ALRIGHT! Sorry for the long wait, (and I know it was long), but this chapter was really hard to write, harder than the others. I don't really know why, lol. I was also working on my Kingdom Hearts fic as well as contemplating a spinoff of my KH fic (Saix and Aerith are in love?). So sorry again for the wait and I apologize if this chapter is not up to snuff. Also I am really busy with school, (college is so damn hard and tiring), so you may have a long wait ahead of you for the next chapter. Sorry! Enjoy!

Spike walked into the bar about an hour early. There wasn't much to do, but he had set his plan in motion and it required him to be there early; with Melfina.

"Spike," Melfina squeaked.

"What is it Mel?"

"Will this plan really work?"

He turned to look at her. "Of course, don't worry I would never steer you wrong."

The door opened and in walked their boss, one Jace Evett a hacker.

"Well, well if it isn't the two lovebirds," he said with a sly smile.

"Hey boss," he said. Melfina just smiled in his direction. Evett cocked an eyebrow.

"You know, you two are the weirdest couple I have ever seen. You never kiss, hold hands, things normal couples do."

Spike tilted his head slightly to the left. "You want to watch us kiss? Do you get some sort of sick pleasure from that?"

Evett blushed. "No, it's, it would just be more normal if you did."

Spike sighed. Well at least she's cute, he thought.

He turned to Melfina and used his right hand to lift her face towards his. He pressed his lips against hers in a gentle kiss. He pulled her close as she wrapped her arms around him. He pulled away, his face hovered over hers and he was tempted to sneak in another kiss but he decided against it. Instead he turned to his boss.

"Better?"

Evett's face was completely red. "Yeah," he coughed out before hurrying to his office.

Spike turned to Melfina.

"Hey kid, you alright?"

She looked up at him with wide-eyes, she hesitated but eventually nodded. Spike didn't believe her but they had a job to do, he couldn't waste time over this.

"Alright so you know the deal, after your shift, ask Evett to meet you outside in the back and I'll take care of him."

For the last few weeks Melfina, at Spike's instructions, had awkwardly attempted to seduce Evett. According to her, Evett seems very interested in her, which Spike assumed may have prompted his question this morning. He wanted to see if there were signs of a failing relationship.

She nodded but Spike could see the fear in her eyes. He took her face in his hands, "Hey Don't worry, you'll be alright." She looked up at him, blushed, and nodded. She pulled her face away and went to Evett's office. Spike sighed as he walked behind the bar. Melfina came out soon after and strolled up to the bar.

"He agreed," she informed him. Spike nodded. "The club's about to open better get ready." Melfina smiled and left to take her place on stage.

Spike sighed. Never again will I do this, not even for a couple of extra woolongs.

When the club was closed and the front door was locked up tight, Jace headed towards the back entrance.

Well Melfina was right, there wasn't any romance at all, no spark, and He smirked, well soon she'll have herself a real man, one who will love her.

Evett slipped out the back door and….saw nothing. "Melfina?" he called out.

No answer. He sighed and decided to try again. "Melfina?" he cried a little louder now.

"Sorry stud, she's not interested," Spike said bashing Jace on the head. The hacker fell to the ground in a crumpled heap, Spike walked out from around the corner followed by Melfina.

"Is he dead?" she whispered.

"No, just out cold," Spike smiled at her "congratulations on catching your first bounty." He held out a pair of handcuffs. "Cuff him," he instructed, Melfina blanched.

"I have to what?"

Ignoring her question, Spike wordlessly slapped handcuffs on the unconscious Evett.

"What do we do now?" she asked.

Spike grunted as he lifted the hacker's hefty body off the ground. "Well, we turn him in."

Melfina nodded and followed Spike into the city.

They walked out of the local police station with a couple hundred woolongs in their pockets. Melfina had mixed feelings about the mission they had just completed, on the one hand she was happy that it was all over, but….She glanced over at Spike. She was going to miss hanging out with him, he was so sweet to her, and she felt safe with him.

She sighed as she cast her eyes downwards. Spike looked at her and cocked an eyebrow.

"You okay Mel?" he asked. She jumped. "Y…yes!" she answered.

"I don't believe you," he replied coolly. He stopped in front of the Swordfish, and turned to face Melfina.

"I think I know exactly what's troubling you," he said, his voice monotone.

"Oh?" she asked.

He quickly wrapped one arm around her, pulled her close until their bodies touched and used his free hand to tilt her face towards his so he could kiss it. Melfina was unresponsive at first, unsure of what was happening, but then she wrapped her arms around him and kissed back. Spike pulled away slightly, a smile on his lips.

"You were hungry," he smirked.

"Don't stop, please?" Melfina begged bringing her mouth close to his.

"Greedy," he grinned but obliged.

The need for air drew them apart.

"We better get back," Spike whispered. Melfina began to nod but quickly stopped.

"Can't we just stay here? Or go somewhere together?"

Spike's face was unreadable. "Sorry, we can't do that kid," he said "Gene would hunt us down and kill me." He looked at Melfina. "I don't think this is right," he added.

