As they walked away from the Magic Box, Spike pulled his duster on and closed it in the front to hide the hard-on he'd gotten from Buffy snogging his face off in the shop. "Full of surprises, you are... Little minx." He tried to be discreet as he reached inside the coat and adjusted himself, trying to get a little more comfortable... which wasn't easy.
Buffy still had a bright blush from how turned on she was by the kiss too. When she saw Spike pull his duster closed out of the corner of her eye, a sly smile turned up on her lips. She knew she'd felt something stirring while they were kissing. It was empowering to know she could excite him so easily... and that he could 'rise to the occasion' so very quickly. She hoped waiting to be intimate wouldn't drive Spike (and herself) crazy.
"I'd be asking for my gum back if I'd been chewin' any when you started snogging me," Spike joked.
Buffy giggled. "Sorry, I should've warned you... and I know we agreed that we shouldn't do any more power-snogging for a while. I just got the urge and had to... do it."
"Don't ever apologize for kissing me like that, pet. Do it as often as you like -- you can do it again right now if you want..." He batted his eyelashes and smiled adorably.
"I need to get home," she laughed. "We'll never get there if we start kissing again. Plus, my knees are still a little weak from the last kiss. It'd be best if we just keep walking."
Spike sighed dramatically, but nodded. He looked at her and arched an eyebrow. "Maybe later, then?"
Buffy raised and lowered her eyebrows. "Mmmhmm." She was eager to get some more makeout time with Spike -- without an audience.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Buffy replayed the events in the Magic Box in her mind, rolling her eyes and sighing as she recalled some of Xander's comments. "I hope Xander didn't hurt your feelings today... He was being especially pigheaded. One more word outta him and I would've taken him in the training room to yell at him too."
Spike screwed up his face and snorted. "Did he hurt my feelings? Ha! Pleeease, Buffy... It's like white noise whenever Harris opens his big bloody mouth, all I hear is a series of hoots and clicks."
"I know you're a big, rough, tough, worldly vampire... but I also know how sensitive you can be deep down inside. That's why you wanted to irritate him by kissing me in front of him, you were upset about the stuff he said about you."
Spike rolled his eyes; there were drawbacks to Buffy knowing how 'sensitive' he was. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but it did upset Spike that the Scoobies might always see him as he used to be, not who he was now or who he would be in the future. They didn't trust him as far as they could throw him... not that Spike could really blame them, he had done plenty of nasty things to them in the past. But if they could give Angel some slack after the things he'd done...
"I know not being accepted hurts," Buffy said sympathetically.
Spike sniffed, sneered and raised his chin -- a mannerism Buffy recognized as something he did when he was bothered about something but using a poker face to hide his true feelings. "Harris can get stuffed, I really don't give a buggering blue damn what he thinks of me."
Spike smiled easily and took her hand in his as they walked, then raised her hand to his mouth to give it a kiss. "Your acceptance is all I need. I reckon Xander will loosen up once he sees I'm serious 'bout changing my ways. Might take a long while, but... I'm in it for the long haul, I've got the time. Your other mates seemed to be at least trying to accept the new order of things."
Buffy nodded. "Tara was the best -- she asked about how our date went when nobody else would bring it up. She was just super-nice and I could tell she was really happy for me and not just pretending. I'm gonna call her later and dish some more about you and the wonderfulness that was last night," Buffy added with a grin, bumping Spike's shoulder with hers. "I'm so glad Willow has such great taste in women."
Spike chuckled and agreed. "Did you ever suspect Willow was a..." Spike paused to think of an inoffensive term -- it was hard to try and think of nice ways to put things instead of his usual off the cuff way of speaking. "That she was gay while you were in school?"
"Nope, I had no idea until she told me she was seeing Tara -- that was a pretty big clue. Oh, there was a vampire Willow from another dimension a while ago who was at least bi... I thought it was strange at the time that Willow's other-self would be kinda gay when my Willow was totally straight."
"A bisexual, vamp Willow?" Spike asked, raising his brows in surprise. He wouldn't have minded making vamp Willow's acquaintance. "Bet that was fun."
"Yeah, she was a barrel of laughs."
"Your Willow never showed any interest in you... not even when you were roomies? Don't know how she coulda resisted you, luv," Spike teased. "You two never had a pillow fight in your nighties that turned erotic? If you didn't, it's okay to lie and say you did -- in fact, I encourage you to lie and embellish about that."
Buffy rolled her eyes. It was typical of a man to get aroused at the thought of two women getting it on (though she'd secretly fantasized about Spike and Angel doing dirty things to each other and tag-teaming her... so she wasn't any better). "Willow's my best friend, we don't think of each other that way."
He shrugged. "You're bloody gorgeous, she had to've at least noticed how hot you are."
"Not everybody has sex on the brain like some people I know."
"Sex works better on other parts of the body." Spike laughed as he hopped out of the way of another jab from Buffy's pointy elbow.
"I don't think Willow and Tara were about physical attraction... not at first. They fell for the person, not the packaging... That's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is," he had to agree. "Humans aren't usually so... open-minded about that sorta thing." Spike decided to move on to another subject, thinking they shouldn't be talking about sex; he'd probably say something stupid and make Buffy mad again. "You accepted Willow's... change in lifestyle, I hope she accepts your decision to be with me too."
"I think she's coming around already; I could tell I made her feel guilty." Buffy smiled with satisfaction. "We'll get through this, Spike. So what if we have to put up with my friends being stubborn for a while... they can't change how we feel about each other," Buffy assured him optimistically.
Spike quoted: "Hope is a lover's staff; walk hence with that
And manage it against despairing thoughts."
"Shakespeare?" Buffy asked.
Spike smiled. "Uh-huh."
"Yay, I got it right! The 'hence' tipped me off, it sounded Shakespeare-y... like something I slept through in British Lit. It's nice to hear you quote Shakespeare and poetry instead of The Simpsons or Pee-wee Herman."
"I pluck useful quotes from everywhere, luv. I think The Simpsons and P.W. can be just as insightful into the human condition as the Bard... don't tell Rupert I said that, his head might explode."
The Summers' house came into sight and they slowed their pace a bit, wanting it to be 'just the two of them' a few minutes longer. They knew it was going to be a while before they could kiss or touch each other again.
"My mom told me she was gonna buy some blood at the butcher's this afternoon, so you can actually get some nourishment with dinner this time," Buffy said with a smile.
"That was thoughtful of her." Spike was glad to hear that because he'd forgotten to have a pint before he left the crypt today. He'd been too besotted by thoughts of Buffy to remember to eat. "It was nice of your mum to invite me over to break bread with the family." He knew how lucky he was that Joyce (as well as Buffy) was so forgiving. "She really is a helluva woman. It's not hard to see where you get it from."
