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Chapter 4: ‘An Offer He Can’t Refuse’


Summary: Buffy and Spike remember their past together. Spike makes a silent, personal vow to get Buffy back!

Buffy makes Spike an offer to help him out of this predicament.


Buffy waited until Dawn had scurried back into the guest bedroom and Johnathan had departed William’s apartment. In the meantime, William had wisely mixed up a drink for her, gin and tonic, just like the old days.

While Buffy sipped her drink, William paced back and forth in front of her, a constant cigarette hanging from his lovely mouth.

“I thought maybe you’d have quit by now,” Buffy mumbled through sips of her drink. She gave William her sternest eye as she drained her glass of its contents.

“Fuck no,” Spike spat, “I smoke more now then ever, Princess,” he admitted bitterly. “I’ve never quit smoking, especially after you left me,” he admitted reluctantly.

Buffy decided it was a good time to change the subject and said,
“Give it to me straight, Will. Do you think the little doll’s daddy is going to come back for her?”

Spike stopped his pacing and met Buffy’s green-eyed gaze, almost afraid to say the words they both were thinking. “I don’t bloody know, luv,” he whispered, finally. “He was ‘sposed to be back, no later then 9:00 last night. Jesus, Buffy,” he muttered as he poured more whiskey into his glass. “If you were the Bit’s dad? Would you just abandon the poor little thing?” The whimper in his deep voice mortified Spike, but he held his ex-lover’s gaze.

“What about her mother?” Buffy asked attentively. “Where’s she? Did the guy say?”

“Dead,” Spike replied evenly. “Angel told me so and the Bit did too. The kid thinks her mummy is in Heaven,” he finished with a bitter snort.

Spike watched Buffy’s expression go from stern to pained in a matter of a second. It hurt him to see the haunted look in Buffy’s beautiful green eyes and know that her memory of her own dead mother had caused it.

‘Oh, God, she looks so right standing there in her pretty little red dress. Like she’s right where she belongs. With me,’ he thought longingly. ‘As if she never left me in the first place and she’s just come home from work, to me. Why’d you go, Princess? Why’d you leave me and why won’t you come back to me?’

The longing in his silent question caused his throat to go dry and his heart to pound in his chest. ‘Feels like I’m havin’ a bloody heart attack,’ he reasoned. The knowledge that Buffy was only ‘dropping by’ was killing Spike by inches. ‘She belongs here, with me, in my world,’ he assured himself. Once again, Spike made a silent vow to himself that he would get Buffy back, one day. Even if it took him an eternity.

Without thinking, Spike closed the gap between him and Buffy and automatically reached out to take her in his arms. When Buffy stepped back from him, Spike realized exactly what he’d almost done. The affectionate look on his face vanished, instantly, and he crossed his arms over his chest, taking on a hard stance.

Buffy flinched, unintentionally and flopped down on the big comfy chair in the living room. Her ex’s ‘move’ on her had thrown her for a loop, so she decided to get some distance between them. She kicked off her heels and stared at William, glumly, noting that his lovely blue eyes were narrowed and hard. William stared at her, coldly, causing her a tinge of regret and yes, guilt, deep in her chest.

“Sure deal, Peaches said,” Spike muttered in disgust. “Sure deal my British arse,” he hissed.

“I get it,” Buffy huffed with indignation, “Angel’s a jerk; no big news there. But you went along with this, William,” she reminded him sternly. “If this sure deal was such a…”

“I know,” he mumbled miserably. “But I didn’t think that the bloke would back out on a bet. Let his own daughter down?”

“The little doll,” Buffy implored, changing the uncomfortable subject. “She really reminds you of me? Even just a little?”

Buffy watched her ex-lover’s reaction, carefully, as she tried to read his inner thoughts. William was a paradox; he always had been and no one was more aware of that then Buffy. From the first time they’d met, Will and her, she had been completely aware of the contradiction in her man’s nature.

‘My man,’ Buffy thought sadly, ‘he hasn’t been my man in years. And yet…’ she mused.

“She’s a tough little dame,” Spike whispered gruffly. He couldn’t meet Buffy’s gaze now and that was for sure. “The Bit is a chip off the old block of Buffy,” he chuckled good-naturedly. “Yes,” he stammered, “there’s something about Dawn that reminds me of you, Princess. When I first saw you, at Willie’s Café on 97th Street. Remember?”

