Twining Vines (COMPLETE)

*~*Twining Vines*~* By Echidna

Author's Note - Thanks again to Ali for BETA reading this chapter!! You're amazing! ;)

Part VII – Bachelor Party (Part I).

Spike tapped his fingers over the small bench he was sitting on whhe she stared at the curtains closed in front of him.

“Are you done yet?” he asked for the 4th time in five minutes.

“If I was, I wouldn’t be cooped up in here, now would I?” Sam’s voice hovered over the curtains to reach his ears.

“Will you just get on with it?” He grumbled as he felt his empty stomach turn. He dropped his head on his hands and sighed heavily, staring at the tiled floor.

“What do you think?”

He looked up to see her. She wore a short summer dress, which hovered just above her knees. He observed her for a few seconds, taking in the contrast between the random patterns of light brown and yellow flowers stamped over the light fabric and the milky white emanating from her exposed legs. Suddenly, she moved to disappear behind the heavy curtains.

“Hey, I-“

“I don’t like it. Too ‘I’m an innocent little church girl’.” She interrupted matter-of-factly.

“It wasn’t bad.” He whinged as he was growing increasingly frustrated.

She had walked through the store taking practically all the clothes she’d found along the way and walked straight into the changing room. That had been over an hour ago and she had only shown him four outfits so far. He was pretty sure there were still about ten to go.

He sighed and resigned to waiting, standing up and pacing back and forth in circles. Ten minutes later, she was standing in front of him – tight leather pants clung to her thighs and a slivery tang top hung over her chest by two thin straps.

He swallowed noticeably, but before he could say anything she was back inside.

“What?” He asked exasperated.

“Too ‘ravage me now’.” She explained simply.

“It’s not too ‘ravage me now’.” He lied.

“Spike, I got a flash from you. I know the first thing that ran through your head.” She responded, her nose wrinkling up as the images refused to abandon her mind.

“Sorry…” the vampire apologized a bit embarrassed as heked ked back and took his seat.

Four complete outfits later, she walked out of the changing room, this time with a long worn out dark blue denim skirt, which hung low on her waist, and a simple red linen sweater. The edges of its sleeves opened up slightly, just like bellbottom pants, and geometrical Arabic shapes were sewn into them with a white thread. The same intricate pattern bordered the ‘v’ neckline that exposed her sharp collarbones and the ashen colour of her neck.

As she had done previously, she prepared to turn around but stopped as she felt a strong cold hand gripping her arm.

“It’s fine!” Spike practically hissed frustratingly. “It’s not angelic, it’s not smutty, it’s not stuck up, it’s not simple, not complicated and it doesn’t make you itch. It’s fine. Now let’s go!” he ordered.

As she was about to make some remark he gave her a deadly look and she pouted, frowning.

“Party pooper.” She whined as she walked behind the curtain to change back into her normal jean and sweater outfit.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

“Anya, will you just stop for a second… You’re making me dizzy…” Xander begged as he practically ran after his fiancée. She was like the energizer bunny… “Better not get bunnies into the mix…” the young man thought to himself as he finally caught up with her.

“I can’t stop! There is just so much stuff to do till the wedding…” she mumbled as she made a mental list of what was needed. “I have to pick up the invitations and mail them out today, then there is the florist, have to make sure the woman gets the right flowers, then there’s…”

Xander zoned off and simply nodded; giving her the impression he was actually listening when, suddenly, he saw her – the woman from the Bronze. Anya’s friend.

“Hey, isn’t that Samantha?” He asked.

“What? Where?” the ex-demon looked ad, fd, failing to spot the redhead.

“There, standing in front of that shoe store, next to… Spike?”

“Oh!” Anya was off, running towards Sam, arms waving around, the shopping bags she was carrying flying in every direction as she literarily ran over the people who were standing in her way. Xander remained perfectly still, not moving an inch as his brain still tried to digest the information his eyes were providing him.

~+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

“Sam! Sam!”

The young redhead turned around to see where all the shouting was coming from and couldn’t help smiling as she saw the ex-demon coming her way.

“Hey!” she greeted when Anya was finally standing in front of her.

“Hey! Hey, Spike!” she dispensed him a second of her attention, but quickly returned her gaze to the redhead in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

“Shopping.” Sam answered pointing towards the bags piled up in Spike’s hands.