"Um, yeah... well, she mentioned wanting to talk with you at some point tonight."
Spike swallowed, his brow creasing with worry as his stride slowed even further. "She did? Bollocks..." A heart-to-heart with Joyce was in the offing, but he hoped it would be later rather than sooner. Spike understood why Joyce wanted to have a conversation with him, he'd need to have a sit-down with a soulless vampire who wanted to date his daughter too. No, he'd probably just stake the bugger rather than let the vamp touch his daughter.
"I thought I should give you advanced warning -- not that you really need to be warned; I promise my mom isn't going to come at you with any pointy objects."
"Blunt objects, then?" Spike asked worriedly. He started to turn around. "Uh, just remembered a prior engagement. Sorry, luv, hate to snog and run... must dash!"
Buffy caught his arm and pulled him back to her, resuming their walk. "Spike, don't worry. I just didn't want you to be surprised when she asks you to talk. My mom's already accepted you as my boyfriend, she only wants to talk to you about some... stuff."
"Stuff... that's a broad term. What... 'stuff' do you figure she wants to talk about?" Spike had a bad feeling that his stalking and the shrine were going to be topics of conversation.
"Whatever you and Mom talk about tonight won't change a thing between you and me, okay?" Buffy assured him and hugged his arm.
Spike sighed. "S'pose I have no choice... alright, if Joyce wants to chat..." His throat clicked with a hard swallow. "Then we'll chat."
"Come on, you big scaredy-cat, it won't be that bad."
Dinner went well, the four of them talked and joked about inconsequential things as they ate. Joyce mentioned how the museum was having an art exhibit next week she'd love to see. Spike suggested the four of them go together, and they made a date to do just that the following Saturday. Buffy enjoyed seeing Spike in this setting, smiling and talking animatedly about normal, everyday subjects.
Buffy couldn't be more pleased that Spike got along with her mom and sister so well. And to think she'd been so freaked out about them being 'talking buddies' before the whole thing with Dru happened... she was grateful now that Spike had forged a bond with them.
"That was delicious, thank you, Bit," Spike said as he finished his pig's blood drizzled cake and ice cream.
Dawn beamed. "You're welcome, I wanted to do something nice for you. See? I can bake nontoxic food, Buffy." She stuck her tongue out at Buffy.
"There was a 50/50 chance of poisoning, Spike just got lucky, that's all," Buffy joked.
"It's not often someone does something special just for me, I appreciate it." Spike thought about the last time someone had done something special for him -- Dru had planned his surprise party at the mansion. Spike was happy to have the memory of this occasion to replace the last one.
Joyce stood up from the table. "Why don't you girls start on the dishes? Spike, can I talk to you in the living room?"
He stared at her for a second. Spike had been having a good time, temporarily forgetting about the 'chat'. "Uh... sure, Joyce," he said, laying his napkin on the table and standing up slowly.
Buffy started walking ahead of them toward the living room.
"Buffy," Joyce called, "I'd like to talk to Spike... privately. You can help Dawn with the dishes."
Buffy and Spike's eyes widened. She turned around. "Oh... okay." She looked at Spike, seeing his deer-in-headlights expression before he recovered and was able to look normal again. "I'll just be... in the kitchen... not listening... busying myself with the doing of the dishes, then."
Buffy walked past Spike touching his hand and looking at him, silently asking if he wanted her to stay with him. Spike managed a smile for her (though he didn't feel much like smiling), then followed Joyce out to the living room. It was silly for him to be so nervous about just talking to a harmless, nice lady like Joyce, he thought to himself... After all, he's a century old vamp, the Big Bad, William the Bloody, slayer of Slayers... oh... ummm... scratch that last one... in fact, scratch all that. Funny how things he used to take extreme pride in now made him cringe.
Joyce sat on the couch and Spike sat in the chair near the fireplace, unintentionally taking the same positions they'd sat in the very first time Spike had been to the Summers' home back when he'd made the truce with Buffy. They had lots to talk about this time, there wouldn't be any awkward silences.
Buffy and Dawn were in the kitchen, leaning against the archway and trying to listen.
"I hope Mom doesn't bust his bal-chops," Dawn whispered.
"What?" Buffy asked, frowning.
Dawn waved her off and shushed her.
Joyce began, "Let me start by saying that I like you, Spike."
Spike smiled. "That's a good way to start. I like you too, Joyce, always have."
"Some things I'm about to say will sound harsh and I don't want you to get the impression that I flat-out disapprove of you. I'm trying to be open-minded about the whole thing. But I really want you to take what I say into consideration when thinking about your future with Buffy."
Spike was a bit more nervous now. "...Alright."
"Buffy's not stupid, I trust her to make good decisions about her life. But I'm worried about her dating another vampire. After what happened before..."
Spike clenched his jaw and his nostrils flared at being compared to Angel, but he stayed calm. "Yeah, Angel was a vampire too, but Angel and me both being vampires is where the similarities end." He chuckled anxiously. "'Sides, I don't have a soul to lose -- no worries there!" His smile turned into a frown the moment the words were out of his mouth. "Didn't exactly... help my case by pointing out that I don't have a soul, did I?"
"Well, it's not as if I could forget about that... The 'no soul' thing is on my list of topics for us to discuss."
"...You have a list?" Spike asked, fidgeting.
"This makes you uncomfortable, Spike?"
"Well... yeah. I have a feeling I know some of the things on your 'list', and they're not things I'm exactly thrilled to have to talk about... especially not with you."
"Why especially not with me?"
"...'Cos I like you, Joyce. You've always been decent to me, you talked to me like a person, not a... thing. I care what you think of me, you're one of the few people I like. I'd be... bothered if your opinion of me changed for the worse."
Joyce reached over and patted Spike's hand comfortingly for a few moments. "I started by telling you that I like you -- I know the things you did, but I do still like you... Just a second." Joyce looked toward the kitchen and raised her voice, "Girls, why am I not hearing the sounds of dishes being washed?"
They heard rushed whispers, and then water running and dishes clinking together in the sink.
"I guess I should've come to talk to you at your place if I really wanted us to have some privacy," Joyce joked.
"No, uh, talking here is better. You'd need to let me know if you were coming by the crypt so I could do some dusting beforehand. And I wouldn't want you wandering 'round the cemetery -- night or day, it could be dangerous."
Joyce thought back to the private, clandestine chat she'd had with Angel a few years ago, the talk that had made him realize Buffy really would be better off without him. Joyce liked Spike and didn't want to run him off... but could Buffy ever be really, truly happy with the limitations that went along with having a vampire for a boyfriend? She took a steadying breath and prepared for the more unpleasant part of their talk.
