Author's Note: Dear god! Are we at chapter 10 already? I still have not written anything for chapter 12!

It's like I've hit a brick wall, I didn't plan what would happen after I unveiled my surprise and now you poor readers will have to suffer.

Don't worry guys I'm sure that once I put out Chap 11, the next one will just pour out of my head and on to the page!

For those of you cravin' some Spuffy lovin': I am working on it, I don't want to rush in to a Buffy/Spike relationship, it must be handled with care! Trust me there is nobody on earth who wants Buffy and Spike together more than me, but alas Joss chose to be cruel and keep them apart! (Anybody else wanna go after him with a pitchfork?)

Buffy and Spike have been acting a lot kinder to each other and Spike started using his little nicknames for her, so they are getting there but they aren't really thinking about each other romantically, YET! And since neither of them has gotten any in quite a while, there are a little bit of lusty feelings and some oogling.

For now, enjoy this chapter that I have for you and don't forget to R&R, I can't stress enough, how much your words help me to type faster.

So for your sake, leave me some reviews!

Chapter X

Buffy fluffed her hair a little as she turned to leave the bathroom; she wanted to look good for her meeting with Lindsey.

Spike was sitting on the couch waiting for her to finish getting ready; he had showered and changed two hours ago. When she finally walked into the living room announcing that she was ready he eyed her carefully, and grumbled, "It's about damn time."

Buffy slipped on her black leather boots and jacket, which she wore over a loose red sweater that hang off her shoulders and a pair of skin tight blue jeans. Spike grinned as she bent over to zip up her boots, giving him a nice view of her backside in the tight jeans.

"Aren't you a little over dressed? Thought we were gonna tell this lawyer boy to bugger off?"

Buffy stood up and turned around to face him, she looked absolutely gorgeous with her hair in bouncy little curls, but she just frowned at him, "We aren't telling Lindsey to bugger off, whatever that means." She sighed, "We are going to sit down together and talk to him about that soul thing, and you can see for yourself that there is nothing to worry about with Wolfram and Hart."

Spike stood up and Buffy couldn't help but notice as his tight blue t-shirt stretched over his muscled arms. She could not believe how good he looked tonight and he had even showered as per her request; she wanted Spike to make a good impression on Lindsey, at least physically. Because she was sure once Spike opened his mouth, the gorgeous cowboy lawyer would immediately have second thoughts about hiring them.

Spike tilted his head to the side, "Not the brightest crayon in the box are you, Slayer? Think I'm makin' this stuff up, but I'm the only one that'll ever be dead straight with you whether you like or not."

Buffy frowned, "Listen I don't want to argue about this anymore, let's just go meet Lindsey and talk to him. This could be a perfectly legit deal and you are just jumping to conclusions."

"I get it, You've got a thing for lawyer boy and that's why you wanna hold on to that and make me out to be the paranoid overcautious vampire, isn't that right? That's why you got all dolled up, for him?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you, can we just go now? I don't want to be late.'

Spike grabbed his duster from the couch and slid it on as he marched out the door, followed by Buffy who locked up the door behind them. The two remained silent as they rode the elevator down and walked a couple of blocks to 'Caritas'.

When they got there, Lindsey was waiting for them in the back at the same table that he had shared with Buffy. Both Slayer and Vampire automatically scanned the place as they entered to make sure that there were no Council guys around or any other type of threat.

They hadn't run into any council guys since the other night but they were still on the look out, especially when traveling together. No doubt if the council captured her while Spike was around, they would not hesitate to either capture or kill the vampire, either way both of them were at risk with the council in town.

Lindsey stood up and smiled when he saw Buffy coming towards him, and she couldn't hold back the smile that she felt spreading on her own face at the sight of him. He was such a gentleman, Spike hardly even glanced at her when she was talking to him, let alone stand up and pull out a chair for her.

"Buffy, I'm glad you made it."