“I remember. How could I forget,” Buffy murmured dreamily. “I was eighteen-years-old and new to the City. I was waiting tables at Willie’s. You were this dashing, sophisticated older male customer that came in one night and couldn’t take your eyes of me!” She giggled merrily at the slight blush on William’s handsome face.

“Came to Willie’s for the first time that night,” Spike added with a smile. “Saw you fightin’ off the riff raff at Willie’s and you’re right, pet. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you. Knew you had to be mine, someday. If I remember right,” he continued smugly, “it was me that convinced that bloated, overbearing bloke at your station to keep his filthy hands off your bum!” Spike chuckled gleefully, happy when Buffy giggled along with him.

“No,” Buffy interjected with a pout, “it was you that threatened to break his fu**ing neck if he even looked at me again! Then you paid your bill; tipped me a twenty and told me to meet you outside. You told me to be outside, to meet you, at the end of my shift. I thought you were going to make the moves on me, Will,” Buffy whispered, suddenly very serious.

“But you didn’t, did you?” She shook her blond head, ruefully. You began to sermonize to me about being in New York, a saintly little California doll like me. How there were predators just waiting around every corner to devour a sweet little morsel like me.

Then you wrote down your name and address and told me to come see you, about a decent job. And I did, the next day,” Buffy smiled softly in the memory of it.

“That’s when I got you the job, at Easy Street,” Spike broke in without thinking. “Never even touched you, or tried to anyway, until you were nineteen and ready,” he finished on a wistful note.

Was I,” Buffy murmured, deep in her own thoughts at the present time? “Was I really ever ready for you?” She looked away from William’s steely gaze and focused her stare on the old, familiar couch. ‘Same one he had when I was really around,’ she realized in awe.

“I thought you were,” Spike mumbled under his breath. “I wanted you to be; no, needed you to be ready for me.” He walked slowly over to where Buffy was sitting and hunched down to make his face even with hers.

Spike reached out and gently lifted Buffy’s chin up, with his finger, to meet his sincere gaze. He stared at her, lovingly and used his right hand to stroke her cheek, tenderly.

“I loved you Buffy,” he stammered bashfully, “from day one. From the first time I saw you at Willie’s. I knew you were the one for me, Princess.”

Buffy shivered at William’s tender touch, but she pulled her face away and took on her best ‘tough girl’ stance. ‘Don’t fall into it, again, Summers,’ she admonished herself. ‘Will hasn’t changed a bit and he never will…’

She tried not to notice the resentful look in William’s lovely blue eyes. Buffy leaned back into the warm, comfy couch and whispered, “If the little doll’s daddy doesn’t come back for her? What are you going to do, William?”

Spike leapt up and began to pace again, anxiously lighting another cigarette. He stopped long enough to fix Buffy and himself another drink, even if neither of them needed it, really.

“Don’t know,” Spike spat as he handed Buffy her drink, careful not to touch her long, slim fingers with his. “I thought I might give a ring, on the telly, to Lieutenant Wilkens, down in the 43rd precinct. He’s a fairly honest bloke and he could maybe set Dawn up in a good place. We can find her dad, or maybe a family that can…”

“No!” Buffy blurted out in desperation. “You couldn’t, you wouldn’t, Will,” she continued. “Not after your own childhood, yours and your sisters. Good God, Will, you can’t!”

Buffy was pleading with Spike, with her eyes and her words. He could never turn down Buffy, not in a million years and he certainly wouldn’t start now.

“I know,” he murmured, nervously. “You’re right, Princess, I could never put the Bit into that kind of situation. Not after what happened to me and my big sis, Drusilla.”

“But what can I do?” He nearly whined and again, he felt like a complete ponce for it. “The kid can’t stay here, indefinitely,” he reasoned with Buffy.

“No,” she nodded in agreement, “the little doll can’t stay here, indefinitely. I was thinking,” she continued with hesitation, “something I came up with, earlier,” she added with pursed lips.

“What?” Spike asked anxiously. “What can I do? I can’t take care of the poor little thing, by myself. Johnathan is a great bloke but…”

“She can stay with me,” Buffy replied matter-of-factly. “The kid can stay with me, at my place. I’ve got the extra room, all done up in pink and gold,” she continued trying to keep her excitement in check.

