Beta'd by epd4. I'd like to give a great big thanks for all her help. Any mistakes that remain are mine and mine alone.

Another great big thanks to everyone that has commented. Even if I don't have time to respond, I appreciate each and every one.

Bruises

Chapter 21 – Pillow Fight

Lorne finished applying gel to Spike's platinum blond hair then teased it into short spikes all over the top of his head. He stepped back and looked over his handiwork from every possible angle then announced loudly, "And we're finished! You look absolutely gorgeous, pumpkin!"

Buffy tapped him on the arm and held up the kohl pencil. "Should I do this or do you want to?"

Lorne snapped up the pencil and leaned close to Spike who looked back at him warily. "Just hold still, buttercup, don't want to damage those baby blues." Spike looked distinctly uncomfortable as Lorne expertly applied the kohl around his eyes then smudged it just so with his fingertip, but he held still, his hands tight on the arms of the chair in a white knuckle grip. Lorne explained the process to Buffy as he applied and smudged, then he backed up wearing a satisfied grin. "All the girls – and probably quite a few of the guys – are going to be melting for you, sweet cheeks." He snapped his fingers at one of his hovering assistants and instructed her to bring Spike's duster and shirt so that he could see 'the full effect.'

In a few short minutes, Spike was standing nervously in front of the wall of floor to ceiling mirrors in the lobby, apprehensively looking over his reflection. Buffy was standing next to him wearing a slack-jawed expression and Spike turned to her, his fingers twitching nervously at the buttons of his red shirt. "So? What do you think, luv?"

Buffy looked him over from head to toe then swallowed heavily. "God, Spike… you're chocolate covered sex on a stick. Seriously. I'm gonna have to put a 'Property of Buffy' sticker on your forehead to keep all the girls at school off you… and even that probably won't stop them."

Spike smiled shyly and ducked his head, "Don't think you'll have to worry much, pet. Doubt most of 'em will even notice me."

Lorne chuckled from behind him, "You might have to reevaluate that position, sugar. Look to your left."

Spike and Buffy both looked at the front of the salon and gasped at the same time. The women in the waiting room were peeking over the tops of their magazines, their eyes trained on Spike's reflection, and a handful of women were standing on the sidewalk outside, staring in the window. Buffy noticed Spike's shoulders slump just a bit as he turned away slightly, his face heating in a blush. She grasped his hand and leaned up to whisper in his ear, "Don't be embarrassed, Spike. You're hot. Really hot. And I'm not the only one who thinks so." She stood up straight and squared her shoulders, tossing her hair back as she lifted her chin. "I'm proud to be your girlfriend… are you…"

Spike took the hint and straightened his spine then squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest just a bit. He turned around, lifted his head, and looked coolly over the assembled females before tipping them a wink. "Proud to be yours, Buffy. Bloody proud."

XX

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XX

They exited the salon, Spike holding his head high as he weaved through the crowd of women still gaping at him with Buffy's hand clasped tightly in his own. "Where to now, luv? Any more appointments I should know about?"

Buffy shook her head as she pulled him along the sidewalk. "Nope, but that bookstore I promised to show you is just down the street."

Spike's eyes lit up as they stepped into the building and he took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of old books that permeated every square inch of the rather large store. The older woman sitting behind the counter nodded at them as Spike gravitated toward the shelves in the back that seemed to hold the oldest books. Buffy let go of his hand then stood watching him as he slowly moved through the stacks, pulling out a book every once in a while to flip through it before setting it gently back on the shelf.

After half an hour of picking books up and putting them back, Buffy moved over to stand next to Spike. "See anything you want?"

Spike startled and almost dropped the book he was holding as he looked at her with a shy smile. "Several, luv, but…"

Buffy smiled and whipped out her credit card then held it up, waving it slightly. "Well get them, Spike."

Spike looked at the book he was holding then back up at Buffy, "You sure? You've already spent…"

Buffy grinned and took the book from his hands. "You want this one?" At Spike's nod, she tucked it under her arm and nodded toward the shelves. "How many more did you want?"

He looked at the shelves then shrugged and hit her with that shy smile again. "Eight… nine, maybe… but I don't need to get them all, pet. A couple of them are quite expensive."

Buffy nodded toward the shelves again. "How expensive?"

