Wicked Ways

Chapter 11


"Preparing to make the world's greatest omelet?" the cashier glanced at Buffy's groceries and smiled.


"Just put it on the bill," Buffy said dryly and put her groceries in a paper bag, trying to get out of the grocery store as quickly as possible.


A few blocks from the store, Buffy spotted her target and walked towards it with quick footsteps.


At the same time, Spike was sitting at Xander's place sipping a cup of coffee. A slight smile curved his lips as he thought of Buffy and the night they’d spent together. He couldn't wait to see her again. He wished he could just stay in bed with her the whole day but Buffy had her life. He just hoped that her rushing out of the apartment that morning wasn't some excuse to get away from him, or some insecurity on her part


Spike looked around and noticed the place was almost empty. Willow was standing at the bar talking to one of the regulars and Xander wasn't anywhere to be seen...it's probably a good thing he thought…he didn't think Xander would approve him and Buffy being all snuggly wuggly with each other so early in the morning.


Spike took another sip from his coffee and almost choked when he glanced outside at the street


"Bloody hell!" he coughed a few times and rushed outside.


"What the fuck are you doing!?" standing frozen at the sidewalk, Spike glared horrified at his black car covered with eggs.


"What does it look like?" Buffy said and threw another handful of eggs at his car


"It looks like you're egging my bloody car!" Spike raised his voice, narrowing his eyes at her.


"How could you?" Buffy spat standing near his car with the egg carton in her hands


"How could you sleep with her?"


"What are you talking about?" Spike's voice softened seeing the hurt that was clearly written on her face.


"Don't! Don't you dare lie to me!" Buffy’s bottom lip trembled as she continued


"You slept with Harmony two nights ago-"


Spike gazed at her stunned, but before he could say something Buffy added


"Just tell me this…was it before or after you asked me on a date?"


"What's going on?" Xander's voice cut in as the two blonds stared silently at each other.


With Anya on his side, Xander glanced at Spike's car and exchanged looks with Willow who came out of the pub to see what the fuss was all about.


Buffy dropped the carton from her hands and took off with Spike following as she ran across the street, leaving their shocked friends behind.


"Buffy-" Spike tried to catch up with her as she ran to a nearby park.


"Go away!" Buffy sniffed and wiped her face with her sleeve.


"God stop this!" Spike finally caught up with her and turned her around to look at him by holding her arm.


"Buffy you’ve got to stop this juvenile behavior! We need to talk about things; you can't just act like a lunatic every time there's a problem-"


"Maybe you made me into a lunatic… ever thought of that?!" Buffy yelled trying to free herself from his grip.


"Is there a problem here?' a firm voice came from behind them, Buffy and Spike turned to see a cop staring at them


Oh bollocks


"Excuse me miss, is this man bothering you?" the officer asked, watching as Spike loosened his grip on Buffy's arm.


The officer waited for Buffy's answer and Spike rolled his eyes.


"As a matter of a fact, he is," Buffy said, glancing at Spike coldly.


"Bloody hell woman!" Spike snapped "haven't you learned anything from our little road trip?"


"Is this your boyfriend miss?" the officer asked


"Please," Buffy snorted and then looked down, shaking her head at the situation.


"Could you bugger off," Spike said impatiently "I need a moment with my lady,"


The officer sent him a harsh stare and turned to Buffy "Is this okay with you, miss?" he asked


"Yes please," Buffy replied quietly and gazed up at him "I'm fine,"


"Okay," the officer took a step back giving Spike a warning look "I'll be right there," he added before leaving.


"Stupid git," Spike mumbled watching the officer walking away. He turned back to Buffy.


"Just say whatever is you wanted to say," Buffy mumbled avoiding Spike's gaze.


"I don't know what you heard pet, but I didn't do anything wrong," Spike search her eyes trying to get trough to her.


"Really…so Harmony didn't surprise you, naked, in bed?"


"Well that part is true---but! Nothing happened," Spike added when Buffy shrugged


"You really expect me to believe that?" Buffy's face was void of emotion


"Yes," Spike answered desperately "Dammit Buffy, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it, but this is the type of reaction I wanted to avoid,"


"Excuse me?" Buffy said with clenched teeth "where do you get off judging me?…this- this is all your fault!" she stammered.


"You’re acting like we're in a bloody school yard and this is my fault?" Spike asked bemused.


"You're the one to talk…I can't talk to you! You're making everything into a joke. The only way I ever get a reaction out of you is by getting physical,"


"If you wanted to get physical, all you had to is-'


"You see! That's exactly what I'm ta-"

Buffy was cut off when Spike tackled her mouth with his.


"You have to believe me Buffy," Spike broke the kiss, cupping Buffy's face with both hands "Nothing happened between me and Harm,"


"What did happen?" Buffy gazed into his eyes seeking the truth.