“Did you buy something for me?” Anya asked without any embarrassment.

Sam smiled at the woman standing in front of her. It was amazing. She was probably the only human being that said exactly what was on her mind. Before the images had a chance to flash in Sam’s mind, Anya was already blabbing everything out. It was really uncanny, but that was exactly what she liked about this hyperactive woman.

Sam was snagged out of her thoughts as she saw Xander approaching.

“Samantha… Spike.” The young man gave each an acknowledging nod.

“Hey!” Sam greeted with a grin.

“Harris. Out with the Mrs?” the vampire asked.

“Last minute wedding arrangements.” Xander explained.

“So about this store you told me…” Anya started and soon the two women were in a world of their own, talking about clothing, shoes, flowers… basically, extremely boring things that left the two men awkwardly staring at each other in a painful silence. Realising the conversation between the two women was going to take sometime, Xander decided to risk it:

“So… You know Samantha?”

“Sam? Yeah.” Spike said simply, not willing to disclose anymore information about it.

“From where?”

“We met at the Bronze.” The vampire smiled inwardly as he saw the young man in front of him was dying to know more about it.

“Really? So what are you doing with her now?” Xander tried to make it sound like he was just making conversation but failed miserably at it.

“Not much… Holding her bags, basically.” Spike stated, holding up the pile of bags.

“I didn’t mean that.”

“Well, you asked me what I was doing with her *now*.” Spike gave him one of his trademark smirks.

Sam choked back a laugh as she suddenly got an image of Xander wringing Spike’s neck.

“Very funny… ha-ha.”

“You wanna know something? Ask. Don’t expect me to dish out, I’m not one to kiss and tell.” Spike said, his scared eyebrow now high on his forehead.

“Arg…” Sam groaned, covering her mouth as she got a highly xxx image from Xander.

“Are you ok?” Spike asked, the smirk never leaving his lips as he figured the reason for Sam’s sudden sickness.

“I don’t think I feel so good.” Sam admitted as she shot Spike an angry look. “We better go home, Spike.”

At that Xander’s eyes widened. ‘Go home? She’s staying with him? How…? When…?’, but before he had the chance to ask, Sam and Anya had already said their goodbyes and the redhead was walking away, with Spike alongside her.

“Don’t forget about Saturday.” Anya shouted after the couple.

“Don’t worry! Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Sam bellowed back. When she was sure she was out of their sight she slapped Spike across the arm.

“Hey! What was that for?”

“I’m not one to kiss and tell.” She said with a mocking tone, imitating perfectly his British accent as she made a face.

“Wha’? It’s true.” the vampire complained with an innocent look on his face.

“Do you know the flash I got from that man? I think I’m gonna throw up!” she sighed as she walked a bit faster.

The vampire smiled as he increased his pace to fall into stride with her.

“Where are we going?”

“To get Anya’s present. I know exactly what she wants.” Sam said never looking at the man walking next to her.

“She told you?”

“No, I got a flash.” Sam explained as she entered a lingerie store.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

Willow and Tara sat on the mattress as they watchedfy pfy punch half heartedly into the punching bag Xander was holding for her while she trained.

“So, do you know who Anya and I met yesterday at the mall?” Xander asked the tree girls. “Samantha!”

“Who’s Samantha?” Buffy questioned as she administered another blow.

“She’s that girl we saw at the Bronze on Saturday. Remember? I told you about her. Anya’s friend?” Willow answered.

“Oh, yeah.” Buffy nodded as her foot came high to kick the upper edge of the bag.

“How is she? Is she still coming to Anya’s party? Maybe you can meet her, Buffy.”

The Slayer shrugged and continued throwing her meek punches.

“Sure.”

“Oh, I think you’re gonna wanna meet her, alright.” Xander said with a heavy ‘I know something you don’t know’ tone.

Buffy gave him a frown and he continued his report of the day’s events:

“She was at the mall, guess who was with her…” he started and then added with emphases: “…carrying her bags!” When he got no answer from the three, he finally added with wide eyes: “Spike!”

Buffy stopped punching the bag for a second, sending Tara a look, as the pieces in her mind clicked into place: Spike with a hottie at the Bronze the same night as the guys met another girl, apparently of stunning beauty. Spike’s girl was called Sam, which was short for… Samantha!