Joyce checked both doorways leading to the kitchen to make sure her daughters weren't trying to listen, then leaned forward slightly to talk to Spike quietly. "Buffy isn't aware of this... and I want it to stay that way, but I had a talk like the one I'm having with you right now... with Angel."
Spike's eyebrows went up. "Oh? When was this?"
"Right before he left town. He knew what I pointed out to him was true, and then he made the difficult decision to leave for Buffy's own good. He knew he'd only hold Buffy back and screw up her life by staying with her."
Spike blinked owlishly. He'd had no idea Joyce was the one who'd talked Angel into leaving... Spike had always thought Peaches made the decision all on his own. It was so very typical of Angel to act holier-and nobler-than thou, that Spike hadn't considered that there might've been an outside influence on Angel's decision. Buffy would be absolutely furious if she knew her mother had talked Angel into breaking up with her... Spike didn't plan on telling her.
"Must've been some talk you two had..." was all Spike could think of to say. His chances of getting Joyce's approval weren't looking so good now. Joyce hadn't approved of Angel -- and he was the one with a bloody soul. Spike actually felt a little sorry for Angel, which didn't happen often. Angel still shouldn't have let himself be chased away though, not if he truly loved Buffy -- for that, Angel was still, and would forever be, the Magnificent Poof. "Is... that what this chat is really about? You want me to leave for Buffy's own good?"
“I just want to make sure you understand my concerns, and that you've really thought everything through. Spike, how long do you intend to... be in love with my daughter?”
Spike's forehead creased slightly in confusion. "How long...? Forever... I'll always love 'er."
“And, if she falls in love with you and vows to love you forever... then what?”
He was still confused. “Then... I’ll be the happiest man in the bloody world, that's what.”
“But what about Buffy? Do you really know what you’d be asking her to give up to be with you? Have you given that any thought? Don't you think it's selfish of you not to consider what she'll have to sacrifice?"
"I think..." Spike fidgeted. "I think Buffy can make up her own mind 'bout what she wants; like you said, she's not stupid. I know it's... unconventional, but we both want to give a relationship a go. Buffy and I... we've already talked about a lotta things like this, she's sure of what she wants and she's got her mind set on it."
Joyce countered, "Emotions and romance have a way of pushing even a very smart, savvy girl's head into the clouds. When feelings are involved... it's easy to miss the big picture. I don't know if Buffy has really thought about the situation in a rational, long-term way -- you’re a vampire... she’s not. For her to have any shot at a normal life... with marriage and children... well, you couldn’t give her that, could you?”
Spike took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “No... I don’t suppose I could...” he admitted solemnly, looking down at the carpet, feeling deflated... defeated. This was more brutal than he'd expected, and she hadn't even brought up the shrine and stealing yet. It wasn't easy for him to hear the things Joyce was saying.
Besides it being just uncomfortable to talk with her like this, Joyce was bringing up things that Spike had used to convince himself that he shouldn't be with Buffy after the incident with the shrine. Those thoughts and feelings came rushing back at him -- Buffy deserved someone better than him, someone normal, someone good; Buffy deserved a shot at a 'normal' life, not a life exiled to the shadows with him; he was beneath her. It was hard to combat his own cynical inner-voice, especially when it was coming out of Joyce's mouth.
Spike's heart sank... would he ever be good enough for Buffy? Even if she wanted to, would it be right for him to keep her in the shadows with him? If he stayed, would it drive a wedge between the Slayer and her mum... he didn't want to be the cause of that.
“You claim to love her... so don’t you think she deserves a normal life?” Joyce gently prodded after he'd been silent for several moments.
Spike closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to sort out all the feelings and hopes and thoughts rushing around in his mind. He'd successfully countered his negative inner-voice before, the voice that had told him these very things... he could do it again... he just had to believe -- he had to believe that it was what Buffy would want and that he could be the man she needed and make her happy.
Spike raised his eyes and met Joyce’s, a new resolve shining in them. “I think Buffy deserves to have everything in the world that her heart desires... I’d pluck the bloody stars from the sky for her if that’s what she wanted. I’m sure that she deserves better than me... lots better, but I can tell you right now, she’ll never find anyone that’ll love her more. If she’ll let me, I’ll stand by her ‘til the world stops spinning... I’ll fight at her side, I’ll protect her with my life.
“Her life will never be ‘normal’... she’s the Slayer -- ‘the one girl in all the world that stands against the demons’, but it don’t have to be that way. Buffy’s always been different than other Slayers... got friends, family fightin’ with her, helping her... and now she’s got me.
“Joyce, I know you want what’s best for her... what you may not know or believe yet, is I want that too. Slayers lead very short, very violent, very lonely lives... so what you should really be wantin’ for her is someone who can change that and give her a long, happy life. It may not be your idea of ‘normal’, but you really don’t want a normal Slayer’s life for her... believe me.”
Joyce watched Spike closely as he spoke... he'd always worn his heart on his sleeve... or more accurately, in his eyes, and now was no exception. His heartfelt sincerity was... poignant; it seemed clear that he had given this some thought even before tonight. “And you think you can do that?” Joyce asked, considering his words carefully. “Give her a chance at a long, happy life?”
“I know I can. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for your girl... I’d walk through the fires of Hell for her... and I’ll love her forever,” Spike assured her, his gaze never wavering from Joyce's.
Joyce hadn't considered the 'keeping Buffy alive longer' aspect of her daughter having a supernaturally strong, skilled fighter for a boyfriend. That was a good point... one for the 'Pro Spike' column, for sure.
"I can see how strongly you feel about Buffy... but problems don't go away just because there's love. You and Buffy are from different worlds," Joyce said, echoing what she'd once said to Angel. "Won't there be just too many... differences?"
"Our worlds aren't really so different, Joyce. At first glance, yeah, we appear to be polar opposites, on different sides of the eternal struggle. But that's what makes us perfect for each other." At Joyce's doubtful expression, he went on to explain, "Buffy and me, we're two sides of the same coin. I know the dark side -- Buffy's touched on it, she walks in the shadows, battling the demons, but she's never known true darkness... I have. I've wallowed in it, I used to embrace it... I know what it's about. I can protect her from it, give her insights into it that no one else could, so she can continue to win and survive.
"And on the flip-side of the coin, there's Buffy, she knows the light. Her... effulgence showers over me any time I'm near her, she's filled my head and heart with thoughts and feelings I hadn't experienced for... a very long time. It's her that's given me the resolve to succeed at becoming a better man. I couldn't've gotten this far without her influence in my life. Buffy's the Yin to my Yang, the flower to my honeybee, the Butch to my Sundance... we need each other, and our odds of survival increase if we have each other."
