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Chapter 5

It was gone past midnight when the pair pushed open the front door. Faith was still sprawled out on the couch, still encompassed in her sleep. Buffy smiled at the sight of her cousin snoring softly.

“She didn’t even realize you were gone.” Buffy observed while heading for her room.

“Buffy wait,” Spike grabbed her arm and span her round to face him. Her green eyes were still watery from the night’s events. The words stuck in his throat as he tried to express them. She had been hurt, and he could not hurt her again. “I meant what I said before. I like you. I’d like to take you out sometime….well to give it another try.” he stammered looking at his shoes suddenly. ’God this must be the first girl to make you nervous about asking for a date, stop being a stupid twat.’ Spike’s mind berated scolded himself.

“So would I, I like you too.” she smiled back at him, the small grin spreading on his lips, making Spike’s heart swell.

Without warning, Spike leaned in and kissed her. It was soft at first, savoring the moment between the two of them. Buffy was more than shocked, the kiss had come out of nowhere. She relaxed into his hold, wanting this as much as he had. Their lips and tongues exploring each other’s mouths, while allowing themselves to delve deep into the desire that they both stirred up for the other. Passion took over them both; fire and frustration infused them together, both wanting more.

Slowly and to both blonde’s dismay, Spike pulled away.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that pet.” he looked away again. He was pushing her; it was too much too quick, even if he had already admitted that he was starting to like her greatly. She wasn’t like most of the girls round here, she was sweet. Buffy didn’t seem the type to just want a one-night stand and go home. She wanted –no, Buffy needed more.

“Don’t be sorry.” she said sweetly, cupping his face with her hands and urging him to look at her. “I didn’t stop it.” She whispered.

Spike sighed and gave her quick peck on the cheek, before allowing her to go into her room and himself heading for the living room. Pulling the remainder of the cushion from Faith, he listened for the Buffy’s door shutting before he settled down to try and sleep.

~******~

An hour later, Buffy was still awake. Every time she shut her eyes she could see Warrens’ evil grin shining back at her. What he had almost done mad her sick just to think about it. Pulling her self out of bed she crept into the living room. She quickly glanced around the cornertrying to see if anyone was awake. She was about to head back to her room when a small cough stopped her.

“Cant sleep either love?” Spike asked pushing the glasses he was wearing, to the top of his head.

“Nope, my mind won’t stop racing.” she answered feeling slightly nervous. Her slender arms wrapped themselves around her body, her body trying not to fidget under his gaze. Faith rolled over and groaned in her sleep, the very little noise they were making obviously disturbing her. “You wanna come in my room…talk in there for a bit.” How forward she just was made her blush as she silently prayed to God that Spike wouldn’t laugh at her, or anything along those lines.

“Sure.” Spike chuckled as he got up, laughing only at the way she blushed.

Following her into her room they both sat on her bed. The silence becoming unsettling.

“We’ve talked so much about me tonight, and I know nothing about you.” Buffy started.

“What do you wanna know?”

“How come you joined the army?”

“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” he laughed, with a shrug. Buffy just carried on staring at him. “Okay, okay, I was an army brat too. Hard to believe, ain’t it. Dad was stationed down south when we were little, I rebelled as we all do, end up with no exams or anything so I had to do something rather than sit on the dole.” he shrugged again.

“So it wasn’t to see the world or anything then?” she laughed.

“Nope, I did enough of that growing up. It was a wage packet more than anything.” he smiled at how happy she seemed to be. “What about you anyway pet, what did you want to do when you grew up?”

“Don’t know really, I was too interested in being popular when I was in school. Did kinda like kids though I thought at one point I wanted to teach kindergarten, however I suppose now it would be what ever the equivalent is.” she looked at him. His azure eyes, she could swear could see into her soul and were leaving her mesmerized.

“That would be infants love and why not go for it? Nothing stopping you.” he asked.

“Coz there is a million reasons stopping me. One of them being money or lack of it.”

“Trivial thing.” Spike laughed. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, is…if you want something, go for it.”

“Suppose.” she yawned her shoulders sagging.

“You getting tired love, I’ll see you in the morning.” he stood to leave but she took his hand and stared into his eyes again.

“Stay.” Buffy said looking up at him, pleading with her eyes. “Please, I’m not asking you to sleep with me, I just don’t want to be on my own right now.”

“You sure pet?” Buffy nodded moving over to allow Spike more room.

They both snuggled together, Spike pulling her closer, stroking her arm. His breathing became shallow with the onset of sleep.

“I think I would like to be your girlfriend.” She sighed as sleep took her.

Spikes heart raced, was that her asking him out this time? He watched her for a moment before sleep claimed him too.

~****~

Faith stretched out of her sleep. The sun was streaming in through the front room window, making her squint her eyes. Checking her watch she saw it was still early, but she was wondering where Spike was. Last time she looked he had fallen asleep with her on the couch. She heard Buffy’s door open, and she went to greet her cousin, but was stopped dead in her tracks as she saw a sleep ruffled Spike leave the girl’s room.

