I'm, erm…sorry, I guess."

"God! Say it like you *mean* it!"

"I don't mean it. I'm sorry I don't mean it."

"I gotta go."

"Willow, don't go."

"No. I can't stay. I have a lecture."

"Yeah, *right*…"




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