"I see what you're saying..." Joyce conceded as she sat back slightly and considered his points. Maybe Buffy's odds of living a longer, happier life really were better if she had Spike by her side. And since it was clear that Spike wouldn't be swayed into leaving (as Angel had done), Joyce decided to move on to other items on her list. "Alright... Now I'd like to talk to you about the fact that you stole things from Buffy..."
Spike gulped, gripping the arms of the chair a bit tighter, wondering if he'd won that round or not, he thought so, but just how many rounds were on Joyce's card? How many did he need to win to gain her approval?
A little later, in the kitchen...
"What's taking so long?" Buffy worried, twisting a tea towel in her hands until it started ripping as she looked anxiously toward the living room. She could hear them talking quietly, unfortunately their voices were too quiet for her to make out what they were actually saying. "They've been in there for half an hour!"
Dawn shrugged and wiped down the kitchen counter with a sponge. They'd finished the dishes a while ago, now they were just finding busywork and killing time while they waited for their mom to tell them they were allowed back in the living room.
"Why couldn't I be there too? Spike was so nervous... What's she saying to him?"
Dawn shrugged again. She'd given up trying to soothe Buffy's nerves after a few earlier attempts, nothing Dawn said seemed to help Buffy relax. Buffy didn't seem to hear any comforting words anyway, she was too wound up. Dawn was kinda worried herself... Their mom had seemed a little on edge before Spike and Buffy walked in the front door. Dawn hoped her mom being anxious didn't mean she planned on letting Spike have it with both barrels.
Back in the living room, several questions later...
"You understand why I had to ask you all those questions? I didn't do this because I don't want you and Buffy to be together, and I didn't do it just to bust your... chops. It's just that Buffy's been hurt so many times... and she's my baby. I worry."
Spike took a breath and nodded. "Yeah, I understand, Joyce. You wouldn't be doin' your job as a mum if you didn't talk to me about what's worrying you."
Joyce was quiet for a few seconds, though it seemed much longer from Spike's perspective, while she decided if she would officially give her blessing to Spike dating Buffy.
Finally, she looked at him and said, "I'm choosing to trust you, Spike. There's nothing more important to me than my daughters' health and happiness. I'm trusting you to do right by Buffy and protect her... please don't make a fool out of me," she said with a look that was half warning/half pleading.
Spike leaned forward and looked her in the eye, trying to convey how seriously he took what she'd said. "I promise you, I will not let you down, Joyce. I love Buffy, and I'll always love her. I'll look after her, as well as you and Dawn, for the rest of my life. There's nothing I wouldn't do for any of you, you've got m' word on that."
Joyce let out a breath, and then smiled and stood up. "Okay, we're done here. Would you like a cup of coffee? Or tea? English people like tea more, right?"
"Uh... no, I'm good, thanks." Spike smiled weakly.
"I'll let Buffy know we're done talking. She probably wants to patrol this evening." Joyce went to see what her daughters were up to, and how much of her conversation with Spike they'd managed to overhear.
Once she left the room, Spike slumped in the chair, groaned, and wiped sweat from his brow. "Bloody hell... I'd rather have rectal surgery with no anesthesia than go through that again..." he mumbled. He knew Joyce could've been (and had a right to be) much tougher on him than she was, but even that level of toughness had taken a lot out of him.
Buffy hurried into the living room once her mother told her Spike was free to go. She frowned at seeing Spike slumped in the chair and looking very weary. When Spike noticed that she was in the room with him, he put on a brave face, smiling as he got up from the chair.
"She wasn't too hard on you, was she?" Buffy fretted.
"Nah... I'm fine," Spike replied, still smiling.
But Buffy could tell he wasn't totally 'fine'. "Are you sure? You look tired."
"I am a bit. Been a long day..."
"What did my mom say?" Buffy had tried listening from the kitchen, but wasn't able to hear much.
"She was just... concerned about some of the things I did, and that I stole from you; she wanted to hear me explain m'self. Does Joyce have a background in psychology? Seemed like she'd had some training."
"I think she said she minored in psychology in college."
"Thought so," Spike groaned and rubbed his eyes.
"She was too hard on you, wasn't she?" Buffy felt bad for Spike, he had... not a 'fear' exactly, but he had a lot of anxiety about talking to her mother or garnering her mother's disapproval.
"Nah, luv. I told ya, I'm fine. There were no blunt or pointy objects involved."
Buffy took his hand and walked with him into the foyer. "You want to go on patrol with me? I just need to change my clothes and then I'll be ready to go."
"Don't think I'd be much help on patrol, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I should go work on my car a bit at the garage... and have a pint or two. I'm dyin' for a bloody drink."
"Oh... okay." Buffy was disappointed, and it wasn't a good sign that Spike wanted to go off by himself somewhere to get drunk. It seemed that what she'd suspected and feared was happening -- Spike was already getting tired of having to defend himself to the other people in Buffy's life. "Call me later on my nifty new cell phone?"
Spike gave her a quick kiss. "It'll probably be tomorrow, I'll be busy with the car for the rest of the night. Have fun on patrol." He called to the kitchen, "Night, ladies. Thanks for havin' me."
Dawn and Joyce said goodnight from the kitchen.
Spike gave Buffy a slight smile. "Goodnight, pet. Talk to you tomorrow." Then he turned and walked out the door.
"Night, Spike," Buffy said with a sigh. She watched him until he walked out of her sight, and then closed the front door.
Dawn was heading to her room, stopping on the stairs. "How come Spike left without you, didn't you guys want to patrol? Oh... did Mom scare him away?"
"I think so," Buffy groaned, then slowly banged her forehead against the front door. "He just seemed so... worn down."
"Sorry, Buffy..." Dawn said. "It'll be okay... Spike loves you. He'll be back to his snarky self in no time." Not knowing what else to say, Dawn continued up the stairs to her bedroom.
Joyce came out of the kitchen. "I didn't expect Spike to leave right away... Is he alright?" She grimaced, hoping she hadn't upset him too much.
"Spike didn't even want to patrol with me... and he never turned down an opportunity to do that before -- I didn't even need to ask, he'd just tag along anyway. But now he'd rather go somewhere and brood." Buffy whirled around to face her mom. "You should've let me be there, Spike was nervous about talking to you. Why did you have to talk to him alone?" she whined.
"I wanted to have a talk with just Spike. I don't think I was unfair to him, and, as your mother, I had a right to say the things I did. Did he tell you he thought I was being mean?"
"No... he said he was 'fine' with how it went, but he obviously couldn't wait to get out of here. You told me you weren't going to give him the third-degree, and I promised Spike it wasn't going to be too bad. He probably thinks I lied to him."
