Buffy spent the entire drive home watching through her rearview mirror. She was constantly watching for signs of anyone following her. The note she had found in her locker had finally spooked her, and everything else just made it worse. She had thought that things were finally starting to look up after dealing with her mother’s death the previous fall. She couldn’t have been more wrong apparently.
Back at her apartment Buffy threw her bag down just inside the door and headed down the short hallway into her bedroom. She pulled out a medium sized suitcase and tossed it onto the bed that dominated the center of the far wall. At her closet she threw open the door and stared at her clothes.
“Now what am I supposed to pack?” she mumbled out loud flipping through hangers. What did you pack for a trip to Vegas, where you’re getting married to the man of your dreams, yet it’s all a scam? She pulled out a few articles of clothing and carefully placed them in her suitcase. After pulling a few more things out of drawers she snapped the suitcase shut and placed it near her bedroom door. That would have to do. She’d go shopping tomorrow for some last minute items. Looking around her room she glanced over to the large window that overlooked the back yard area of the apartment complex. She gasped when she realized for the first time that a large oak tree stood just outside her window. She thought back to the part of the note that had spoken about watching her sleep. He must have been in the tree outside her room! Sufficiently creeped out she hurriedly crossed the room and closed the curtains tightly. Feeling unusually tired she grabbed a blanket and headed back into her living room. After making sure that the door was securely locked she stretched out on the couch and closed her eyes. Hopefully when I wake up all this will have just been a dream, she thought as she slipped into slumber. She immediately fell into a dream about Spike and everything that had happened between them before.
It had been a crazy night at the rink. Buffy had spent the day practicing with her coach Lorne. He was pushing her to complete her newest program. She had one month until she would be competing again at the National Championships. He wanted her to debut her new, more difficult, long program. She had done well the previous year and hoped that perhaps this year she had a good chance at medaling.
She spent that evening working at the rink. She had offered to cover a shift for one of the staff, and Giles had taken her up on the offer. The rink was like a second home to her and that night was no exception. Her mother often complained about how much time she spent there. Lucky for Buffy, her mom was often away on buying trips. She tried to spend more time with her when her mom was home, but when she was gone, the rink was always the place to find her.
At around 9 Giles practically pushed her out of the back office and ordered her to go watch the end of the Jr. Razorbacks hockey game. Buffy had always enjoyed watching the games. She knew quite a few of the players, and just this year Spike had become their coach. She had always had a crush on him, regardless of his reputation with the ladies. Staff at the rink often teased Spike about the increase in the female population at the games. After being ordered out by Giles Buffy went in search of Willow, knowing she was at the game, her current boyfriend Oz was on the team. She finally found her best friend leaning up against the rail at the top of the stands.
“How’s it going, Willow?” she asked leaning against the rail next to her.
“Good, Razors are winning. Oz has scored 2 goals!” Willow gushed with a grin. “What are you doing here?”
“Giles practically pushed me out the door.” Buffy ran her fingers through her hair and stared out onto the ice trying to find Willow’s boyfriend. “He knows I like the games.”
“He knows you like the coach,” Willow teased, following Buffy’s gaze out onto the ice.
“Wills!” she squealed. “Must you say that out loud? I’m sure the people in the first row didn’t hear you.”
“Aww, c’mon, Buffy, everybody knows. How could they not, it’s like the most typical love story at a rink. Good girl figure skater falls for bad boy hockey player…well in this case coach.”
“So not the way it is, Willow. A love story requires some sort of love and interaction between the lovers. That’s not happening.”
“Maybe someday,” Willow chirped.
Buffy’s cheeks flushed red as she stared down at the man in the player’s box. He was dressed up, as all the coaches were, which Buffy loved. Tonight he was in a black suit; the only other color she could see was a red tie. He always wore dark colors, which was quite the opposite of his shockingly peroxide blonde hair. Buffy just thought the dark colors accented his often mysterious personality. Oz scored a goal which jolted her from her thoughts, as Willow cheered beside her. Buffy clapped and cheered along with her as the final buzzer sounded and the game ended. As usual the Jr. Razorbacks had won.
“Buffy, come out with us to the Bronze tonight.” Willow encouraged turning towards her friend.
“What?” Buffy couldn’t hear her over the cheers and shouts from the crowd as the teams skated single file to congratulate each other.
“Come out with us.”
Buffy shook her head. “I can’t”
“Yes, you can! You know Spike will be there. I also know that you don’t have practice tomorrow until the afternoon. So you can’t use the ‘I have to get up early’ excuse.” Willow said immediately blocking what she knew would be her best friend’s first excuse.
“I shouldn’t,” was her next excuse.
“You should. C’mon, Buffy. I’m not going to give up on this. You are constantly turning us down, for once in your life will you just let go and have some fun.” Not sensing that she was getting a positive reaction, Willow decided Buffy needed more persuasion. “Buffy, don’t make me give you my resolve face.” She said sternly.
Buffy looked back down at the ice and the team gathering around Spike. She was sure that she shouldn’t go out with Willow; it would be a big party at the Bronze since the team had won. But she also knew that she couldn’t keep turning her down.
