Chapter 17
Annoyed, Buffy wrenched her hand from his grasp. "I'm not cattle, SPIKE. You can't push me around and tell me what to do. If you want to come with me, that's fine, but I am not going to be made to feel as if I need to be shackled to your side. Do you understand ME?"
Spike gritted his teeth and was about to respond, when she took off. He started for her and Willow grabbed his arm. "Just give her a minute."
Spike started to protest, but Willow cut him off. "Do you want to drive her clear away?"
Spike stopped. Sighing, he replied. "No."
"Then give her a minute. No woman—hell no person, likes to be told what
to do. I think I understand why you felt the need to do that, but you can't
expect to come on all strong all of sudden and expect her to be okay with
it."
"I'm new to this Willow," Spike admitted, with an air of defeat. "I don't
know all that I'm doing here. I'm saying things and implying things that I . .
. I just want her to come to me."
"And she will."
Spike stared at her imploringly, "Will she?"
"Why don't we find someplace to talk?"
Spike looked toward where Buffy had headed, unwilling to let her out of his
sight.
"You want her to come to you right?" Willow asked.
Spike nodded, slightly pouting.
"Then make her wonder where you disappeared to," Willow grinned.
Spike smiled broadly. "You're a smart bird, I ever tell you that?"
Willow chuckled. "Once or twice."
It'd been a little difficult to find a place they could talk, but they happened
upon a fire exit that had just been vacated and they took up residence
there.
Once out there, beers in hand, Willow started in on her line of questioning.
"So Buffy told me about Drusilla. That's her name right?"
Spike nodded and grinned, "It is. I'm sure she had something other than
that to call her right? She's awfully fond of ‘Bride of Dracula'."
"She's jealous."
"Jealous because she wants me as a man, or because it threatens her
friendship with me?"
"Both."
Spike looked at her hopefully. "Do you really think so Wills?"
"Yes. Are you dating Drusilla? I mean, what's the deal with her?"
"She's a friend. A good friend."
"That's it?"
"That's it. I don't even think she has any interest in anything else with me.
She's been all about helping me get Buffy."
"Really?" Willow asked, surprised.
"Yeah," Spike replied, scratching the back of his neck in a thoughtful
manner. "It's kind of weird actually. It was like she knew right away that . .
. "
"You were in love with Buffy."
Spike looked down. "Yeah." His head popped up. "So you've known huh?"
"For a very long time."
"Does she . . .?"
"Are you asking me to disclose private information?"
"No, never mind. I don't want you to do that."
"William, I gotta tell you that if you aren't dating Drusilla, you need to tell
Buffy that."
"Is she—?"
"I'm not disclosing private information, remember? I'm just telling you, to
let her know."
"I guess I kind of wanted to make her wonder a little since I wasn't sure
about Finn."
"Are your fears about him laid to rest now?"
"Possibly."
"So just for clarification purposes, and you don't have to answer me, but
when Dru was making you over, you and her didn't. . . you know?"
"Willow Rosenburg, are you talking about SEX?" he asked in a hushed
whisper, in mock shock.
"Dork. Yes, I'm talking about sex."
Spike grinned, "No, we never."
"So then, have you . . . ?"
Spike blushed and turned away, "Not at all embarrassing, Red."
"I thought with this new outlook on life you've adopted things like that
wouldn't embarrass you."
"I'm still me, Wills. I'm still the same old William, just a few things about
me are more pronounced than they ever were."
"Like actively pursuing Buffy."
"Right. And it's hard sometimes ya know? Like for example, when we got
here. I felt myself getting shy and uneasy about being here. I kept seeing
the same old scenario of me sitting in the corner and watching Buffy,
wishing I could punch every guy that touched her or talked to her, and
wishing it were me she was with all night."
"She always comes back to you William, doesn't that tell you something?"
"Yeah, but. . . I don't want to settle for just that anymore."
"I understand."
"So anyway, I felt ‘William' coming through. I had to shove that part of me
down, I don't want to be that shy guy anymore. I want to be the guy that
Buffy doesn't feel she has to coddle and mother all the time. I want to take
care of her for once."
"William, you always have taken care of her."