"I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

Spike rolled his eyes; Keeps me waiting two bloody hours and I don't even get so much as an apology.

"Not at all, you are actually on time."

Buffy glanced at Spike and motioned for him to have a seat next to her, then she turned back to the lawyer, "Lindsey I would like for you to meet my partner, this is Spike."

Lindsey glanced at the blonde vampire and held out his hand, "William the Bloody, this is a surprise and an honor, I've heard a lot about you."

Spike ignored the lawyer's hand and dropped into his seat, "Didn't mention that you'd been talkin' about me pet." He glanced at Buffy.

Lindsey frowned and retracted his hand before taking a seat himself, "Actually, it wasn't Buffy who told me about you, I first heard about you a few years back. I believe you were in Sunnydale at the time, trying to kill Ms. Summers at the time."

"That was when I was still working for the watcher's council, Spike and I had a little history as enemies but things are different now. Both of us are different from who we were two years ago, we've moved past that and now we work together."

Lindsey nodded, "I see, and whatever happened to Drusilla if you don't mind me asking?"

Spike glared at the lawyer, he knew what the boy was trying to do. He was trying to get them thinking on the past, make Buffy question their partnership, "Me and Dru have been over for a long time, I'm with Buffy now. We are a team, isn't that right pet?"

Buffy nodded. "That's right, we're a team. I trust Spike to watch my back just like he trusts me to watch his."

Lindsey nodded and turned to Buffy, "So have you come to a decision yet?"

"Actually Lindsey, Spike and I were talking it over and he mentioned that working for Wolfram and Hart means that I would be selling my soul."

Lindsey glanced at Spike then back to Buffy but remained silent, cursing on the inside.

Buffy continued. "I told him that it couldn't possibly true otherwise you would have told me about it, right?"

Lindsey looked at her, he wanted to lie to her and say that it wasn't true but it was in fact very true. Many of Wolfram and Hart's employees had sold their souls to work for the firm, his nemesis, Lilah just happened to be one of them.

Spike sneered, as he watched Lindsey try to decide how to answer the slayer's question, he knew that it was true but he had no choice but to humor her and let this pillock bury himself.

Lindsey forced himself to smile, "Had you been required to sell your soul to Wolfram and Hart, I would have mentioned it." He saw Buffy's face turn more serious, he knew it wasn't what she wanted to hear but it was closer to the truth then he should have been, "Wolfram and Hart is not after your soul, Buffy. It's a common mistake, most people think that because they work for Wolfram and Hart they will have to sell their souls but that is not true. I, for one, still have my soul."

Buffy frowned and nodded, "I asked you if there were a catch to joining Wolfram and Hart, you lied to me."

Lindsey shook his head, "No, I didn't lie. They don't want your soul, just your skills and expertise, that's all."

"You still should have told me about that, I'm starting to realize that I made a mistake to consider a job at an evil law firm. This was a bad idea."

"Told you right from the beginning it was a bad idea, pet."

"I'm sorry, you were right, Spike."

"Buffy, I wasn't trying to trick you, I told you the information that you needed to know. The stuff about souls is irrelevant; it has nothing to do with you."

"I'm sorry Lindsey, but I don't think that I will be joining Wolfram and Hart." She nudged Spike and both of them stood to leave.

Lindsey grabbed her hand, "Buffy there must be something that I can do to convince you that working at Wolfram and Hart is your best option."

Buffy glanced at his hand on hers then back up at him, "Lindsey you seem like a really nice guy, but I'm sorry. I was doing this for the wrong reasons and completely ignoring Spike's words of caution."

"Buffy, give me a chance. I'll show you that working for Wolfram and Hart is not all bad."

"Nothing you say will make me change my mind about your evil law firm."

Lindsey glanced down at the table. That was it, he had failed and Buffy Summers would not be joining Wolfram and Hart, his superiors were going to be furious with him. Lindsey glanced back up at her; he didn't want to lose her completely.