“I’ll meet you there,” she said, finally giving in.
“The Bronze—we should be there in no more than an hour. If you aren’t there I promise you I will come looking for you.” Willow warned, giving her friend a pointed look for good measure. “Tonight you are going to get Nationals off your mind and enjoy the moment.”
Buffy rolled her eyes and hooked her arm through Willow’s. Together the two friends headed to the front of the building where they met up with a few more girls from the rink.
“Buffy, are you coming out with us tonight?” Cordelia asked, surprised.
“For a bit,” Buffy answered. “I’ll meet you guys at the Bronze in a few. I need to see Giles about a few things.”
Buffy quickly slipped away from the others and headed back towards the rinks offices. She didn’t actually go speak with Giles; she had simply used him as an excuse not to carpool with the others. She wanted the freedom to leave when she wanted, not when everyone else decided to. Finally, when she knew she couldn’t put it off any further, she headed to the Bronze.
The smell of smoke and alcohol hit her as soon as she walked in the door of the popular club. Music was blasting from speakers and the dance floor was full of people. Looking around she spotted Willow, Oz and another rink employee Tara at the bar getting drinks. Carefully she made her way through the crowd to join them.
“You made it,” Willow squealed in delight at seeing her friend. “You must have a drink---Dan, we need another diet Coke, please!”
The bartender near Willow nodded and reached for another glass. Buffy laughed at Willow’s enthusiasm. She appreciated the bubbliness of her red headed best friend. She was bouncing in time with the music and grinning like the Cheshire cat. Taking their drinks from the bartender the small group headed over to an empty table and sat down. Once settled Buffy surveyed the dance floor to see who else was there. She spotted Spike off in a dark corner with a leggy brunette. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her friends. It was typical for him to be with a girl like that; tall, leggy, brunette…beautiful, all things completely opposite her. How could she ever compete? Finally, Oz and Willow disappeared out onto the dance floor, dragging Tara with them. Buffy thought about leaving, but suddenly decided against it, realizing that she was at least enjoying watching the crowd. It was then that she felt a presence behind her.
“Come dance with me, Buffy.” A husky, and very British, voice said softly in her ear. She shivered as she felt his breath on the side of her neck, then suddenly it was gone. Buffy whirled around on her stool and came face to face with Spike. His leggy brunette friend was nowhere to be seen.
“Me?” Buffy asked, her jaw dropping in surprise.
“Your name is Buffy, right?” he said giving her a teasing grin. Buffy felt her cheeks flame with heat. Apparently Spike didn’t notice, or care, as he took the glass from her hand and carefully placed it on the table behind her. Grasping her hand in his, he pulled her off her stool and led her out to the dance floor as a slower, love song started to play. Spike pulled her into his arms and lightly wrapped them around her waist. Buffy, not sure what else to do, reached up and placed her hands on his shoulders. Unable to look Spike in the eye, she rested her forehead on his shoulder. Spike bent his head so that his lips were right next to her ear. Buffy could feel his breath tickling her earlobe, and she bit back a groan.
“ ‘m glad you decided to join us tonight, love.”
Buffy leaned closer into his embrace and sighed when Spikes arms tightened around her waist pulling her more firmly against his body. She was going to pay dearly for this dance. Buffy was sure of it. It felt so right to be in his arms, but she knew better. He was trouble with a capital T.
Buffy’s dream then drifted off to another memory a few weeks later.
“Have lunch with me, love.” Buffy looked up from the desk in her new office at the rink and saw Spike standing in the doorway. He was still dressed in hockey gear, having just come off the ice after working with a group of kids from the local high school.
“Right now?” she said looking at the clock on her computer.
“Give me 30 minutes to shower and change.”
Buffy pondered the offer for a minute. The past few weeks had been pretty ideal. Spike had begun to pay a lot of attention to her. He was constantly reaching out to her. Buffy was so pleasantly shocked by it all that she rarely said no when Spike requested to spend time with her.
“I have to be back by two for practice,” she reminded him.
“Not a problem,” he said with a grin. He disappeared from her doorway without another word. He was back in no time at all and they left the rink. After a quick lunch at Buffy’s favorite restaurant, Johnnie’s they returned just in time for Buffy to slip off to the employee locker room to get ready for her practice session. Spike returned to his own office and was surprised when a few minutes later he heard a knock on his door.
“Enter!”
“Hey,” Buffy said softly as she entered his office. She took a look around and surveyed the small room. It was full of trophies, posters and random articles of hockey gear. What surprised her was the two large bookshelves stuffed full of books that filled the far wall. Spike moved quickly and was in front of her before she registered that he had moved. Before she knew it he had the door closed and her pressed back against it. Resting his hands on her waist he bent down to softly brush his lips against hers. Reaching up and winding her arms around his neck Buffy pulled him closer, winding her fingers into his hair, ruffling up the curls he normally so carefully slicked back. Moaning at the feel of her pressed against him, Spike tightened his hold on her waist, bringing her lower body into contact with his. Buffy felt her cheeks flame as she felt his evident arousal, but it only caused her to tighten her own hold on him. Spike let go of her waist and slid a hand up to cup her breast, gently giving it a slight squeeze. The shrill ringing of the phone on Spikes desk made Buffy remember where they were. Spike ignored it and started pressing a trail of kisses from her jaw, down her throat to her neckline, ending with a kiss on her collarbone.