“You saw Spike with a girl?” Willow asked as she shifted on the mattress while Tara remained frozen at her side; her wide eyes now glued on the Slayer.

Buffy tried to mask her surprise by returning to her punching exercises.

“He was carrying her shopping bags! That’s major commitment sign! It’s just like in high school, when you ask a girl if you can carry her books. If she says yes, you automatically know you’re in. It’s the unspoken code of dating.” Xander explained. He held onto the punching bag as Buffy’s punches seemed to grow in intensity.

“Well, did you ask Spike about it?” Willow questioned with a gaping mouth, totally immersed in the news her friend was giving her. So immersed, that she completely ignored Tara’s altered behaviour. She held her breath as she closely watched the Slayer’s reaction to every word that was said.

“Yeah! And he was all monosyllabic about it. Like he didn’t want me to know about it.” Xander stumbled a bit as Buffy seemed to suddenly be putting all of her strength into the training session. The more he spoke, the stronger her punches were. “When I tried to know a bit more, he was all like: ‘I’m not one to kiss and tell.’… Ouch!” Xander groaned as one of Buffy’s blows seemed to punch through the padded material and hit him, causing him to stumble back. “Careful there, buffster.”

Buffy didn’t say a thing, merely continued her exercises as Xander took his place again, behind the punching bag.

“And what else?” Willow asked oozing curiosity, completely oblivious to Buffy’s altered behaviour.

“Willow, maybe we shouldn’t…” Tara said in a low voice, but was interrupted by Xander.

“And then she suddenly started feeling queasy and he was all worried, you know? All, ‘Are you ok, luv?’ and ‘Is there anything I can do’?” Xander said, deciding it was best to embellish the truth, make his story a bit more interesting. As a result he felt another strong punch go through the bag, but this time he was able to stand his ground, even though his stomach was starting to get sore. “And then… And this is the REAL news, she said :’We better go home.’!”

Xander didn’t know what hit him, as he was now laying belly up on the floor, staring at the ceiling, a throbbing pain in the side of his head. Willow was kneeling next to him, a worried look on her face.

“Are you ok, Xander?” the redhead asked.

“What happened?” The young man asked as he blinked wildly, trying to focus his gaze on his best friend’s face.

“Buffy accidentally missed the bag and kicked you in the head. You were out of a couple of minutes.”

“Oh! My head!” Xander said as he brought his hand to cover his ear.

“I’m sorry, Xander!” Buffy said with little sympathy in her voice. “It was an accident.”

“It’s ok. Don’t worry.”

Buffy felt someone tug at her shirt. She turned to see a concerned Tara looking back at her.

“We need to talk.” The witch said, pulling her towards the back door.

When they were in the alley, out of the training room and away from Willow and Xander, Buffy asked:

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Pretending nothing was happening.

“You have to talk to him. If this is bothering you, you have to.” For the first time since she had met the witch, Buffy heard nothing but determination and certainty in Tara’s tone, not a hint of doubt or her usual shyness.

“I already apologized. He’ll be fine.” Buffy said with a fake smile, that begged Tara not to push the issue, but she didn’t oblige:

“You know what I’m talking about, Buffy. You need to talk to Spike about this.”

“About what?” Buffy continued to avoid the subject.

“If you don’t tell him the truth, you’ll lose him.” were Tara’s last words as she opened the door and walked back into the training room, leaving a stunned Buffy behind.

~++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++~

The week went by in a flash and then, there it was – Saturday night, staring her in the face. All the girls were gathered downstairs, all except… her, the redhead. Buffy’s stomach turned and she let out ap grp grunt, taking off the shirt she was wearing and throwing it in the rapidly growing pile on her bed.

“Nothing looks good, damn it!” she protested as she walked towards her closet and opened it to examine it. “They’re all old.”

A knock on the door, brought her back to reality.

“Buffy! Hurry up! It’s the bachelor party, not the actual wedding.” Dawn’s voice bellowed from the other side of the door.

“I’m… coming!” Buffy answered as she took a white tang top and put it on.

“You said that half an hour ago. I want to give Anya our present.”