"What?" she asked innocently "Us?"

He nodded. "It's nothing to do with you, I" he stopped "I have some things I need to work out. There's a girl, Julia, and," he froze when he saw the look on Melfina's face. "Mel," he began but she shook her head and violently tore herself away from Spike.

"Melfina listen, you're the type of girl,"

"Stop it Spike! Please?" she cried, her face heating up and her eyes beginning to sting.

"You're the type of girl I could love, you're like her," he whispered.

Melfina looked at him. "Like who Spike?" she demanded.

"Like Julia. I made a promise to her; we were supposed to run away together. Our plans were ruined. I've got to find her, see if she still wants me. I owe her that much Melfina, truth be told it didn't seem likely that you would fall for me," he explained.

She stared at him. "How would you know the inner workings of my heart?"

He looked at her. "I know because you're head over heels for Gene. Don't try to deny it," he said when she opened her mouth to protest "I can see it in the way you look at him. What we were doing, those kisses, it felt nice. We can't have the ones we want so we found temporary substitutes. The kisses, they didn't mean anything, it just felt good," he sighed and looked up at the sky "it had been so long," he didn't complete his sentence.

Melfina's face was red. "You're wrong," she said.

Spike looked at her in alarm. "They did mean something," she continued "I felt it and I know you did too. There is something here, between us. Don't tell me that there isn't."

She sighed. "Yes I'm in love with Gene, but I could, I could love you Spike. You make me feel things I don't feel with Gene. When I'm with you I feel like no one else in the universe matters, it's just you and me. With Gene, I feel like I don't matter to him. I see the way he looks at other women, at Faye, he looks at me like I'm not here." The tears began to spill out of her eyes.

"I feel safe with you Spike! I enjoy your company and…and," she began to sob and Spike pulled her close.

"I'm sorry Melfina," he whispered.

The trip back to the Bebop was a quiet one. Neither of them so much as sneezed, let alone spoke. Once they were safely docked in Jet's ship they walked into the common room. Jet was sitting on the yellow couch in between Suzuka and Jim.

"Well, well, well, look who decided to come back," he smiled.

"Shut up," Spike said as he lit up a cigarette and plopped down on the second couch.

"Melfina!" Jim yelled jumping off the couch and running into her arms. Melfina embraced the young boy.

"I missed you," he mumbled into her shoulder.

"I missed you too Jim," she said squeezing him tight. She looked up at Jet.

"Where is Gene?" she asked.

Jet sighed. "I don't know. He and Faye ran off somewhere, and I don't really care."

"That's harsh Jet," Jim said with a laugh, pulling out of Melfina's hug and settling back on the couch. He turned to Melfina. "They've been gone for most of the day, they should be back soon." She nodded in response.

She looked up at Spike who was sitting on the couch with his eyes shut. The smoke from his cigarette floated lazily towards the ceiling.

Maybe it would be better if I just stayed away from him. I don't even know what I am, Gene doesn't know, no one does. Maybe, maybe I don't have a heart, maybe these feelings are just my imagination. She looked in his direction again. This time he opened his eyes and met her gaze, she blushed and looked away.

What do I have to offer him? Nothing, nothing but emotions, emotions I am not even sure are real. I said I love Gene, but do I really? Or are those emotions the transient manifestations of my imagination? She was torn out of her reverie by Spike's sudden movement.

"Where are you going?" Jet asked.

"To sleep," Spike replied curtly. Melfina watched him go, before getting up and taking his seat on the couch.

"What exactly happened on Venus?" Jet asked. Melfina opened her mouth to answer him when Gene's voice rang out.

"Oi Jet! We better go out and find some steak! Faye and I are loaded!"

"Shut up lunkhead!" Faye scolded. The two of them appeared in the doorway. They froze when they saw Melfina turn around and smile at them. "Hello," Melfina said.

"Mel?" Gene managed to gasp out. "When did you get back?"

"About thirty minutes ago," she answered promptly.

"Where is Spike?" he asked.

"Sleeping probably," Faye answered throwing herself sown on the couch beside Melfina.

"Bingo," Jim piped up.

Gene nervously stumbled to the couch and sat on Melfina's other side.

"So," Gene began "Did he touch you or make a pass at you?"

Melfina blushed as she remembered their kiss in front of the Swordfish. Her lips still tingled as they remembered the feel of his lips on hers, the taste of his mouth.

"He did touch you!" Gene yelled as he watched Melfina's face turn blood red. "I'm going to kill him!" Gene leapt off the couch, Melfina was faster though. She was already running towards the room she shared with her crewmates.

"Melfina!" Gene cried after her.

"Leave me alone Gene!" she screamed.

She turned into the hall and ran right into Spike. The force of the collision knocked her down; Spike merely stumbled backwards but remained standing.

"Melfina, are you alright?' he asked pulling her off of the floor.

"Yes!" she squeaked. She kept her eyes on the floor.

"Melfina," Spike said softly.

"Excuse me Spike, I am really tired." She pushed past him and walked into her room.

Spike sighed. Women, I will never understand them.