“It would be perfect for the kid and I’ve got Maggie, my housekeeper, to help out. You could bring Dawn around to my place, tomorrow, in the late morning. I’d like that, Will,” Buffy whispered under her breath. “It might be the answer for the kid, me and you, right?”

“Would you?” Spike asked, hopefully. “You’d let me bring the kid to your place?” Spike’s overactive mind began to worker, overtime. If Buffy took the little doll to her place to stay an all? Then Spike could make himself available, constantly, to Buffy, using the kid as an excuse. He’d show up, at Buffy’s place, unannounced even, just to check on the Bit of course. Buffy couldn’t turn him away, could she? His golden princess would need him to be around to help out with the Bit. There’d be presents to take, to the kid and to Buffy, just for thanks alone, right?

“You’re right,” Spike blurted out, suddenly. “You should take the little bit and make her feel at home. Only thing is,” he stammered, a little unsure of his next words.

“What?” Buffy asked with a raised right brow. “Like you said, the little doll would be well of with me, right? If her dad shows up here, you can point him in my direction and…”

“Angel,” Spike muttered in a disgusted tone. “What’s he gonna’ say about this?” It nearly killed Spike to even mention Peaches’ name. He hated the son-of-a-bitch, with a passion.

“Angel’s gone,” Buffy replied with a shrug of her slim shoulders. “Besides,” she continued with a snort, “wasn’t it Angel that got you into this mess? Really? He should have to pay for it, somehow. Doesn’t he owe you, the little doll and me? Right?”

“Yeah,” Spike responded with a smirk, “he should pay, somehow. Shouldn’t he?”

Buffy giggled and nodded at William, her eyes gleamed with a merry glow. “Serves him right,” Buffy muttered as she stood up from the couch and grabbed her wrap from next to her.

“I’ll be off,” Buffy stated simply. “Bring the little doll around to my place, tomorrow, anytime you want. She’ll like my place, William,” she added sincerely. “I promise I’ll treat her like she’s my own and…”

“You’re not bloody goin’ anywhere,” Spike announced to a surprised Buffy. “It’s nearly 4:00 AM and if you think I’ll letting you traipse off into the dregs of New York City at this time of night, unescorted?”

Buffy halted her escape from Will’s apartment. She shot her ex a look of mild surprise. “Always the gentleman, eh Will?” She asked sarcastically.

“I don’t want you wondering around at near sunrise, Buffy. Not in this God forsaken city,” Spike stammered, somewhat embarrassed by his outburst. “You’ll stay here, with the Bit and me,” he finished with authority.

“Oh,” Buffy mumbled, unable to look William in the face. “And just where do I sleep?” She glanced at the ‘master’ bedroom, an unusual blush on her pretty face.

“Well,” Spike began with a smirk, “you could stay in my room, eh? Just like old times and…”

“No,” Buffy stated firmly. “There’ll be no staying in ‘your’ room, William Jameson. I’ll bunk with the little doll, for tonight. In the morning, well into the morning? I’ll explain to Dawnie that she’ll be staying with me. Until her daddy comes to get her.”

“And if her daddy never comes for her?” Spike asked Buffy with a pained look in his blue eyes.

“Then we’ll have to have a ‘plan B’ William,” Buffy replied with a sad smile. “I’ll try and find out, from the kid, if there’s an aunt or uncle somewhere. Some family member to take her in, since her daddy dearest left her out in the cold.”

“Okay, Buff,” Spike whispered as he watched his ‘girl’ sashay towards the guestroom.

Suddenly, Buffy stopped, mid-walk and turned to face Spike. She had an odd look on her face.

“For the record, Will,” Buffy began quietly, her eyes locked with his. “I really did only go with Holden Webster III, for a harmless drink. If he misread me? I’m sorry for that.”

“Okay, Buff,” Spike muttered, taking a sip of his whisky. For some reason, it bothered Spike that Buffy seemed intent of making sure he believed that she was faithful to Angel.

“Oh, and Will,” Buffy called back, over her shoulder as she headed for the guest room. “I only left, with Webster? Because the guy I really wore this red dress for? He never showed at the Club tonight. Guess who the guy is?” Buffy disappeared into the guest room before Spike could answer that one.


A/N: Short chapter. The next chapter will be full of surprises, fun and some angst too.

Someone E-d me and questioned my putting Buffy in other relationships. I want to assure every reader…I only write Spuffy fics, at least by the end of them!

Thanks for reading and please review, spufette.





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