The Story So Far

Chapter 10

"Remind me again, why we are here?" Xander whispered into Willow's ear, as the three made their way through the doorway at The Bronze, "Because I am not real convinced this is a good plan!"

"Have to say I am with you on that one, but Buffy suggested it, and she had a pretty rough day. Maybe it will do her some good to blow off some steam." said Willow, twisting a lock of red hair around her fingers in an agitated manner.

Xander pulled the redhead to one side. "Yeah Will, I am all for the blowing off of steam, but I just think doing it at the haunt of the girl whose ass you just kicked is, well ?? It's kind of stupid, don't you think?" Willow nodded, "I mean steam, would be better blown off at say, the bowling alley for instance."

"True," she agreed but I don't think Spike would be seen dead there do you?" she giggled at the thought of Spike swapping his heavy boots, and leather coat for some bowling shirt and shoes. Xander looked on bemused and oblivious. The two stood awkwardly in the entrance, waiting for Buffy to put her coat in the cloakroom. After a few minutes she bounced over towards them beaming.

"You guys not putting your coats in?" She asked, and stared at the couple, before tugging at the corner of Willows jacket. Xander was the first to pipe up.

"Well we just thought, in the event of having to make a swift exit, maybe it would be wise to hang on to them. Just for a bit, you understand?" he smiled sheepishly.

"You guys!" Buffy slapped Xander on the shoulder playfully, "It'll be fine, Spikes sorting it out for me."

Xander stared at the bubbly blonde.

"What?" Buffy squealed. "He said it would be ok."

"When did you see Spike, Buff? I thought you went straight home after the Cordy incident?" Willow teased. It was pretty obvious to her that the blonde was harbouring a crush on Spike. She had practically talked about nothing else since they had met up that evening. Buffy felt her cheeks begin to flush, and she shuffled from one foot to another.

"I kind of ran into him after I left school, briefly, very briefly. He bought me pancakes, and hot chocolate with those little marshmallows" she grinned widely, then quickly tried to suppress the smile.

"Pancakes huh!" Xander raised his eyebrows and wiggled them.

"Ok, what are we all drinking then?" Buffy changed the subject, as she led the others towards the bar. They managed to find a table in the far corner of the dark club, and all settled themselves around it.

"Still keeping those coats on huh?" Buffy teased, and she began to search the room looking for a familiar face. She couldn't see him anywhere. 'Dammit Spike, don't you stand me up!' she thought to herself. She was chatting to her friends when she felt a tap on her shoulder, she span round in her seat smiling broadly.

"Hey B! Didn't have this down as your kinda place?" Faith was smiled down at her. "You fancy going another round with the bitches?"

Willow looked at her horrified.

"Chill honey, joke alright! Listen B, can I talk to you about that favour? I know just what you can do for me!"

Buffy nodded and followed the brunette to the ladies room. Faith looked fantastic, there was no denying that. She had on tight black leather pants and a tiny halter-top, that left little to the imagination. On anyone else it would look trashy, but Faith actually made trashy look good. Buffy felt pretty conservative in her outfit choice by comparison. She hadn't wanted to look like she was out to impress tonight, she had gone for 'casual' but 'cool' look, with just a hint of sexy thrown into the mix, she didn't want Spike thinking she had made a special effort for him. Having said that it took two hours to perfect this, 'I just grabbed the first thing I found in my closet' look. She had finally settled on a pair of hipster jeans and a low, but not too low-cut top. She looked good. As they approached the ladies room, Buffy noticed Dru and Darla, at the table just to the side. Both girls turned to look as she passed, but before Buffy could freak out Faith grabbed her hand and pulled her in the door. She jumped up and sat on the area by the sinks, looking in the mirror and shaking her hair out.

"Thing is Buff, as I see it I saved your ass today! Your future would have been totally screwed, if you had gotten yourself thrown out of school today."

Buffy nodded, starting to worry just where Faith was going with this. "Well I saved your future, now you can save mine!" Faith took a swig from her beer bottle and grinned. "When schools out I need a job, the foster people I am with won't keep me, so I need to support myself."

Buffy nodded, Spike had told her earlier about Faith being in care, and it explained a lot.

"So I need you to help me get a job. What do you say?" She looked to Buffy for her response.

"Well I am working for my mom's friend in the holidays, its nothing great, photocopying, making coffee, that kind of shit,” Buffy started.