"The more I thought about it, the tougher I had to be. You are too important for me to lob softball questions at Spike -- there were questions I needed to hear him answer. Spike had to realize that if he wanted to be with you, he'd have to face up to things he's done."
"You realize that my friends gave him a really hard time today too, don't you?" Buffy asked, crossing her arms.
Joyce sighed with regret. "No... I didn't know that. I wouldn't have had the talk with him tonight if I knew he'd already had a bad time dealing with your friends..."
"What did you think happened at the shop this afternoon? You thought that Giles and Xander invited him to a tea party or threw a parade in his honor? I had to stop them from yelling at each other more than once. Spike's been getting questioned and insulted all day!"
"I'll apologize to Spike the next time I see him, I didn't mean to put more pressure on him in a day that was already tough on him... But I'm sorry, Buffy, I needed to talk to him about some things that were weighing heavy on my mind."
"What did you talk to him about?"
"Lots of things..." Joyce hedged.
"Vague much? Come on, Mom, tell me."
"I asked him about the stealing and that shrine... things that caused me to worry." Joyce decided to be more honest. "And... we talked about the fact that you can never have a normal life if you choose to be with him. I asked him if he didn't think it was selfish that you'll have to give up so much for him."
Buffy stared at her mother, her mouth slightly ajar. "What? What gives you the right to try and sabotage my relationship?!"
"I wasn't trying to sabotage anything, Buffy. Being your mother gives me the right to question the boys -- or 100-year-old vampires -- you bring home."
"I was worried about my friends' reactions, but I didn't think I had to worry about what you'd do or say. You told me you were okay with me being with Spike -- you're the one who told me to follow my heart! I thought you were on my side!"
"I am on your side, Buffy. I know it doesn't seem like it to you right now, but I'm only looking out for you. Is it so wrong that I want you to have a normal life?"
Buffy put a hand over her eyes and groaned. "Spike and I talked -- at length! -- about me having a 'normal' life. Hello -- I'm not normal, therefore I can't have a normal life! Spike was all broody and depressed when I first went to see him after the thing with the shrine... he went on and on about how he wasn't good enough for me and that I deserved a normal boyfriend and a normal life... I had to talk to him for a long time to convince him to give 'us' a chance. And now you probably undid all my hard work with one stupid conversation. Thanks a lot, Mom!"
"It wasn't a 'stupid' conversation," Joyce defended. "I feel better after hearing what Spike had to say."
"Well, he obviously doesn't feel better. He looked exhausted and ready to just... give up." Buffy was worried her next conversation with Spike was going to be another difficult one. Would she have to change his mind again? Could she change his mind again?
A question formed in Buffy's mind, but she just couldn't bring herself to ask it: Did her mother also have a talk with Angel before he left? Buffy didn't want to be angry with her mom... and she had a bad feeling that she would be very angry if she knew the answer. It was water under the bridge, Buffy told herself, trying not to get too worked up. Whatever happened with Angel really didn't matter anymore, at the time it would've mattered big-time... The only way it mattered now was if Joyce was trying to chase Spike away too.
"If it's any consolation," Joyce said softly, trying to calm her daughter, "Spike seems to love you very much."
Buffy pouted, glancing at her mother for a moment before looking down at the floor.
"I've never heard a man talk that way before... so devoted and protective." She was impressed with how deeply Spike seemed to care for Buffy. Joyce hoped she wasn't just being naive, but she believed Spike meant what he'd said.
Buffy sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Spike told me he wouldn't leave like the others did, and I know he meant it... but how much can he possibly take before he decides I'm not worth all this trouble?" Buffy said dejectedly. "I can only do so much damage control... Why does everything have to be so damn hard?"
Joyce put an arm around Buffy. "Honey, I really don't think you have to worry about that."
"Why not?" Buffy mumbled.
"Because of the argument he made for why the two of you should be together. He didn't back down when I asked him hard questions. He promised me he'd always love and protect you... and my instincts tell me I can believe him. I'm not 'worry-free' as you'd say, but I'm giving Spike the benefit of the doubt. I believe in giving people second chances."
"Did you at least tell Spike you were okay with me and him dating?" Buffy asked apprehensively. "Your opinion means a lot to him..."
"Yes, I told Spike I was going to trust him to be good to you. That's how we ended things, I thought that would've made up for the... unpleasant parts of our talk. I thought he'd be happy..."
"I guess I'll find out how he really feels about everything tomorrow..." Buffy finally gave Joyce a half-hug, closing her eyes and pushing all the negativity away. She felt guilty for making her mother feel bad -- even if her mom deserved to feel bad for putting Spike through more bullshit. But after Joyce's health scare, Buffy never wanted to fight with her again.
Joyce patted Buffy's back comfortingly. "Don't worry, honey. Spike will be alright once he's had a good night's... or good day's sleep."
Buffy nodded, hoping it would be resolved that easily.
Spike went to the garage, had a few beers and tinkered with his car for a while. But then he thought of how disappointed Buffy looked when he'd left the house. What if she thought he was throwing in the towel already? Her family and friends would have to do a lot worse for Spike to even consider giving up his budding romance with Buffy, especially now that Joyce had given her stamp of approval. But Buffy probably wasn't so sure... she was paranoid about another man in her life leaving her.
Spike made the decision to see if he could catch up with Buffy on patrol. He hadn't made much progress on his car, but he had taken a tire iron to one of the many wrecked cars in the junkyard which helped him get a lot of his pent-up frustration and anger out. He felt much better, especially after he'd drawn a crude picture of Xander on the hood of a car and then beat the hell out of it.
Buffy was in the middle of a routine patrol, trying to focus on her job and not her broody boyfriend... were all vampires this broody or just the ones Buffy liked? Or maybe they were only broody because of her? Did she inspire broodiness? Her thoughts kept straying to Spike.
She felt like she should go see Spike at the garage and give him a pep-talk; on the other hand, she wanted to give him space if he felt he'd been picked on too much today and just needed to be alone to blow off some steam. It figured, she hadn't found one vamp or demon to slay so far and she needed to blow off some steam too. What if she didn't go to talk to him, and he was actually packing up to leave town? No... she had to try trusting Spike and believe he wouldn't give up and leave her. All the tension created today was bad for Buffy's nerves.
Buffy thought she couldn't just go chasing after Spike every time he got upset, hurt, or angry. She would have to learn to just let some things play out without trying to track him down to talk, and trust that he meant everything he'd said. Why couldn't Spike chase after her for once? She needed to be pursued and soothed sometimes too. Hell, he used to do that all the time... she couldn't chase him away with a stick... now that she actually wanted him to come around, he's nowhere to be found. She'd never understand men if she lived to be a thousand...
