Remember Me

Chapter 3 - The Airport

Spike picked Buff at at the ungodly hour of 5 AM, in order to make it
to the airport on time. Their flight left at 6:45 and they still needed to
park the car, check in their bags, and hopefully grab some coffee and
a bagel before getting on the plane.

"Mornin', pet." Spike greeted her as he hefted her bags into the trunk
of his beloved Desoto. Buffy couldn't believe that with all Spike's
money he insisted on keeping his old car. She didn't believe him
when he said it was a classic. It didn't look like a classic to her.

"Morning, sweetheart." She gave him a peck on the cheek before
seating herself in the car. She laughed and winked at him when he
did a double take. "We have to start getting into our roles sometime,
don't we?" Buffy asked with a mischievous grin on her face.

"Whatever you say, honeykins." Spike gave her a saccharine grin in
return.

"Oh no! Forget it!" Buffy laughed. "I'm not going by honeykins! The
deals off!" She tried to get back out of the ancient car.

Spike stepped around to the passenger's side and kept her firmly in
place. Chuckling he asked, "Okay, why don't you just call me Spike,
and I'll just call you Buffy."

"Don't you mean Will?" Buffy asked.

"Oh yeah. Do you think you can remember that, luv?" Spike asked,
his brow furrowed. He'd forgotten that most, if not all, of his business
associates knew him as Will or William.

"Sure." Buffy shrugged. "And if I forget every once in awhile, I'll just
tell them that's your little, oops I mean not so little, bedroom
nickname." She laughed. Spike blushed.

"Cheeky chit!" Spike admonished her before stepping back over to
the driver's side of the car and getting in.

***

They arrived at the airport relatively unscathed. Spike grumbled
about the fact that they were only to be gone a week, not a month
when he started to haul Buffy's luggage toward the check-in.

"I needed to make sure I was prepared for anything." Buffy tried to
explain.

"Well, luv, it feels like you're prepared for a bloody hurricane!"

Buffy slugged him in the shoulder.

"Oi!"

"You're the one who asked me to come." Buffy sulked.

Softening, because it was true and he knew how much she'd been
against it, Spike stopped. Buffy turned to ask him what was wrong
when he dropped their cases and reached for her. Surprised Buffy let
out a small squeak before Spike had a chance to wrap his arms
around her.

"I'm not attacking you, Buffy!" Spike hugged her tight. "I know you
didn't want to come, and I'm grateful that you did. Thank you, kitten."
Spike swooped down and kissed her lightly on the cheek, letting his
lips linger for just a second longer than absolutely necessary.

Buffy pulled away before her body began to tremble at his closeness.
She stepped back and gave him a warm smile. "I couldn't let you
down Spike, I know how much this means to you."

"I know, luv." Spike bent down and re-shouldered his burden,
motioning to Buffy to lead the way.

After checking in their cases, Buffy tugged Spike along toward the
coffee shop she'd seen earlier. "I really need a wake me up." She
told him.

"Don't you mean a pick me up, pet?" Spike asked, chuckling.

"No, I mean a wake me up! Do you think it's normal to be up at this
hour? Only farmers and...and newspaper delivery meke uke up this
early!" She finally finished.

"Newspaper delivery men?" Spike raised a scarred eyebrow toward
her. Buffy loved that little feature on his sculpted brow, although she
thanked god everyday that that was the only reminder he'd had from
that confrontation. The scar had been caused by a couple of teenage
muggers. A few years ago Spike had been walking from his office to
his car when some guys had jumped him from behind. They'd had
brass knuckles and used them. Luckily the only permanent damage
had been the small scar bisecting his left eyebrow. Buffy thought it
gave him a sort of rakish, bad boy look, although she'd never admit
that to him.

"What? Aren't they up at the crack of dawn?" Buffy asked innocently,
she even batted her eyelashes for him.

"We were hardly up at dawn, Buffy." Spike replied.

"Says you! It takes hours to look this good, mister!" She pushed a
pointed finger into his chest. "Do you think I just wake up looking
beautiful?"

"Yeah." Spike answered under his breath as he watched her stomp
toward the coffee shop.

They got in line, waiting for their turn at a caffeine jolt. When they got
to the cashier Buffy ordered some complicated skimmed milk, double
shot, mocha something or other, while Spike just had a cup of today's
coffee.

They stood aside sipping at their hot drinks debating over whether to
sit down for a few minutes or head over to the gate. "We still have
about 45 minutes until our flight leaves. They won't start boarding for
another 15 - 20 minutes." Buffy said.

"Did you want to sit here for a bit?" Spike asked, the coffee shop was
nearly empty, only two other people were sitting at one of the tables.

"Sure." Buffy chose a table and sat, watching as Spike followed.

"Are you nervous about the conference, Will?" She asked. She'd
decided to start calling him Will now, so that she'd be less like to
forget later.

"I don't think nervous is the right word, luv. You know I hate these big
events. Just away to advertise, but I feel like a walking advert the
whole time!" Spike answered.

Buffy reached out and took his hand. "Don't worry about it, Will. At
least with me along we can kick back in between events and get in a
little fun." She smiled encouragingly.

At her words several different images passed through Spike's mind in
quick succession. None of them Buffy's definition of fun, he was sure.
But if his body's response was any indication, they sure were his.

Before he could respond they were interrupted by the couple that had
been seated in the shop ahead of them. The man leaned forward and
asked, "Did I hear you guys say you were going to a conference, and
that your flight left in forty? You wouldn't be heading to the Annual
Waterman's Publishing Conference on Kauai would you?"