"I can ask if you can do it too, if you like?" Faith grabbed Buffy by the hair and planted a big kiss on her lips.

"That's my girl!" she grinned and jumped down off the side. As she went to l the the room she turned.

"B, if you're looking for you little friend, he had to drive Oz to get some spare strings for his guitar." She blew Buffy a kiss and slid out the door. Buffy returned to join her friends around the table.

"What was that about Buff?" Xander asked, "She's not, you know, blackmailing you or something?" he continued concerned.

"No, bizarrely she wanted me to help her get a job." Buffy shrugged her shoulders and turned to watch the band that had begun to play. She didn't even see that he had arrived. He stood at the bar leaning on one arm watching her. 'God she looks hot tonight!' he thought, sporting a smile to himself. He loved the way she flicked her hair, and then fell back, to the exact same place it was before. He loved the way she waved her arms in the air, when she spoke about something she was excited about. He could have watched her all night, but he was disturbed from his thoughts when Faith appeared in his line of sight.

"So I was wondering, are you gonna actually grow some balls and go speak to her!" she joked, "Or are you just gonna make moon eyes at her all night?"

"Already gone." He winked at her, and headed towards their table.

The band had started to play a slower song as he approached. "Hey Buffy!" he said as he pulled up a seat beside her, "You look beautiful." He whispered in her ear as he sat down.

She couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. "Hi!"

He waved a hand at the two sat across from him. "Its Willow isn't it, I have Chem class with you right?"

Willow grinned, "Yup that's me! Hi to you too!!" She waved her hand about furiously returning the wave, 'wow, he remembers me' she thought.

"That would make you Xander then, Buffy told me about you guys." Xander reached his hand out to shake Spikes'.

Willow and Xander turned their attention back to the band, in particular the guitarist who Willow reckoned had a certain something. The man in question, kept looking over and smiling, but Willow assumed he must have been smiling at someone else.

"So Buffy, you want to dance?" Spike asked.

'Oh my god, oh my god, breathe Buffy breathe,' she thought.

Spike took her hands gently and led her onto the dance floor. He raised them up putting them around his neck, and then began to slowly run his hands down her side until they reached her waist. She tingled beneath his touch. He slowly wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her tightly to him, she gasped as he did. They were so close she could feel his heart beating in his chest, and she was sure he could feel hers.

"You okay love?" He whispered in her ear. She could hardly speak, so she just looked into his eyes, as she pulled him in closer still. Spike thought this must be a 'yes', so he gently ran his fingers up her spine and tangled them in her hair, pulling her head down to rest against his chest.

"Just move with me pet," he spoke quietly as they began to sway in time to the music. He stroked her hair softly and caressed her back as they drifted out of reality.

'Don't let this song end,' Buffy thought. It had been a long time since she had let anyone get close to her like this. She kept her barriers in place to keep from getting hurt again, but Spike, well he just walked straight through her defences, as if they weren't even there. She hadn't wanted to let anyone in. Not until now. Not until Spike. Buffy raised her head so she could look at him. "This is nice," she smiled.

That was enough for Spike, he leant down and brushed his lips slowly over hers, barely touching. Buffy pressed her lips back onto his, letting him know this was 'ok'. He grasped her bottom lip and nibbled it seductively, then gently ran his tongue along it, searching for an entrance. Buffy opened her mouth slightly to allow him in and then wrapped her fingers in his hair, pulling his head down to deepen the kiss. It was long and slow, but full of passion, not at all like Angel used to kiss her. They had stopped dancing but hadn't even noticed, both too caught up in the moment. He ran his fingers through her hair and stroked her face, then broke the kiss to stare into her eyes.

"I was so scared you wouldn't come," he whispered, and rested his forehead on hers.

"I'm here, and I'm yours!" She replied before drawing him to her for another kiss.

Darla grabbed Dru and pulled her towards the dance floor.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" She screeched. "You should so kick his ass Dru!"

Drusilla dragged her friend back to their table. "Its no problem," she said calmly.

"No problem, are you crazy? He ditches you for some little skank! I'd say that's a problem."

Drusilla just smiled. "She is borrowing him for a while, that's all. He is my Spike, he will always be with me, always and forever, you'll see."

She picked up her coat and made for the exit. "He doesn't know it, but he is mine."