Just then, Buffy heard the sound of a lighter clicking to life. She turned to see Spike walking toward her, lighting a cigarette.
"Hey, pet."
Buffy smiled tentatively, surprised to see him again tonight. Did he come looking for her to tell her he was okay, or to break up with her and give her the old 'It's not you, it's me' speech? But he did look much more at ease than he did when he'd left her house... of course, that could be because he just doesn't care anymore.
If what he was about to tell her was bad, she'd rather put it off a few more minutes, to pretend they were still 'okay'. "Hey there. I thought you were going to work on your car?"
Spike half-shrugged and blew out a plume of cigarette smoke. "I did, then I got bored."
"You get bored easy... I think you might have Attention Deficit Disorder. Do they have Ritalin for vampires?" Buffy joked through her nervousness. "Don't have a large attention span, do ya?"
He smirked. "There are some things I can do for hours without gettin' bored, luv. And..." Spike was about to mention a part of him that was large, but then he stopped talking, closed his eyes and hung his head back. "Sorry... I don't know why I can't stop sayin' shit like that."
Buffy rolled her eyes, smiling a bit and feeling slightly relieved. Spike was making with naughty comments and acting like his normal self, so maybe he really was okay, after all. "I told you that you don't have to censor every naughty thing you want to say, Spike. I'd let you know if I wanted you to shut up."
"That's true... you've never had a problem tellin' me to shut my cakehole. But I try to stop myself before I say something that'll piss you off or make you uneasy."
"Despite what Anya thinks, I'm not a prude -- Caligula would probably be considered a prude by her standards. I can hear some bawdy talk without fainting or getting offended." Buffy linked arms with him. "I've got some more patrolling to do, wanna join me?"
Spike nodded and flicked away his cigarette, and then they started strolling through the cemetery together.
Buffy bit her lip, and then broached the subject they'd both been putting off. "My mom said she was sorry for being mean to you."
Spike rolled his eyes. "She wasn't mean to me. Please don't tell me you told her I said that? I'm not some wilting violet who needs constant care... I'm not a nancy-boy who can't take pressure -- I just needed a bloody break from all the interrogating I've gotten today." He sighed tiredly, but then looked at her out of the corner of his eye and smirked. "I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition..."
"Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition," Buffy laughed. She'd watched many episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus over the years. She'd usually joined Dawn who was already watching an episode... That was probably part of Dawn's 'Spike homework' (learning about what her secret crush liked), now that Buffy thought about it.
"Ah! That's m' girl!" Spike put an arm around her shoulders, and Buffy slipped an arm around his waist. "You gave the correct response and passed my little test."
"Oh, I'm being tested, huh?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Of course. I must make sure you meet my exceedingly high standards," Spike said haughtily, using a more refined English accent.
After a few moments, Buffy asked seriously, "You're really okay after everything that happened today?"
"Yes, I'm really okay, pet. Your mum had every right to say the things she did... not that I enjoyed it or would want to go through it again anytime soon... But she's your mum, and looking after their cubs is what mums do best. I'm just lucky she has a big heart like you... she could've been much tougher on me. Joyce put me on the spot, but she listened to what I had to say with an open mind. What matters is, she gave me her tentative blessing in the end... and that makes any discomfort I had to bear completely worth it.
"Everyone else who doesn't approve of me can do their worst, I'll be just fine as long as I have you. You're not pissed at me for runnin' off again tonight?"
"Well, you didn't so much 'run off' as 'walk off at a leisurely pace' -- but I could do with a lot less of seeing you walk away from me... unless you're wearing something that shows off your butt." Buffy giggled giddily. She was in a very good mood now that she knew for sure Spike wasn't scared away by her mother. "I never say things like that -- see the bad influence you're having on me?"
Spike smirked. "You're naughty."
"I don't have nothin' on you." Buffy looked around at the silent cemetery and sighed. "I ain't gettin' no vamp action tonight."
"You could..." Spike stopped himself right there. "Never mind..."
"I could, what? Oh, was that sentence going to become naughty?" she asked knowingly, smirking a bit herself.
"...Yeah. But I stopped m'self in time -- that's good, right?"
"I'm curious about what you were going to say. Please do finish the sentence." Buffy batted her eyes at him, smiling slyly.
Spike cleared his throat. "I was gonna joke and say... you could have all the 'vamp action' you want right here an' now..." He looked at her nervously. "Wasn't even really that funny... Sorry 'bout that too."
Buffy laughed. "It was kinda funny -- and, of course, naughty. Actually..." She stopped and turned to face him, taking the lapels of his jacket in her hands. "I was gonna follow-up my 'no vamp action' remark by asking if you wanted to kiss me and give me some action... Interested?" She bit her bottom lip coquettishly (which Spike found irresistible).
Spike's worried expression changed into a happy grin. "Very interested." He wrapped his arms around her as Buffy slid her arms up around his neck and their lips met.
Buffy felt a wave of chill bumps prickle her skin as she parted her lips and invited his cool tongue into her mouth. Spike accepted her silent invitation, swirling his tongue slowly around hers in a slow dance to an unheard symphony. Her body pressed against his felt like paradise... her sweet mouth tasted like ambrosia... her blood racing through her veins sounded like angels singing from on high. He fought his own desires to ravish her mouth with his, keeping his movements tantalizingly gentle and slow. He knew she needed time, and if there was one thing he had, it was time... and if this was what the wait would be like, then he could wait for more.
Buffy loosened some locks of his platinum hair from their gel hold and wrapped them around her fingers as her tongue danced with his, slowly twirling around each other in a delicate waltz. He tasted of tobacco and whiskey and... man. His body felt hard and strong against hers and she longed to touch his skin, to run her hands over those hard muscles of his chest... they fit together so perfectly, as if they were made for each other. Why was she waiting? Why was she holding back? Why couldn’t she just give in to her own desires? Why couldn’t she be more like Faith... want, take, have? As if to answer her question, her mind conjured the faces of the men that had left her... men she thought she loved, men that claimed to love her... then left.
Buffy pulled away from the kiss and leaned her forehead against Spike’s as she tried to get air back into her lungs and push those other men... those other disappointments, out of her mind.
“Do you love me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I do...”
“How do you know?” Buffy questioned, pulling back to look into his bluer than blue eyes.
Spike smiled softly at her and brushed some stray hairs back from her face. “Because I can’t stop thinkin’ about you... dreaming of you... wanting to be near you. You fill my heart with light and hope and... joy. I’m drowning in you, Summers. I’d face the Spanish Inquisition every bloody day if this was my reward at the end... just to be near you... just to look in your eyes... to taste your sweet lips...”