Spike's eyes narrowed. He didn't like this guy.

"Yes. How did you know?" Buffy answered surprised.

"We're going there too." The man motioned toward himself and the
woman with him.

"Really? What a coincidence." Buffy replied.

"I'm Angel." The man offered his hand. Buffy took it enthusiastically.
Spike shook it reluctantly. "And this is Harmony." He pointed toward
the woman with him.

Again the three exchanged hand shakes. Spike could already tell he
didn't want to be hanging out with these people. The man was a total
git, and the woman was a bubble-brained idiot.

"I'm Will. And this is my *fiance* Buffy." He made sure to emphasize
the word.

Buffy smiled at the new couple, wondering why Spike was being so
hostile. They didn't seem that bad, although Harmony could get on
her nerves after awhile, she thought. She shrugged putting it off to
the fact that Spike didn't really like any social interaction if it didn't
involve their tight circle of friends. That's why she was there, right?

While Buffy made small talk with the couple, Spike took a moment to
study the man who'd interrupted them. He was tall, and built. Even
Spike could see his straining muscles through his dress shirt. He had
dark brown hair, slicked back with gel, and a wide forehead.

Spike sighed. He was just Buffy's type. Tall, dark, and broody, the
type of man Buffy had always dated. He looked like hght ght have
been a football player at one time as well.

Standing abruptly Spike took his empty coffee cup and threw it in the
rubbish bin. "We should probably go." He looked at Buffy as he
spoke. "Come on, luv, you can sleep some more on the plane. I
know how tired you are." He helped her out of her seat and turned to
nod a goodbye at the other couple.

"Awww, Angel honey! Aren't they the cutest?" Harmony purred,
wrapping her arm around Angel's bicep. "Isn't Will a sweetie?"

"Yeah, real sweet." Angel sad sarcastically.

Spike only nodded and murmured goodbye as he ushered Buffy
toward the exit. Before they reached it, Buffy whispered under her
breath, "What is your problem?"

They stopped, just inside the coffee shop walls. "Nothing."

"Yeah, right. You practically dragged me out of there."

"That stupid git was coming on to you!" Spike tried hard to keep his
voice down.

"What? That's ridiculous. First of all he's with his own girlfriend.
Second of all we were just making small talk." Buffy tried to reassure
him.

"Whatever. Let's go." Spike tried to pull her through the exit once
more.

"No, stop." She dug in her heels. "Look, even if he was flirting with
me, it doesn't matter. I wasn't flirting back."

Spike sighed and dragged his hand through his unruly curls. He
hadn't bothered to gelm dom down that morning since they were going
to be traveling most of the day. "You trying to tell me he isn't exactly
your type? That you don't find him attractive?"

"Him?" Buffy was surprised. She turned back and took another look
at the imposing brunette. "Well, I guess he's good looking in a cave
man sort of way. But I don't think he's my type." 'You're my only
type,' she thought.

"So you're not attracted to him?" Spike asked again.

"To him? No." Buffy answered with finality. Turning back she
grinned, "Why? Are you jealous Spike?"

"Hey, just want to make sure you remember who you're engaged to
this week, 's all." Spike murmured turning away.

Buffy felt a stab of disappointment, but hastened to reassure her
friend. "I know. I'm just teasing Spike. Don't worry, everything will
turn out fine."

"You think? Those two in there probably don't even believe we're
engaged and it's only the first hour of our trip!" Spike said, panic
seeping into his voice. Why had he thought this would work?

"You don't think they believe I'm your fiance?" Buffy asked, turning
back to the couple and seeing them watching her conversation with
Spike. "Well, let's convince them."

And before Spike could wonder what she meant, Buffy was in his
arms. He wrapped them around her automatically, his eyes closing
and his mouth opening on a surprised gasp when their lips met.

The kiss was sweet, their lips brushing against one another in a slow
leisurely way. He nibble at her bottom lip, sucking it in he licked at it
cautiously. When she didn't protest or pull away, he let his tongue
wander further into the moist cavern of her mouth.

Buffy whimpered and pressed her body even closer to his. The hard
points of her breasts pushed up against Spike's chest, and they both
let out husky groans. Buffy's hands came up to explore Spike's back,
as she let Spike explore her mouth.

The feel of Buffy against him, leaning in to him, wanting his touch
almost had Spike losing control. When she finally began to pull away,
he followed. Taking her mouth again, and bringing her back to him.
She gave in readily, and they kissed for several moments more.
Finally, knowing they had to catch a plane and that they were still in
public, Spike pulled away.

They looked at each other in silence, their breath mingling together as
they each panted in tiny gasps. "I guess, they're convinced now,
huh?" Buffy murmured, finally stepping back from Spike's embrace.
She hugged her own arms around her waist, feeling the loss of
Spike's heat almost immediately.

"Yeah, thanks, luv." Spike answered. The reminder that they had
just been putting on a show dimmed his arousal, but didn't banish it.
How could anything banish the aching pulse he felt the moment Buffy
had stepped into his arms and he'd realized her intentions? God!
He'd always been able to tell himself that he'd be happy with their
friendship and that that was all he needed. Especially since that was
all he was going to get. But now, after kissing her, touching her,
feeling her warm breasts against his body, he wondered whether that
would ever be true again.

That kiss had changed everything. How was he supposed to stop the
ache of wanting her now? And it was only their first kiss, in the first
hour of their trip. Oh lord, he was a dead man.