"I kicked her out, told her to sod off for good…told her I'm with someone else," Spike said softly gazing at Buffy's lips.


"Me?" Buffy asked sarcastically


"Yes you, you silly bint," Spike tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.


"Believe me?" he asked.


Buffy hesitated and took a step back


"Why?...why should I believe anything you have to say?" she said skeptically.


"Because I'm in love with you," Spike blurted, relived that he could finally express his feelings.


"What?" Buffy glared at him, taken back at his words.


"I'm in love with you Buffy," Spike repeated, not taking his eyes from hers.


They stared at each other for a moment


"I know you love me, you can't deny it," Spike tilted his head when he gazed at her.


"Not going to," Buffy met Spike's gaze and took another step back when he approached.


"Buffy-"


"I need some time to think," Buffy said stepping away from him as far as she could. She finally got what she wanted from him, but at what price? How could she know if he was telling the truth, her emotions were too shaky right now.


"Think about what?" Spike asked bewildered.


"Everything," Buffy simply replied before she turned to leave, without a second glance.


Watching her walking away, Spike murmured


"I'll be waiting,"

---

Christmas, 2 years earlier


Buffy followed Anya into her kitchen; Anya was kind enough to invite her and Xander for Christmas, so the least she could do was help out in the kitchen.


"I don't understand why he had to come?" she mumbled


"Oh give it a rest Buffy…it was funny," Anya said, putting the dirty dishes in the sink


"Humiliating me in front of my family and friends isn't my idea of funny,"


"That's because you're a stuck up tight ass Summers," a voice came from behind her


Buffy turned to see Spike leaning on the doorframe of the kitchen.


The smug look on his face made her blood boil; she decided the best thing to do was to leave and avoid confrontation.


"Get out of my way," she said when Spike blocked her exit.


"Or what?" he smirked at her.


That's it, she couldn't take it anymore.


"You think I'm an idiot, I know you switched the presents to make me look bad, you're going to pay for that Spike, with interest!"


Spike just stared at her grinning.


"Where is your Nancy boy with his Nancy boy hair gel?" he asked while scanning her body.


Buffy gulped but quickly recovered.


"You're the one to talk, you put on so much product, your head can stop a bullet!" she sneered and brushed her hand through his hair, to her surprise it was amazingly soft ,


However, she still wiped her hand on his t-shirt in disgust.


"Hey, watch It" Spike growled.


"I guess it doesn't matter with your head being so thick and all," she added smirking.


"My thickness could bruise you little girl," Spike narrowed his eyes at her and looked like he was going to attack her any minute now.


"You're disgusting!" Buffy spat, Spike almost launched at her, and Anya came to the rescue.


"Hey, hey, hey!" Anya came to stand between them "no fighting at Christmas, at least not in my house…you'll break something and it would cost me money," she added.


Buffy and Spike stepped back a little.


Anya went to the counter to take some appetizers. She grinned when she noticed the spot where Buffy and Spike were standing, clueless.


"Mistletoe!" she pointed and the two glanced up to see the mistletoe hanging above their heads.


"Why don't we resolve this with a nice kiss huh?" she said.


"LIKE HELL" "NO WAY"


Both answered and glanced at her at the same time.


"C'mon just a little one…" Anya smiled


"I'm not kissing that brat, she probably has Angel breath," Spike gazed at Buffy.


"Spike…I wouldn't kiss you if my life depended on it," Buffy said harshly "in fact just the thought of it, makes me sick to my stomach,"


"It makes you sick huh?" Spike said with a leer and before Buffy knew what was happening, his lips crashed against hers.


It was brief, very brief, but Buffy's world dissolved as Spike brushed his lips against hers.


She quickly realized what was happening and pushed him off


"Well that was lame," Anya said and walked passed them.


The two glared at each other for a moment, until Buffy remembered to wipe her lips in fake revulsion.


"Pig," she spat and turned to leave, afraid he'd noticed the blush on her cheeks.


"Bitch," Spike muttered under his breath and walked away in the other direction, adjusting his pants while doing so.

Present day


Buffy found herself at Spike's door. She had walked for hours trying to find the right answers to put her doubts to rest, trying to make sense of everything that happened since the day she and Spike met. She didn't remember it so clearly but she knew she had loved for him long before he did. She was young and naïve and she probably couldn't really tell what that feeling was. It was easier to hate him then too and long for him, want him, in ways that left her defenseless and vulnerable. She’d put her trust in people before and they’d let her down. She’d promised to herself not to open her heart to anyone ever again.


Still she found herself standing at Spike's door, wanting more then anything for him to take her in his arms and promise his love for her.


She knocked on the door twice and looked down as Spike opened the door to her.


"Took you long enough," he smiled, but then Buffy looked up to meet his gaze and his smile dissolved.


"We need to talk,"

TBC