You promised

Thank you so much for the positive feedback!!! Please keep it coming. Az

You promised_2

“Spike I have to go.” She said softly, looking everywhere but at him. The candles were still burning, throwing a faint glow against the darkness of the lower crypt.

“Yeah. I know. Heard it before Luv. Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.” He rolled over, sheet riding low on his hips, so he could hide his silent tears in the pillow. The pillow that still held her lingering scent.

“Don’t be like that…I have to go to work…”

He mumbled something into his pillow, refusing to lift his head to her.

“What? Would you roll over and talk to me?” She said exasperatedly as she sat down on the edge of his bed. She placed her hand gently on his back, stroking it softly,

He wiped his tears quickly and turned to burry his head in her lap, arms automatically wrapping around her waist. “I can’t…I don’t want to let you go…let me get money for you…”

“I won’t take your money Spike. You know I won’t…why do you keep saying that?” She sighed and stroked her fingers through his hair.

“You don’t belong in that place Luv. You know you don’t…if you won’t take money from me at least get a better job. You’re more that that, you know you are.” He tightened his arms around her.

“I don’t have time for this right now. I have to get Dawn off to school, get r for for work…”

“Fine. Go.” He rolled over with his back to her again.

“Will I see you tonight?” She asked as she got up from the bed with a sigh.

“I can pick you up if you want…”

“No…no I’ll meet you…”

He stayed silent. “Spike did you hear me?”

“Heard you. Look you better go. It’s getting late. You have things… important things to do. Staying here. With me…not an option…”

“Please…understand Spike...I told you…you know why.” Her voice took on a petulant tone.

He turned around and glared at her. “Go. Now. Before I say something I’m gonna regret.”

“What…what do you mean?” She asked suddenly scared.

He rolled over, “What is this to you? This thing we have.” He was staring at her intently in the dim light. It made her weak, the way his eyes bore into her like that.

”We don't have a ... thing, we have ... this. That's all.” She said softly, turning away from his penetrating gaze.

Spike nodded and rolled away from her again. Effectively ending the conversation. ‘I know you feel something.’

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Buffy sighed as she pulled off her chicken/cow hat. She stretched and sighed. ‘Now for a three hour long shower to rid myself of the scent.’ She cringed as she walked out the door of the double meat palace.

As she walked up the street she glanced around. It was almost sunset. She adjusted the bag against her hip and finished the trek home in silence.

She walked in the front door. “I'm home! Who wants to help scrape the grease off my...” She glanced around taking in the scene before her. “Is there singing?! Are we singing again?”

”Nope, just the dancing.” Xander said, not breaking his step. He twirled a grinning Dawn in his arms.

”We're teaching Dawn perfectly synchronized dance steps for the wedding reception.” Anya supplied.

”Wanna go for a spin?” Xander asked.

”Uh, think I'm heading more towards an ungainly collapse.” Buffy sighed placing her bag on the coffee table.

”Aw, rough day?” Willow asked.

”Kinda.” She admitted slumping down on the couch.

”You've been going at it too hard, Buffy. We hardly ever see you, what with slinging the double meat and pounding the big evil.” Xander glanced over at her again.

”You are looking a little pounded.” Anya agreed. She glanced at Buffy’s hurt expression “Just around the eyes.” She added quietly.

“Hey, we're thinking of heading to the Bronze later. Wanna come, get all unwindy?” Willow asked smiling at her friend.

”Tall glasses of frosty relaxation on me. Nectar of the working man.”

”No, thanks. I think I'll stay here with Dawn. Curl up on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn and ...listen to the cars honk?” She watched Dawn grab her backpack and head for the door. “Where are you going?”

”I'm ... sleeping over at Janice's?” Dawn said uncertainly.

”And I'm falling for that again because of the surprise lobotomy?”

“It's okay, I checked it out. Janice's mom is picking her up.” Willow said softly.

”Oh.” Buffy glanced at her Double meat dinner.

”I didn't think you'd care. You're never home, so...” Dawn glanced at the door when there was another honk.

”I know. I'm sorry. You know, but I, I'm here now. All visible and everything. Couldn't you just stay at Janice's another night?” Buffy pouted sadly.

”Her mom's cooking Mexican. She's gonna teach me how to make real tortillas.” She readjusted her backpack and looked at the ground. “Not like I knew you'd be around.” She said softly.

”Frosty nectar. Now please.” She said softly. Defeated she waved to Dawn.

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Buffy ended up meeting her friends at the Bronze; she wanted to shower the scent of her workday away.

She was sitting at a table with Willow, watching Xander and Anya swing dance.

”What are they doing? We're not going to have to do that at the wedding, are we? 'Cause there's this last thread of dignity I've been desperately clinging to.” Willow said staring wide eyed at the dancing couple.

”You're still doing okay, right?” Buffy asked placing her hand on Willow’s arm.

”Yeah. You know. Some days are harder than the really hard days. It's easier like this, though, when I'm not alone.”

“I'm sorry I haven't been around that much.” She said softly looking down at her hands.

”No, that's not -- it's okay. We know you've been all tied up.”

”What?” She almost chocked on her last sip.

”With your job, and the slaying.”

”Hey, I see sitting where there should be dancing.” Xander said as him and Anya approached the table.

”Come share in the joy of our groove thang.” Anya said happily holding Xander’s hand.

”And despite that, I succumb to the beat.” Willow said standing up.

”I think I'll catch the next Soul Train out.” She smiled as she felt his presence. Her spine tingled, and her stomach flip-flopped. She felt a prickly tingle in the back of her neck signaling that it was Spike and not some random vampire.

”You sure?”

