DISCLAIMER -- I own none of these characters (but don't I wish), nor do I profit from them... All hail Joss Whedon, God of the Buffyverse and thank him for allowing us to use his creations.
Distribution: Ask and ye shall receive ;
Feedback: I'd love some…
catalysts@home.comOriginal fiction and poetry: Try my URL
http://jane.crimescene.org/~wench/And then there was Spike (Part 1)
By C.D. Hackett
Things were so strange these days. Willow found herself slipping into moments of fantasy when she least expected it. Like in psych class. Professor Walsh was going to scalp the fey redhead if she didn't pay attention.
"So Will, " Buffy poked her tall friend in the ribs after class, "What's the what?"
"What?" Willow flushed with embarrassment, "There is no what. Absolutely no what'ting whatsoever. I am completely and honestly whatless and," she paused, realizing that Buffy could see through her babbling and knew she was fibbing, "No whats except, well except for the tiniest almost non-existant what'ting about, well about...Spike. There. I said it and I feel better for saying it. Spike. See how free saying his name makes me?"
"What? You're what is about Spike? Our Spike? Not that I'd want him except for when ensorcelled by a wayward spell from a Wicca who-shall-remain-nameless-because-otherwise-she'll-be-riding-the-guilt-a-whirl again. But Spike? Icky, slimy, devious Spike? You're making me wig, Willow. Why not Giles or Tara or anyone but Spike?"
"Who's Spike?" Riley stepped up behind them, wrapping a possessive arm around Buffy, "Isn't Spike the odd name of that guy you made up when you tried to fool me into thinking you were getting married, Buff?"
Willow looked indignant, "It's not odd. He might be but... Oh, look. It's the cafeteria. Keeper of foodstuffs and snackies. I think I just remembered that I'm hungry. Yep, better get over there, my tummy's all grumbly for honey. You two lovebirds go and have fun, but not too much, yet, and I'll see ya around."
"I was just waiting for her to say, 'Exit -- stage left' before she trundled off like that. And what was with the Winnie the Pooh thing? And, back to the topic of our mystery guest, who is Spike?"
"Just some guy who used to be kinda evil and now he's kinda not. And she slept in her Winnie the Pooh PJs last night, not that you need to know what Will sleeps in or anything... But, let's not talk about Will, or Spike. This is our time. Let's talk about anything except the Initative, vampires or other things that make me go, "Ick" in the night."
Riley smiled and lost himself in her beautiful eyes, "Ok, let's talk about what you sleep in and who you dream about... hmmnnn?"
"Egotistical much, Riley? I'm not here to feed your male ego y'know."
"I know. But, I'm here to feed you, Buff."
Before she could leap to any NC-17 conclusion to that comment, he began pulling treats out of his knapsack for them.
"Oh, shortbread. I love shortbread. And you made me a gingerbread me! That's so sweet. She's too precious to eat."
"No, here's your Gingerbread man. This sweetie," Buffy wasn't sure if he meant her or the Gingerbread Buffster, "is mine to consume." He waggled his eyebrows in an unattractive way and tried to "muhahaha" deviously, but failed because Riley was too wholesome looking to be convincing in an evil role.
***
Willow and Tara poured over the tomes of magical spells. Tara thought about asking why Willow needed a soul-restoring spell re-written, but decided against it. She was much happier just being with a real Witch. It was like being with her Mom all over again, except that Willow was a lot younger and very modest about her Gift. Willow was so much more confident and powerful than Tara felt she could ever hope to be.
"Um... Willow, would you, like to, uh, maybe, come hang out in my room tonight? We could make popcorn and play Boggle." Tara finished lamely, looking down at her ink-stained fingertips.
Willow looked up from her Book of Shadows and smiled sweetly, "Oh, Tara. I'd like to but I have some unfinished business with a… ummn… an older guy I know."
Looking at the ferocity of Willow's blush, Tara felt kind of empty inside but then realized that Willow was her friend, no matter what guy she was enthralled with, and that someday, Willow would be able to help Tara grow as a Witch.
Tara shyly slipped her hand into Willow's, "Once this is done, if you want -- I could help you cast it. We work well together."
At that moment, Spike walked into the room, "Red, I've brought you --" He broke off and watched the spastically shy Tara wrench her hand from Willow's and clumsily get to her feet.
The blonde Witch barely looked him in the eye, "I... I have to go. Now. Bye Willow. Nice to, um, see you, Spike." She stood at the door for a moment when it wouldn't open and realized that she'd pushed instead of pulled.
"See ya."
"So Red, what was with the lovelorn lose-- friend of yours? And how did she know about me?"
"That was Tara, and I told you about how she helped me when the Gentlemen were in town. And she knew who you were because I sorta, told her about you-and-me except for the whole vampire part and the spiked hot chocolate," she replied, somewhat defensively.