"Not the same way as she has me. I want to be a man for her Wills, not a
boy."
Willow nodded. "I see."
"And I had this plan where I'd make her want me so that she'd . . . and I
find myself saying these things like earlier about conserving water and I've
never. . . and then I wonder what the hell will I do if she does jump me?"
Willow giggled, "I'm not laughing at you, I'm not. It's just. . . Well, to be
frank? Looking at you now William, you don't look like a virgin. You look
like you've been around the block and then some."
Spike grinned, his chest puffing out. "Thanks."
"And I think when the moment comes, instinct will take over somewhat
and whatever doesn't, Buffy will be there to guide you."
"I love her Wills. I have for a long, long time. I want to be worthy of her
love in return."
"You are William. You always have been worth of it and she's always
thought so. It's why she was so afraid she was losing you."
"So she. . . loved the old me?"
"I can't speak for her, but I really think she did, she DOES."
"So . . . baby steps?"
"Baby steps."
Buffy's eyes scoured the room as she sipped her beer and stood in the dark
corner, trying not to make it obvious in case William was nearby that she
was looking for him. Had been for the past fifteen minutes. She was starting
to get impatient. And Willow was missing too. Great, did she have to be
jealous of her now too?
"Hey gorgeous," the drunk door greeter slurred in her ear.
She jumped and wrinkled her nose as the scent of his breath wafted to her
nose. "Uh, hi," she said turning to face him.
"Where'd your boyfriend go?"
"He's not my boyfriend."
"He's not?"
"Nope."
"Fuck buddy?"
"What? No! We're roommates and best—"
"Ah, live in fuck buddy."
"You're disgusting," she spat and started to walk away.
The guy grabbed her and slammed her up against him, walking her
backwards around the corner and into what appeared to be a bedroom. He
ground his erection into her. She wanted to throw up. "No reason you can't
share the wealth, bitch," the guy sneered.
"Get off me!" she shouted at him and shoved him.
He shoved her against the wall, hard. "Come on baby. Don't be coy."
Slamming his lips against hers and catching her off guard, Buffy lost some of
her balance, thereby sending her into his arms. He grinded and she pushed,
feeling something akin to panic set in.
"Get AWAY from me! Get OFF me!" she yelled, hoping someone would
round the corner or hear her above the music and chatter.
"Don't be such a bitch," drunk guy slurred and slobbered on her neck.
"Buffy?" William.
Relief flooded through her and she nearly sobbed William's name.
That's when she watched in amazement as William hauled the guy off her
and punched him dead in the face. He crumbled to the ground in a heap,
passed out. He turned to her, "Are you all right?"
She burst into tears. "He just wouldn't stop touching me. I kept saying ‘no'
and he was gross and no one was coming. Will, I want to go home!"
He took her in his arms, ran his fingers through her hair soothingly as she
held onto him for dear life and cried into his shoulder.
"Can we go?" she whimpered.
He nodded. "We'll collect Willow and go all right?"
"Okay."
Wrapping his arm around her, he kicked the guy for good measure in the
ribs and led her out of the room.
"Hey there," Willow started cheerily, bouncing up to them and then
stopped. "What happened?"
"Some guy didn't know how to take no for an answer," William explained.
"Coming?"
"Definitely. Should someone tell Riley?"
"I just want to go," Buffy whimpered and snuggled into Williams embrace.
"We're gone," Willow declared and they made for the exit.
Buffy relaxed once they were out of the apartment. William turned her in
his arms and studied her. "Did he hurt you bad?"
"Just scared me," she told him. "He just took me by surprise and I thought
with all those people around . . ."
"Sometimes that's when it's easier for someone to do something like that,"
Willow explained. "Busy party, no one really talking all that much and you
see something across a room that looks like a couple making out and you
don't pay much attention . . . I'm sorry Buffy."
"I think once I got over the shock I could have done something," Buffy said
softly.
"You're safe now," William said gently, brushing some hair away from her
face.
She nodded. "Take me home?"
"Of course luv."
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Author's Chapter Notes:
If anyone has any questions about the characters or the story, feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to discuss it/them with you! :)