"If you won't come work with me," he smiled, "At least join me for coffee sometime."

Buffy stared at the young lawyer in front of her; she couldn't understand how she could have been so willing to join an evil law firm just because she thought that this guy was gorgeous. What was she thinking? She didn't even want to believe Spike, her partner when he tried to warn her about the man.

Sure Lindsey was cute and she would not have minded getting to know him a lot better but she didn't want to sacrifice who she was. Maybe he still had his soul right now but that did not mean that in a few years or even next week, he wouldn't sell it just to get a higher position in the company. In the end, she knew that working for Wolfram and Hart meant joining the side of evil and that is not what she ultimately wanted. Lindsey had made his decision already and so there was nothing for them together.

Buffy glanced at Spike, sure he was evil but it wasn't the same thing. Spike was different from other vampires; she had noticed that back in Sunnydale. As much as he liked to put up a front, she was starting to see that Spike wasn't as evil as he wanted everyone to believe.

Buffy turned back to Lindsey, "I can't have coffee with you Lindsey, I'm sorry."

"It's coffee, just because you aren't going to work at the firm doesn't mean that we can't see each other Buffy."

She removed his hand from hers, "Yes it does. I like you Lindsey, but I like fighting for the side of good. One cup of coffee could lead down a road that I don't want to go down, and you are already on that road."

Lindsey shook his head and laughed, "You don't want to have a cup of coffee with me because you're afraid of becoming evil but look at who your partner is, you work with a vampire. Not only do you work with a vampire but he's a vampire who spent the better part of his life hunting down and killing slayers. "

"Leave Spike out of this, it's not that same thing. Spike is different now, he's always been different." She smiled at the vampire.

Lindsey laughed again, "I get it, you've got a thing for the Slayer of Slayers and that's why you want to give me stupid excuses, this is unbelievable."

Buffy glared at Lindsey, she was beginning to like him less and less. He was no longer acting like the polite and kind gentleman that had first drawn her him.

"I don't have a thing for Spike, we are partners. I've known him a lot longer than you, I know what he is like." she didn't even bother to wait for a reply from the lawyer before storming out of 'Caritas'.

Spike grinned at the lawyer, "Cheer up, mate. It's not your fault that the Slayer prefers me." He adjusted his pants, "She needs a real man in her life, and you aren't it." he chuckled then turned to catch up with Buffy.

Lindsey glared at the blonde vampire but said nothing. He was too angry at being rejected by the Slayer to retaliate. How could she trust and join a vampire, who had spent years killing her predecessors and not trust him. At least he was human, not the left over shell of someone who died over a century ago. What could she possibly see in that idiot of a vampire that she didn't see in him.

----------------

Captain frowned as he hung up the phone and turned to his men, "Listen up men, I've just received new orders from the council."

"Are we going after the Slayer, sir?"

"No, until the council can determine her level of involvement with Wolfram and Hart we are to leave her alone. We are to sit tight until we hear word back from the council giving us the okay."

---------------

Wesley exited the library office, and glanced around. He then glanced at his watch, it was past three and Faith had not yet shown up for tonight's training session. He was sure that she had heard him when he announced it earlier because she had looked at him and rolled her eyes.

She was purposely ignoring his instructions, and he was starting to get tired of it. This morning when she came in to report on last night's patrol she walked right past him to Giles, as though the older man was still her watcher.

Wesley glanced at the clock one last time then head for the back of the library, where Giles was busy organizing some books.

Giles sighed when he noticed the young watcher standing next time him, "Can I help you?"

"Faith has not arrived for her training session."

"Perhaps she was detained else where, I'm sure that there is a perfectly good reason as to why she was unable to make it."

"This morning Faith reported to you, instead of to me. I am her watcher Mr. Giles, by order of the council."

"I understand that you were ordered by the council to train her, I haven't gotten in your way."