”Oh, yeah, you know, glass all the way empty. More nectar required.” She replied, eyes searching him out.

”Cool, well, shimmy on out when you're done lubricating.” Xander said indicating the dance floor.
She nodded as she spotted him. Standing in the shadows of the balcony smoking.

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“Hey.” She smiled up at him leaning against the railing.

He walked up and pressed against her. “Hey.”

“Glad you came.”

“Are you now? So you could get what you needed from me and run off?” He whispered against her hair.

“What? No. I’m glad to see you.” She confessed, eyes widening when she realized she spoke the truth. She reached out to wrap her arms around him.

“Glad to see me eh? Have you told them yet?” He asked spinning her around to face her friends down below.

“It’s…complicated…They wouldn’t understand, and they certainly wouldn’t accept…”

“S’ not their choice is it?” He asked as he reached up under her skirt and ripped her panties off in one quick motion.

“Spike…we can’t do this here…” She said trying to pull away.

“I’m evil Luv. I can do anything I please.” He said softly moldins bos boo heo hers one arm around her waist the other pulling his cock out of his pants. He rubbed against her slick entrance, awaiting her permission.

“Spike…please…I’m here with my friends…they can’t…I’m not ready to tell them.”

“You see ... you try to be with them... ...but you always end up in the dark ... with me. What would they think of you ... if they found out ... all the things you've done? If they knew ... who you really were?” He reached around under her blouse and pinched her nipple causing it to pucker.

”Don't.” She whimpered closing her eyes. In spite of that she pushed her ass back against him.

”Stop me. No ... don't close your eyes. Look at them. That's not your world. You belong in the shadows... with me. Look at your friends ... and tell me ... you don't love getting away with this... ...right under their noses.” He thrust into her then. She gasped. He pulled her up against him, her body flush with his, wrapping his arm around her waist he began to move.

Buffy moaned in pleasure as he reached around and stroked her clit in time with his thrusts. It was mere moments before they both shattered. Spike brought his wrist up to his mouth and bit into it as he released.

He quickly licked the wound shut, wiped off his mouth and clung to her desperately for a min minute before he pulled away and tucked himself back into his pants. He closed his eyes and mouthed silently. “I’m sorry.”

She turned to look at him and saw the sadness in his face. “Spike…I…”

“Sorry Luv, no time to chat. I’ve got to go…”

“Where are you going?” She asked placing a hand on his arm.

“Keeping tabs on me now Luv?” He smirked.

“No…I just…I was wondering where you were going…” She trailed off glancing at him and biting her
lip.

“Got things to do is all. See you slayer.” He turned and walked away.

She listened to the remainder of the song that was playing as she watched him stride from the club
dusbillbillowing around his legs.

And she kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
I want you
I need you
But there ain't no way
I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of e aie ain't bad
I want you
I need you
But there ain't no way I'm ever gonna love you
Now don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad
Don't be sad
'Cause two out of three ain't bad

Baby we can talk all night
But that ain't getting us nowhere

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“I’m gonna get out of here. I’ve got to patrol…” Buffy said softly to her friends.

“What’s wrong Buff?” Xander asked.

“Nothing. Nothing I’m fine. Really guys. Just a little tired.” She said softly walking away.

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‘Don't think about the evil bloodsucking fiend. Focus on anything but the evil bloodsucking fiend.’ She thought. She wrapped her arms around herself and continued walking.

She sighed when she realized there were no demons out tonight to fight. The only demons she was going to come across were the ones in her own head. ‘But hey, everyone has baggage right?’

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“So our wedding…” She glanced up at Xander, who was nodding at her. “Is not our marriage?”

“Separate things. One fills me with a dread akin to public speaking engagements.”

”And that would be the wedding.” She asked.

”Which will be over soon.” He smiled wrapping his arms around her.

”But our marriage...”

”That lasts forever.”

“Ah, well. That works out nicely, then.” She leaned in and kissed him softly.

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“Riley, look, I'm not saying that he's good, okay, I'm just saying that he's not capable of something as…” She trailed off as she spotted the eggs.

”I can explain.”

”We're gonna need more weapons. Spike screwed up. You didn't keep 'em frozen, did you ... Doctor?”

”You can stop calling me that any time. If I may, the thing of it is, I'm holding these for a friend, who…” Buffy hauled off and punched him in the nose.

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“So she's back. Thought you'd be off snogging with soldier-boy.”

”He's gone.”

”So, you come for a bit of cold comfort? The bed's a bit blown up…”
“I'm not here to bust your chops about your stupid scheme, that's just you. I should have remembered.”

”So this is worse then, is it, this is you telling me…”

”It's over.”

”I've memorized this tune, luv. Think I have the sheet music. Doesn't change what you want.”

”I know that. I do want you. Being with you ... makes things ...Spike I’m using you. I can't love you. I'm just ... being weak, and selfish...”

”Really not complaining here. I’ll take whatever you have to give me. Better than nothing.” He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. She offered no resistance. “Think I can stay at your place for the night seeing as how you torched my bed?”

“One night. And you have to sleep in the basement…or at least be down there by the time Dawn gets up for school.” She grinned resting her head on his shoulder.

“Deal.” He kissed her temple softly. “For what it’s worth Buffy I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I was just trying to earn some money. For you.”

“Well don't. We’ve been over this. I won’t take your money. You don’t come by it honestly. It would be like stealing it myself…or however else you get it…”

“But I”

“No. Now come on…lets go…” She grasped his hand, fingers curling in between his, and led him to the stairs.

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Song : Two out of three ain’t bad – Meatloaf

TBC…If anyone’s still interested that is…Az.