Buffy leaned her body heavily against his, feeling like she could melt right into him. "God... I love when you talk like that," she moaned, then brushed her lips over his cheek. "When you left the house... I thought maybe you were tired of getting the third-degree from everyone already. I thought maybe you'd... had enough."
Spike moved his hands slowly over her back. "Uh-uh." He turned his face to capture her lips, giving them a soft kiss, and then a little nibble. "Wild bloody horses couldn't drag me away from you, luv. Well, maybe they could drag me away for an hour or so... but not permanently. I'll always find my way back to you."
Buffy noticed a nice big tree off to their left, perfect for leaning against while making out. She gently pushed Spike until he walked backwards into the tree.
Spike leaned his back against the trunk of the tree. "You seem to fancy pushin' me into trees."
Buffy pressed her body against his again, putting her hands on his chest and lightly rubbing his firm pecs through his shirt. "Mmmhmm. Trees are good for kissin' under."
"Just make sure there's not a sharp branch protruding from the tree 'fore you push me into it. Wouldn't that be just our luck?"
"Don't worry, I'll be on the lookout for..." Buffy's eyes dropped downward between their bodies, then went back up to meet his, "... protruding things." She finished with an eyebrow wriggle.
Spike's smile expanded (along with another part of his anatomy), and he curled his tongue over his teeth, sliding it slowly over his lips. "I love hearin' you say dirty things."
"That was dirty?" Buffy said with mock-innocence. "You just have a filthy, smutty mind."
"You're a dirty girl an' you know it, Slayer. You've got me against the tree where you want me... so go on... have your way with me, if you must!" Spike said melodramatically, putting the back of his hand to his forehead and turning his face away, acting as if he were under duress.
Buffy giggled, and wiggled her body against him. "The Slayer always gets what she wants, don't you know that, you bad, naughty vampire? Resistance is futile."
Spike couldn't pretend he wasn't enjoying this. "Well..." he made a show of giving her a once-over, "you are a cute bird... maybe it won't be so bad. Maybe I'll even like it."
"Like it? Uh-uh. I'm gonna make you love it, baby," Buffy said huskily.
Their lips crashed together in an urgent, hungry kiss, both of them forgetting about the no power-snogging rule again. Their tongues probed the other's mouth, their hands sought out each other's smooth flesh. Spike slipped his hands under her shirt in the back, needing to feel her skin. Buffy's right hand found its way to his belt buckle, and then moved up and under the front of his shirt to feel his abs. The tantalizing way the tight, blue shirt hugged his sleek, ripped torso had made her fingers itch to touch him all day. And, oh, his muscles felt so good under her palm...
'Holy shit!' Buffy thought. 'I seriously want to fuck him right here against this damn tree! Not very romantic... I want it to be romantic and sweet... I want to be able to tell him I love him when we... But this is... oh God, this is incredible...'
"Getting me so hot... God... Spike," Buffy moaned against his lips. Her panties were becoming soaked with excitement and uncomfortable, making her squirm. 'I'd better take 'em off -- that'll help!' the sex-starved part of her mind exclaimed.
Spike growled lustily, his nostrils flaring with the powerful scent of her arousal. His hands moved down her back to her ass, taking two handfuls and kneading her firm cheeks and pulling her hips even harder against his. Buffy moaned into his mouth and let her hand fall back down to his belt. Her fingers toyed with the buckle as her brain waffled back and forth at lightning speed as to whether or not she should just give into temptation.
Spike (like Buffy) was caught up in the moment, and was just about to hoist her legs up around his waist when they heard laughing, followed by someone saying:
"Mmm-mmm, you two are fun to watch! But I think I might join ya and have even more fun before I kill ya!"
Buffy and Spike, both breathing hard, turned their heads to see a fledgling, male vampire (still dressed in his burial suit) leering at them and licking his fangs.
Buffy scrunched up her nose. "Ick. Well... that killed the mood."
They parted and took a few long strides away from each other for more fighting room, breathing deeply and shaking their heads to quickly clear the fog of lust from their brains.
"Bloody hell," Spike groaned, looking skyward as he moved away from Buffy. "Why do we get interrupted every bloody time we start kissing? We need to snog indoors from now on." When he looked back to Buffy, she had a stake in her hand. 'Where was she hidin' that? She's a bloody magician,' Spike thought.
"Being indoors doesn't guarantee interruption-free smoochies, either," Buffy pointed out, getting a good grip on her stake. "Harmony interrupted us while we were indoors -- with a crossbow. At least this perv only got a cheap thrill and giggled. I'll take a giggle over a crossbow any day."
"Yeah, you've got a point," Spike admitted. "I just hate bein' interrupted by anything or anyone when we're snogging."
"Look at the bright side, at least it's an anonymous vamp and not Dave again."
"Actually, I'd rather it was Spicoli -- I'd have a right good excuse to kill him this time. But alas," Spike sighed, "it's just another run o' the mill fledge, fresh from the grave, full of piss an' vinegar and mush for brains."
The vampire growled angrily, enraged that they were acting so unconcerned when he was trying to scare them. He charged at Buffy -- mistakenly thinking she was the weaker of the two and could be easily brought down; he hadn't noticed the stake in her hand, unfortunately for him. Buffy punched the vamp in the face when he got close enough, which sent him spinning to Spike. Spike punched and then kicked him in the gut, sending him back to Buffy. She knocked the vampire's legs out from under him, and then dropped to her knees and staked him on the ground.
"That was another less than epic battle," Buffy commented as she stood and brushed the dust from her clothes. "Is it my imagination or are the vampires around here getting lazier? And that was the first nibble I had all night, where are all the bloodthirsty demons hiding? Guess I shouldn't complain, though. Maybe they all started smoking pot."
Spike adjusted his hard-on (a visit with Rosy Palm and her Five Dancing Sisters would be in order as soon as he and Buffy parted company for the night), and then kicked at some of the vamp dust with his boot. "You coulda let him live a few minutes longer, luv. We were just startin' to get him going like a pinball machine."
She made a face. "Not my style. I don't like playing with them too much, seems kinda cruel; I just try to get the job done."
"But you do it with flair," Spike added.
Buffy shrugged and tucked the stake into the pocket of her jacket. "I try. It sucks that I only found one to stake, but I guess that's good enough for tonight. You've been walking me home a lot lately, I'd like to walk you home for once."
"Got no argument here." They started walking to the crypt. "Sorry I... uh..." Spike cleared his throat. "Sorry I got carried away before that wanker interrupted us... Don't hold it against me... Let me rephrase that last bit -- don't be pissed at me for briefly losing my higher brain functions."