“Guess you need to get on the ice,” he said, his voice low and gravelly.
“You need to answer your phone.” Buffy gasped, as he gave her another swift kiss. When he pulled away again she realized that the phone had stopped ringing. Spike pulled back, but didn’t let her go, giving her a sheepish grin.
“Guess we got a little carried away there.”
He was rewarded with a slight blush and smile from Buffy. She took in a few deep breaths trying to calm herself, knowing she needed to get out to practice, but that if she went out now, everyone would know she had been up to something.
“Buffy, love, before you go, I want to ask you something.” Buffy froze when Spike spoke. Her thoughts went in a million different directions thinking about what he could want to talk about.
“What?” she asked cautiously. Spike felt her tense in his arms, so he slowly slipped a hand to the small of her back and began rubbing in slight circles, hoping she would relax.
“I know you’re leaving for Nationals in a couple days, and I was kinda wonderin’ if you…” Spike ran his free hand through his hair in frustration. “I was wonderin’ if you would mind if I came along.”
Buffy looked up and saw the uncertainty shining in his eyes and she was touched. Touched by the fact that he wanted to come see her skate, and also that he felt the need to ask if she would mind.
“I would love it if you came,” she said softly, giving him a shy smile.
Spike let out a sigh of relief. “I guess that might mean that people might get an idea ‘bout us.”
Buffy shrugged. “They might, they might not. It doesn’t really matter to me. It’s not like we’ll make a big deal of it. We’re friends, Spike. Friends go support other friends at big events.”
“Course,” he hastily agreed.
“Were you thinking of coming up with us on Thursday, or wait until Friday when the competition starts?”
“I…well…I was kinda thinkin’ of headin’ on up Thursday with you and Lorne.” Spike said nervously. “But if you don’t want me there for practice I can wait ‘til Saturday.” He finished quickly.
“No, it’d be nice to have you there during practice.” Buffy didn’t want him to thinks he didn’t want him around, yet she knew that he understood she didn’t often like an audience during practice. The thought of having him come with her made her nervous. It would mean that people might get an idea about them being together. She wasn’t sure she was ready for that. She still wasn’t sure that they were going to last. Ever since Spike had arrived in Sunnydale he had been notorious for short term relationships & they had already been together for nearly three weeks. She didn’t want to get excited and then have him break her heart. She slipped carefully from his arms and Spike took a step back to let her open the door.
She paused for a moment in the doorway and looked back. “I’ll talk to you about it later, after practice.”
Spike nodded, and she disappeared from the doorway closing the door behind her.
A few weeks later…
Buffy had won the National Championships a few weeks prior and now was in the midst of performing her long program at the World Championships. When she had finished and her scores were up she realized that with only one skater to go, the favorite to win, she was currently leading. She was guaranteed at least the silver medal! Ecstatic she rushed backstage to the warm up area searching for Spike. World’s had been in Chicago this year and he had come along to watch her skate. She saw him across the room, scrunched into a tiny chair in front of a small television set. His eyes lit up when he saw her approach.
“You were amazin’, love” he said, standing up and lifting her up into his arms. Buffy squealed as he twirled her around once before placing her back down.
“Thanks,” she said still a little breathless from her skate, and her cheeks were flushed with excitement. Winning the gold at Nationals had been a wonderful experience, but the fact that she more than likely would medal at Worlds was exhilarating. She stayed in the warm up area with Lorne and Spike and watched the final skater finish her performance. As expected she did very well, and bumped Buffy down to the second position. But that didn’t matter, silver was still exciting for her first trip to Worlds. Spike wouldn’t let her not go out and celebrate that night after the medal ceremony, declaring that it would be a shame not to take Chicago up on its superb nightlife, and they had a good reason to celebrate too. They had had a wonderful time that night enjoying the Chicago nightlife. So much so, that it was nearly 3 am before they were in a cab on their way back to the hotel.
“You were great tonight,” Spike murmured as she rested her head on his shoulder. His arm was wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close. She was nearly asleep the moment they were safely in the cab.
“Thanks,” she mumbled back as she made herself more comfortable against his body, settling in for the ride to
their hotel. Spike chuckled and held her tighter.
“You are one amazing woman, Buffy Summers.” He whispered softly into her hair.
“Hmmm.” She mumbled back snuggling even closer. “I think I love you.”
She felt his body slightly tense against hers, but he said nothing, just rested his chin on the top her head as she fell asleep thinking about how perfect things seemed to be.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
I tried to get some more space in here so hopefully that helps with readability. Sorry I didn't think of that before. I have not played with HTML tags for a long time so hopefully I got it right.
Chapter End Notes:
I will try to get another chapter up soon. Let me know what ya'll think so far.