“What the hell happened?” she hissed trying to not to wake Buffy, but showing her shock to him at the same time. His clothes were completely wrinkled and he was currently sporting the sex hair style.

“Nothing, we just fell asleep that’s all. Be quiet or you’re gonna wake her.” Spike pulled Buffy’s door closed and headed for the kitchen, with Faith quickly following Spike on her heels. “Look, she was upset and we talked really that’s all.” Faith didn’t look convinced however. “Do you really think I would be stupid enough to sleep with your cousin in your house and then try and get away with it?”

“Yes, but I believe you. It was fun just watching you sweat for a while.” she smirked.

There was a knock at the door. Faith and Spike looked at each other and shrugged, neither knowing who it could be that early in the morning. The knocking began to turn into a heavy banging.

“OK, OK I’m coming for gods sakes.” Faith shouted as she threw the door open.

“Morning Faith.” greeted an older man standing at the door.

“Dad? Not that I’m not glad to see you but I thought you were in Germany or somewhere, training people?” Faith asked hugging her father.

“I got in this morning, but its not you I’ve come to talk to, it’s Spike.”

Spike perked up and came to the door, giving a salute to his superior. “Major Giles?”

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Chapter 6

“William there is no need for formalities, we’re both out of base right now.” Giles said with a smile. Faith just rolled her eyes at his dorky movement.

“Sorry sir, I mean Giles.” Spike stuttered. “What did you want me for anyway?” he asked.

“I stopped by the base last night and heard some things I really didn’t want to…concerning you.” Giles looked at him apologetically. “Did you and Warren come to blows last night?”

“Well yeah, but it wasn’t some drunken brawl, I was defending Buffy” his voice was with worry.

“Well Warren came back to base last night and called the RP’s. He wants you on lock down till you go on maneuvers.”

“Why am I thinking Spike, that something else happened after I fell asleep last night?” Faith asked her eyes burning into him.

“Yeah something did, Buffy needed to blow off steam, Red and Oz found her in the pub, drunk and Warren was coming onto her again. I found ‘cem in the alley, he was trying to erm…” Suddenly Spike found himself in a situation where words failed him. He felt like her was betraying Buffy, just by saying as little as he did.

“Warrens painting a different picture.” Giles stated flatly. “Spike I’ve known you since the day you were born, Ethan was one of the finest soldiers I ever served with, and I will do what I can to get you out of this…but I cant make promises. Your record goes against you. You think Buffy…..”

“NO” Spike spat, cutting him off. “She’s been through enough already, she doesn’t need to go through everything again.”

“But Spike,” Faith started before being cut off.

“I’ll do it.” Buffy said quietly from her doorway.

They all turned to look at her. Spike smiled sweetly at her as her uncle pulled her into a welcoming hug.

“Pet you don’t have to do that, I can get my self out of trouble.” he said softly. He desperately wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her.

“Yes, I really do.” she said pulling away from her uncle. “I got you into this mess and I’m gonna get you out of it.” she said firmly meeting his stare. Her look held such confidence, showing him she was hell bent on getting him out of the trouble she caused. Spike knew he was beaten.

~******~

Buffy came out of the major’s office, her face tear stained yet again. The red barrettes of the RP’s following her. She smiled at her uncle as he followed the crowd out of the office.

“Rayne, get in here now.” his commanding officer yelled at him.

Spike followed, shutting the door behind him and pulling himself to attention. “Sir” he answered his eyes fixed on the window in front of him.

“She backs up your story. You seem to be off the hook for now.” the disappointment in the officer’s voice was clear. “Now get out of here. You have another day of leave left, and don’t get into anymore trouble.”

“Sir” Spike saluted before leaving the office.

Buffy was waiting out side the door, twisting her coat in her hands. What if something bad was going to happen to him. It would be all her fault, she would have fucked up again, and she couldn’t bear the thought of screwing up again. The door opening, jolted her from her thoughts and she was greeted by Spike’s grin as she stood up to meet him. Not holding back she pulled him into a tight hug.

“You’re okay then? I didn’t get you into trouble?” she asked as the tears began to threaten to fall again.

“No love, you didn’t. They believed you, and I’m off the hook. Though I have been told to behave.” he grinned. Buffy heaved a sigh of relief into his chest. “You wanna go get something to eat then?” he asked. She nodded as he led her off base.

~******~

Sitting in the fast food restaurant, Spike couldn’t help but laugh at her as she tried to drink her milkshake through the straw.

“You can stop that, its not so easy as it looks.” she laughed back at him, holding shake drenched straw as if threatening to chuck it at him.

“Why don’t you just take the lid off and drink it that way? Wouldn’t it be easier?”

“Well, where would the fun be in that?” she smirked at him.

Spike spotted Willow and Oz enter the building. He gestured for them to join them, as he scooted closer to Buffy. The red head flopped into the chair opposite them, and glared at Spike.

“What I do?” he asked puzzled.

“You wanted to rehearse this afternoon that’s what. You lot have one day left and you want to spend it bashing away at base? You’re a total freak that’s what, god if I didn’t like you I would so, so, so, oh I don’t know what, but I really dislike you right now.” Willow breathed heavily trying to catch her breath from her rant.