Buffy's blush returned with a vengeance. That vampire coming along when it did prevented her from giving into her desire for Spike... which was both good and bad. Good, because she really did want their first time to be romantic, she also wanted to be able to honestly and unreservedly tell Spike that she loved him too. And it was bad, because Buffy was still horny as hell and wanted to ride Spike like a prize pony -- and there was an extra feeling of restlessness from slaying... Damn, she hated to admit, even to herself, that Faith had been right about anything, but slaying did make Slayers hungry and horny.
"Well... you weren't exactly molesting me, Spike. I was into it, too. We both got carried away there for a minute... It was the power-snogging that got us." Buffy reached out to hold his hand while they walked. "I want our first time together to be romantic... not screwing against a tree in the cemetery."
Spike swallowed his frustration and took a few deep, steady breaths to get his mind and body fully back under control. "I know, pet... I want it to be romantic too. I want to make love to you... and doin' it against trees in cemeteries definitely falls into the 'fucking' category... not a whole lotta romance in it. We're not in a rush, no worries." He chanted to himself, 'She's worth the wait... she's worth the wait... I will be strong... I will be strong...'
"You're probably really disappointed that we're not going to... continue... Are you mad... or feel a brood comin' on, perhaps?" Buffy hoped he'd smile, and he did.
Spike entwined his fingers with hers. "I'm not mad, and there will be absolutely no bloody brooding. I told you before, I don't brood." It had been a very long time since just holding hands with a girl gave him a thrill, but he did get a thrill from it with Buffy. It wasn't as big as the thrill he'd had a few minutes ago, before they were once again so rudely interrupted... But Buffy would've regretted it... and he didn't want that. He was positive about one thing though, Buffy wanted him too.
"You know, I'm really proud of you," Buffy said, squeezing his hand.
Spike grinned, pleased to hear her say she was proud of him about anything. "For what?"
"For having the courage to sit down and talk with my mom tonight."
Spike snorted. "Yeah, ain't I the brave one? Havin' the courage to sit across from a mild-mannered, middle-aged, suburban mother of two and answer questions... I hope the Watchers put that in my bio, it'll make my enemies quake with fear."
Buffy rolled her eyes and laughed. "Okay, maybe it wasn't a 'facing down the armies of Hell' kinda brave, but I know it was hard for you to talk to her, and I think you were brave for doing it. But I suggest you don't call my mom 'middle-aged' to her face -- that'd go beyond brave. I'm also proud, and very relieved, that you stuck up for 'us' and didn't back down."
"The days of me flip-flopping about 'us' are over, pet. The only one for me is you, and you for me, we can be happy together... like the song says. You don't have to worry 'bout me changing my mind again, alright?"
Buffy smiled and nodded, trying to take that to heart.
As they approached the crypt, Spike stopped and turned to her. "Thanks for escorting me home, Miss Summers. There's lotsa unsavory types 'round here at night, I feel much safer with you."
"No problem, Mr. Swann. It's my job to protect the citizens of Sunnydale from evildoers. But I don't escort just anyone home... You're special." Buffy put her hands on his sides and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.
"Mmmm, I do feel rather special at the moment..." Spike purred, taking her into his arms. He wanted to lift her up and carry her inside, and then make mad, passionate love to her all night long. But... there'd be a right time for that in the future... hopefully in the near future.
He took her lower lip between his, sucking on it softly, then teased the seam of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. Buffy responded by opening her mouth and drawing his tongue in. She wound her fingers through his soft, platinum hair as their lips and tongues engaged in sensual combat. Spike's splayed hands moved over her back and held her tighter to him as they began to get lost in each other again.
They both realized they should stop at about the same time. They broke the kiss and took a step back from each other.
"Almost got carried away again..." Buffy said with an anxious chuckle.
"Yeah... it's easy to get carried away when we're... doin' that."
"Yeah..." Buffy swallowed hard, then forced herself to change the subject. "So, um, what's the plan for our date tomorrow? Your car's not fixed yet, so are we walking or taking another carriage ride?"
"No worries, I've got it covered."
"Ooh, more mysterioso plans, huh?"
"Not really... just our transportation will be a surprise. I hope you won't be disappointed. The evening's not going to be nearly as grand as last night..."
"I loved our first date, but I'm looking forward to us having a 'regular' date too. Just two regular people doing regular things."
Spike scoffed, "Regular people? Us?"
"Yes, I know you're a century-old vampire, and I'm the mystical Slayer, but at our cores we're just 'Buffy and Spike'. And Buffy and Spike are getting to know each other like regular people, just like we did at the restaurant."
Spike nodded, he'd enjoyed talking with her over dinner too. They'd learned new things about each other and shared some laughs, which was more than Spike could've ever hoped to have with her not long ago. He'd always remember how especially beautiful Buffy looked last night as she sat across the table from him, how her eyes sparkled when she smiled at him, and the warmth he'd seen in them. Getting to know each other was turning out to be fun -- though it wasn't easy to control his raging desire for her.
"I'll drop by the shop tomorrow... briefly," Spike said. "I've got some business to attend to, I won't be able to stay long."
"You don't have to, Spike. I'd like to see you there, but I'll understand if you don't want to..." Buffy didn't want to push Spike to the limits of his tolerance so soon. After the difficult day he'd had, she'd understand if he wanted to avoid her friends and family for a little while.
"No, I want to put in an appearance, show 'em they've got no chance of runnin' me off for good. One thing they should know about me by now -- I'm a persistent bugger and not easy to get rid of. But after that, I've gotta go to the garage and work on my car for a while; I'm never gonna get her back on the road if I don't."
"Okay." Buffy kissed him one more time, her lips lingering on his for a few moments. "You go get some beauty sleep, I'm going home to do the same."
"See you tomorrow, then, pet. Sweet dreams."
It wasn't easy for Spike to watch Buffy walk away... though the view was awfully nice. Seeing her firm, tight ass swaying back and forth was hypnotic. He had the impulse to call out to her and beg her to stay, but stopped short of actually doing so. He had to be patient with his little hummingbird and give her the time and space she needed. Also, his little hummingbird might get pissed and kick his ass if he pushed for too much too soon. Or she might pout because he wasn't being patient like he'd promised. One of Buffy's adorable pouts was just as effective on him as a punch to the gut -- as a matter of fact, it was even more effective.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Thanks to xoChantelly for the sweet new banner she made for the story! I requested a banner with a happier, non-bloody Spike and Buffy, and Chan was cool enough to make one for me :D
Banners by xoChantelly and Edgehead
Banners by xoChantelly and Edgehead
Chapter End Notes:
Mucho thanks, as always, to my intrepid beta Passion4Spike. I don't know how I ever got along without her ^_^