"But you have, by allowing Faith to continue this behavior. She shows no respect for me as her watcher."

Giles stood up, "You are blaming me for this?"

"Yes I am and I must inform you Mr. Giles that I was not only sent here to train Faith. I was also sent her to evaluate you. The council no longer trusts you, I'm here to determine whether or not you have turned your back on the council's ways."

"That is preposterous, I am not a traitor."

Wesley adjusted his glasses, "We shall see Mr. Giles. Unfortunately, your interfereance between Faith and myself has only proven that you no longer show any regard for the council's orders."

"I have had no intentions to interfere but you must understand, Wesley. Real life is much different than the training you received by the council. Faith won't respect you just because you demand her to. You'll have to earn it, as I have earned the respect of both Buffy and Faith."

Wesley frowned, "Funny that you should mention Ms. Summers, seeing as she has left the council to pursue unknown ventures. Wouldn't you call that a lack of respect?"

Giles felt his anger rising, he really wanted to hit this little know it all watcher. "Buffy left because she was suffering a great deal of emotional pain. Being a vampire slayer has not been easy on her and I think that she went above and beyond her calling."

------------------

Faith sat patiently at the dinner table while Joyce served her a plate of food, "It was cool of you to invite me over."

Joyce smiled, "It was my pleasure Faith, the house gets so lonely with Buffy gone." She paused, "I wanted to talk to you about something, it was an idea that I had."

Faith grabbed her fork and began to dig in, "I'm all ears."

Joyce sat down and glanced down at her plate, "Giles told me that you live in a motel by the docks."

Faith nodded, "Yeah, I didn't have to much cash when I came down here. I had to hitchhike most of the way." she laughed, " I got rides from some wicked strange characters."

Joyce's smiled faltered; she knew that this young girl could not have had an easy life. The fact that she was able to discuss it so nonchalantly only meant that she had grown too accustomed to that lifestyle.

"Faith I want you to come and live here with me."

Faith dropped her fork, "Whoa hold on a sec, you want me to move in?"

Joyce nodded, "You need a proper home and proper meals. I think it would be good for you to live with me."

"What about B? What if she comes back, I don't know how she'd feel about me livin' in her house."

"Don't worry about Buffy; there is plenty of room for you. You can have the spare bedroom upstairs. I have been using it as storage for shipments from the gallery but I can just move everything down to the basement."

Faith shook her head, "I don't know, I mean I'm fine at the motel. I'm used to that sort of thing. Living here with you, I'd feel like I was imposing or something."

"Nonsense Faith, I want you to move in. I think both of us could use the company."

Faith sighed; she wanted to accept the offer. She had never lived in such a nice house before but she couldn't help but think that Buffy might be upset if she ever found out.

She couldn't just move in on the other Slayers territory, it just wasn't right and she wanted didn't want to do anything to jeopardize her relationship with the older Slayer.

"Can I think about it for a few days?"

Joyce nodded, "Of course you can, I don't want you to move in here if you really don't want to or if it will make you uncomfortable, Faith. I want you to feel like this is your home too."

-----------------

Awwwwwwwe! init that just so fluffy? Doesn't it make you all warm and happy on the inside?

I never really liked Joyce all that much but I don't know if I want to kill her off or what I want to do with her.

And I liked evil Faith, I had hoped that she would find redemption sooner and go back to being friends with Buffy.

The main reason that they never got along was because they were so alike. But because they came from different backgrounds and lifestyles, they handled certain...ethical and moral issues differently. Plus that evil watcher Lady totally turned them against each other!!!!!!!

Anyways...The reason I decided to write down here is because I was wondering...

Who has a clue as to what my surprise will be? I will mention it in the next chapter and you might start to get an idea of what it is but you won't find out for certain until probably chapter 12 or 13.

So come on....any guesses? I'd love to hear what you guys think it might be....for those of you who are wrong...I'll get a nice laugh out of it especially if you are way off base! lol.