"You're even more gorgeous when you're feeling defensive," he smiled at her, "Yeah, I remember, you told me how she nearly got you killed and hurt your ankle and then helped you block the doorway. And so you told her what part about us, Pet?"
He drew closer to her, if he had breath, she would be feeling it against her ear and her neck and then her mouth. Her green eyes grew saucer-like and then closed as he pressed his mouth to hers. Willow's body went limp in his tightening grasp as she actually felt her knees turn to Jell-O. This was no "fluke" this was the very real, very undeniable truth. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him back with enthusiasm.
Spike easily lifted her and carried her to the bed. They laid down upon it, still kissing. When Willow finally had to pause for breath, she gently pushed Spike up and faced him.
"Ooh, the serious face. What is it, Pet?" Concerned, he held her face in his hands and looked into her eyes, "Willow, what is it? Talk to me, Love."
*He called me "Love"!!!!!*
Mentally, Willow squealed with girlish delight, aloud she replied, "I have something very serious to ask you, Spike. It involves both of us and it is very important to me. Before this goes any further, I have to know if you are willing.""Pet, I am very willing for anything that you are interested in. Try me. Ask me to be your BadBoy. You can punish me."
Lost in a little fantasy, Willow took a moment to set him straight while keeping his suggestion very much in mind.
"I think you know how I feel about you, but I don't want Buffy to slay you for my own good. I would like it if you would let me give you back you soul." She watched for his reaction.
Spike's eyes widened and then narrowed, almost bitterly, "So what you are saying, Pet, is that you don't trust me to behave myself unless I am re-souled and that you don't want things to go beyond this because I'll also have that damned curse like DeadBoy does."
"Since when do you copy Xander's insults? And I do too trust you and I'm not suggesting this to keep us from... well from doing, you know... that. As a matter of fact," she blushed hotly, "I had Tara help me re-write the spell so that you don't have that particular restraint. Or won't have it... if you trust me enough to let me do this. For us."
She gave him her most sincere and loving puppydog look. "Please. Do this for us. For me. For you. I think you've wanted your soul back for a long time, because sarcastic as you are, I know that you care about me. About the whole gang. Even Giles and Buffy too. And, if you had your soul back, we wouldn't have to worry about anything else. Just our being with each other."
Spike's face lost its angry look. It grew more tender than she had ever seen before. His eyes glowed with what she would not hesitate to call "life" and love, and he whispered, "Yes, Willow. My Pet, my love. I trust you and I will do what I must to show you how I feel. I love you, you red-headed snippet. You beautiful, bewitching Witch. I am yours."
With that, he fell back onto the bed and snuggled his face into her lap. Willow slowly stroked the chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw of his handsome face. She was happier than she could express.
"Oh, Spike," she sighed contentedly, and allowed him to draw her face closer so they could kiss some more.
"Hey Will," Buffy called as she dropped her crossbow by her bed, "We're ho-- Holy God! What are you two doing!"
"What's going-- Oh, Willow. Sorry we inter--" Riley broke off mid-speech twice. "You!"
Spike leapt from the bed, fangs out, "You!"
Riley stepped towards Spike, menacingly. Buffy grabbed his arm, restraining him, and Willow jumped up and confronted him.
"No! I will not allow you to hurt him. I love him!" And with that announcement, she kissed Spike quickly, "Go. We'll do the spell later, Okay?"
"If it weren't for the fact that I love her and your group has done this to me, I'd drain you as my last before I get my soul back."
"Spike," Buffy warned.
"Oh, I shan't hurt the Slayer's new boytoy." Turning to Willow, "Goodbye, Love. I'll see you later."
Then he opened the window for a dramatic exit, "I feel a little like Romeo, except if you were the sun, this'd be over far too quickly for my liking."
And on that note, with a roughish wink, he disappeared into the night.
"Buffy, what the hell is going on? That was our escaped specimen. And he's a vampire. And you're the Slayer. And Willow, what are you thinking? Are you under some sort of spell?"
Her chest heaved and sank as her breath came angrily. "Riley, you know nothing about me. Or about Spike or, probably, about spells either. If you try to hurt Spike, so help me, you'll regret it. I may not be a Slayer, but I can protect the ones I love."
She wiped away the hot tears that now flooded, unbidden, down her pale face. Without another word, she grabbed her things and threw them in a bookbag and left.
"Willow!" Cried Buffy, "Wait. Please."
Willow paused at the door and whispered her words painfully, as they squeaked past the giant lump in her throat, "I'm sorry, Buffy. But I won't let Riley hurt him. And Spike's agreed to let me bring his soul back. Support me in this. I love Spike."
"Ok," Buffy assented because she was too shocked to say anything else.
Willow turned back, briefly, "Thanks."
Riley was still stewing angrily, "Fine. I want the whole story. And I want it now."
TO BE CONTINUED