“I’m done!” Buffy said as she exited the room to find her sister standing in front of her, looking at her from head to toe. “What?”

Buffy wore tight black leather pants and an equally tight white tank top that showed off her perfectly shaped breasts. Long spaghetti earrings dropped from her ears and caressed her neck, which was exposed, as she had her hair pinned up in a bundle on the back of her head. Raven leather boots finished the ensemble.

“Buffy, it’s a bachelor party. Why are you ‘dress to kill’?” Dawn enquired with a frown.

“I feel dressy today.”

“Whatever. Do you have Anya’s present?”

Buffy held up the small box in her hands and the two sisters hopped down the stairs.

“Buffy!” Willow quipped as she saw her best friend coming down the stairs. Suddenly, she felt very underdressed for the occasion. “Why are you dressed up?”

“I’m not dressed up.” Buffy said matter-of-factly.

“If you say so.”

The three walked into the living room to find Tara and Anya sitting on the sofa.

“A-Are we going out? I-I thought we had decided not to go to the male s-striptease show.” Tara asked a bit confused as she noticed Buffy’s outfit.

“We’re not.” Willow reassured her, giving her a ‘don’t ask’ look.

A ringing sound filled the living room and Anya immediately jumped up to attention.

“It’s her. Finally! I get to open my presents.”

“I’ll get it.” Dawn said walking towards the door. As she opened it she was greeted by a smiling redhead and someone standing next to her who’s identity was concealed by the large box in his hands.

“Hey, you must be Dawn! I’m Sam!” the woman outstretched her hand and Dawn gladly took it, shaking it.

“Come in! We were waiting for you. Anya is dying to open her presents. Don’t tell Xander, but I think she’s only marrying him for the gifts.” Dawn said with a smile as she let the young woman in, followed by the man. “Hey, Spike!” the younger Summer’s girl greeted.

“Hey, nibblet. Care to tell me where I can leave this stuff?” The vampire asked.

“In the living room.” Dawn pointed.

“Hey, Samantha!” Willow greeted standing up and shaking her hand.

“Call me, Sam!” the woman smiled before turning her attention to Anya. “Hey, Anya! Congratulations!”

“Is that my present?” the ex-demon asked walking up to Spike and Sam.

“Yep, that’s it.”

“OH, it’s big!” she noted with huge grin

“Yeah, and heavy! Where do I put it?” Spike grumbled.

“Here.” Dawn offered pointing at the floor.

“Finally!” The vampire let out an unneeded gulp of air, but he soon caught his breath as his eyes found the Slayer’s. She looked amazing and his body immediately reacted to the tight leather pants and white tank top. Suddenly, there was very little room left in his denims and the zipper painfully bit into his tender skin. He shook his head and decided to ignore her as his gaze shot across the room, looking at everything except the hot little Slayer on the other side of the couch.

In the meantime, Sam pushed back the pictures that flashed in her eyes and tried not to make a disgusted face as she turned to greet Tara.

“Hey! Tara… right?”

“Y-yes.” The witch confirmed shyly.

“And Buffy… Hey!”

“Hey!” The Slayer greeted dryly.

“You know each other?” Willow asked.

“Yeah, we met at the Bronze the same night I met you guys.” Sam explained.

Willow’s eyes widened and she shot Buffy a ‘we have to talk’ look.

“So… Can I open my presents now?” Anya asked with the anxiety of a ten year old kid on Christmas day.

“Not yet.” Dawn noted tilting her head towards the only male person in the room. “No men allowed, Spike. Sorry!”

“Just came to drop off Sam. Don’t think I could take a night of watching sappy girlie movies, while dyeing my hair and doing my nails with you lot.” He answered as he passed the threshold of the house, Sam and Dawn holding the door open for him while Buffy and Anya stood behind them.

“Pick me up at…” Sam looked back at Anya, who was excitedly holding up a hand wide open. “…five?”

“Will do, luv. Be careful.” Spike said with a smile as he saw the look on Buffy’s face from the corner of his eyes before turning around to leave.

Dawn closed the door behind him and both she and Sam turned to face Buffy and Anya. The redhead’s eyes widened as she got a painful image from the Slayer.

“Let the fun begin!” Dawn announced completely oblivious to the deadly look Buffy was sending Sam.

To Be Continued...