“Jesus I forgot.” he said hitting his head on the table. “I was s’pose to spend day with the Buffy.”

“No don’t worry Spike, I can go home and…” Buffy started.

“Oh goody you’ve been stood up too. Wanna go shopping?” Willow asked excitedly.

Buffy looked at Spike nervously, new people still made her uneasy, he smiled at her encouraging her to go. “You should go pet, no point being cooped up on my account.”

“Sure, okay then.” Buffy answered quietly a little hesitant at first.

“She ranted at you then?” Oz asked as he came up to the table and put Willow’s food in front of her.

“Could say something like that.” Spike laughed. “But we fixed it. These two are going shopping instead.”

“Good, so we gonna make a move then?” he asked.

Spike nodded, getting up with his friend. He leant over and kissed Buffy softly on the lips. Her shyness left her as she melted into the kiss, everything they were both feeling pouring into it. Spike pulled away and smiled at her blush. “I’ll see you later okay.”

“Okay” Was all she could manage. She turned and saw Willow smiling at them both and her blush deepened.

“You like him don’t you?” The red head asked, grinning wildly.

“Yeah I do, he’s sweet.” Buffy couldn’t help but giggle.

“God don’t let him hear you say that, completely ruin his image.” Buffy laughed again. “I don’t want to put a dampener on things for you but if you can’t cope with your honey being away for months at a time, with no phone calls, and very little contact, then walk away now and save both yourselves a lot of heart ache.” Willow’s face was suddenly deadly serious.

“I think I can handle it Willow, I just want to be with him. He makes me feel safe.” she smiled shyly.

“Well that’s okay then. We gonna hit the shops then?” she smiled, turning the mood totally on its head.

“I don’t have a lot of money, the diner doesn’t pay too well.”

“That’s what the Barracks ID is for. I have one as I am an official army brat,” she smiled. “Daddy was an officer before he retired. So I got lots of lovely discounts.”

“Okay then sounds like a plan.” Buffy answered laughing, relaxing with her new friend.

~******~

A few hours later the girls collapsed outside a coffee shop, bags piling around their feet as they ordered coffee. The friendship had blossomed in the few hours that they had spent together, realizing they had more in common then they could of thought. Willow was the brainy type, with hidden shyness that she seemed to over come since her relationship with Oz. She was never part of the “IT” crowd but she had a good heart and she wore it on her sleeve, Buffy admired that.

“The boys said they will meet us here.” Buffy said closing her phone and taking a long drink from her coffee.

“Oh good, they can carry this lot home then.” Willow smirked looking down at her bags.

“That was my thinking.”

Willow’s eyes locked on a crowd of girls who were walking their way. Suddenly the red head was trying to hide behind her coffee mug. Her eyes hitting the floor as the girls spotted her.

“Willow what’s wrong?” Buffy asked before her chair was barged into by one of the girls.

“Oh little Miss bookworm.” one of the girls drawled. Her gothic features accentuated by the dark makeup she was wearing.

“Oh look and it’s the super freak Warrens been telling us about Dru.” the other girl commented grinning menacingly at Buffy.

“Oh it is Cordelia! What fun! My Spike wouldn’t have her so she went to scrape the bucket with Warren.” Dru hissed, thoroughly enjoying how uncomfortable she was making the girls.

“Leave her alone Dru.” Willow tried meekly.

“My god she speaks. If she aint careful, I will knock her down like I did in high school.” Dru spat, squaring up to Willow.

Oz grabbed Dru’s arm just as it was about to make contact with Willow’s cheek. The usually quiet mild mannered man had fury burning in his eyes, as he pushed her backwards.

“I’ve never hit a woman Drusilla, but I might make an exception if you raise a hand to her again. Though I have been told you like that sort of thing.”

“OOO Spikey you’ve been telling our little secrets again haven’t you, naughty puppy.” she said smiling sweetly at the bleached blonde who stood next to Dru looking equally as pissed as Oz.

“History Dru and you know it, now piss off.” Spike ground out grabbing Buffy by the hand. “Now Dru!” he yelled making her turn on her heels grabbing Cordelia and storming off.

“You okay baby?” Oz asked Willow, planting kisses over her face. She just nodded trying to fight back the tears.

“Are you okay Buffy?” Spike asked.

“Yeah I’m fine.” she stopped and looked at him concern on her face. “You went out with her?”

“Yeah I did.” he laughed. “A moment of true weakness, but its you I want.” he said kissing her softly.

“A moment, try 12 months.” Oz laughed.

“Okay on a happier note, you birds coming out tonight. Last night of freedom for a week and all. We are playing at the Bronze.” Spike asked.

“The Bronze?” Buffy asked confused.

“Yeah it’s a club just outside the barracks, it’s an okay place.” Willow added. “I’m up for it.”

“Sure why not, I’m not working.” Buffy added.

“Good it’s a date then.” Oz smiled.

“OOO I can ready at yours.” Willow said leaving the bags for the boys, and pulling Buffy ahead of them. “Spike will die when he sees you in that dress you’ve just bought.”

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