Chapter 10

Buffy woke with a start. She had a smile on her face as she sat up but soon remembered the previous nights events… soon she found herself tearing up. How could Ford lie to her face like that? It was clear he only wanted to possess her.

Looking around, she picked up some clothes that were strewn about when she noticed a black jacket on her lounger. Recognizing it immediately, she tried to remember when he had left it. She picked up the jacket and found herself breathing in his scent. What am I doing? Just because he's handsome, caring and I obviously lov-….crap. She needed to get his jacket back to him soon.

She walked with determination in her step over to Spike's house. She was on a mission and would not let him distract her; she would just hand him the jacket and walk away… simple, right?

She marched up to the door and knocked, waiting for him to answer. She expected to see him but now… shirtless? She blushed a shade of crimson and looked away. He smirked at her, knowing what she thought and quickly put on the shirt he was holding.

"How are you, pet?" he found it adorable that she was blushing because of him. He inched closer, and found his coat being shoved in his face.

"Here, you left this last night" she said, blushing even more if that were possible.

He took the jacket and grinned at her. "Thanks for returning it, love. Was wondering where it got to" he brushed her hand as he took it and she smiled for a second before quickly pulling her hand away.

"I-well, I better get going. I need to get dressed and everything" she looked down and had just realized she was wearing her Yummy Sushi pajamas. Embarrassing. She turned to go but found his hand lightly holding her back.

"Come back over when you're finished, I'd like to walk you" he smiled sweetly at her. She nodded and hurried back to her house.

Buffy picked a sexy red top and black skirt with a split up the side and ran back out to meet Spike.

She spotted him helping his mom to the car and ran up to say hello. "Hi, Mrs. Pratt!" she smiled brightly, handing the bag she dropped to the older woman.

"Well hello Buffy, William told me you were walking to school together today" Seeing her son's urgency for her to go, she laughed and waved at the two. "Off to work, it was nice seeing you Buffy. Come visit us more often! I'll see you at supper, William" she kissed her son quickly and drove off leaving the two staring at each other.

"So, should we go?" Buffy asked nervously. She wasn't sure why he was smiling at her like that… it was almost like he had a secret she wasn't privy to.

"Of course Pet, after you" he said holding his arm out for her to hold onto.

It was a simple gesture but Buffy's heart always leapt at it. She wished every guy was as sweet and thoughtful as Spike was.

She took his arm and they walked together in comfortable silence once again. Every couple of minutes she stole a glance at him but a few times he was looking back at her with those intense cerulean eyes. She was amazed by how they hadn't said a word to each other but were actually speaking volumes.

Spike wanted Buffy to be his and his alone but wouldn't dare to think she could want the same thing; And Buffy, well she was afraid of being hurt again… whether or not she thought Spike could really do that to her. It was this irrational fear that kept the two silent thought it was loud and clear to their friends.

The next day during lunch, Willow leaned over to Dawn looking very conspicuous. "We need to get them together or it will never happen"

"Who? Spike and Buffy? I don't know why they don't just go out already. From the way they always stare at each other when the other isn't looking… and I know my brother goes over there when she has a nightmare. I've seen him do it" she grinned. It was no secret that her brother comforted Buffy sometimes at night. It just made his feelings more obvious to Dawn.

"That's what I'm saying!" Willow squeaked and noticed Spike and Buffy now staring at them. "Sorry, Dawn was telling me about last night's episode of House" she was a terrible liar but they seemed satisfied. Buffy went back to turning down Angel (his reputation for being a player got back to her and she decided they should just be friends), and Spike went back to laughing at Angel's defeat.

Dawn Smirked at the scene and leaned over again "Ok I'm in; we'll talk later"

This was going to be fun.