Spike moved to another shelf and pulled out a heavy, leather-bound book then opened the front cover. "This one's almost ninety dollars, pet. It's the most expensive, but the rest aren't much less."

Buffy smiled and took the book from his hands then started toward the counter. "Don't worry about it, Spike. Go ahead and get the ones you wanted." She turned and winked at him with a small giggle, "I've still got a lot of room on this card, so we might as well use it."

Spike nodded and moved down the shelf, picking up another large volume. "If you're sure, luv."

Buffy turned and walked backwards, clutching the two books to her chest. "I'm sure, Spike. Get the books you want and then we'll go next door."

Spike grinned like a kid who's just discovered the pile of presents under the tree on Christmas morning then moved quickly through the stacks, picking out seven more books. He juggled his load as he moved through the store toward the front where Buffy was chatting amicably with the woman behind the counter. She smiled up at him as he gently set the books on the counter. "Did you find all the ones you wanted?"

Spike nodded as the clerk took the top book from the stack and opened the cover. She wrote down the amount on a small slip of paper then set the book aside and picked up the next one in the stack. "You have excellent taste in literature, young man." Spike blushed slightly as she continued. "As a matter of fact, you're the youngest person that's ever been in those stacks… usually people your age stick to the front of the store where the bestsellers and such are located."

Spike's blush deepened a few shades as he mumbled, "These are some of my favorites, ma'am."

The woman set down the book she was holding and held out her hand. "I'm Millicent Graveside, owner and proprietor."

Spike gently took her hand and bent to place a kiss on the back of it. "William Pratt, ma'am. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He nodded toward Buffy. "And this lovely lady is Miss Buffy Summers."

Buffy smiled as she shook Millicent's hand. "Isn't he just the cutest thing?"

Millicent laughed and leaned over the counter to whisper to Buffy. "He is, but I fear we are embarrassing him terribly." They both looked over at Spike, his face the color of a ripe tomato as he took a sudden interest in his boots. "Please call me Milly." Spike nodded shyly and Milly picked up the next book in the stack.

Buffy stood and watched for a few minutes then moved to an overstuffed chair in the 'reading pit' in the center of the store and sat down. Milly had managed to pull Spike into a somewhat stilted at first conversation about the books he was purchasing, but as Spike overcame his shyness and warmed to the topic, it had soon blossomed into a full-blown discussion on literature in general. A lot of what they were talking about went right over Buffy's head, but she was content to sit and listen… and watch her boyfriend. Spike was animated and engaged, motioning with his hands to make his points and once even rapping his knuckles smartly on the counter-top as he vigorously disagreed with something Milly had said.

Buffy smiled as she idly picked up a book from a nearby table and started reading. She was only about twenty pages in when Spike and Milly shook hands then Spike turned to Buffy. "Did you hear that, pet?"

Buffy shook her head and stood up; setting the book down before she moved to stand next to Spike. "Sorry. I was reading while you guys talked."

Spike's face split into a wide grin as he snagged Buffy's hand. "Milly's offered me a job, kitten. I'm to work a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays while school's still in, then go full-time over the summer."

Buffy smiled proudly at Spike and squeezed his hand. "That's perfect! This place is so you, Spike." She looked at a smiling Milly. "Did you guys talk about pay and taxes and everything?"

Spike blushed slightly, "No… not as such. I'm just happy to have work, luv. Need a way to support myself… can't keep moochin' off you and with Mum in hospital… and Da… I don't know what's gonna happen with the business…"

Milly reached under the counter and pulled a manila folder out of a file drawer. "Here's my standard employment contract… let me just fill in a few things." She skimmed over the paper, leaving things blank that Spike would have to fill in then scratching down some numbers toward the bottom of the contract before she signed in the appropriate space with a flourish. She slid the paper across the counter and held out her pen to Spike. "Just fill in your particulars and sign the bottom and you'll officially be an employee of Graveside Books."

"But I'm not of legal age to sign a contract for a few more months, Milly."

Milly smiled and pointed to a third signature space on the bottom of the paper. "You're parent or legal guardian will sign here if they agree to the terms of the contract."

Spike nodded then quickly wrote down his name and other identifying information before he skimmed over the body of the contract, his eyes widening in shock as he read the numbers Milly had written down. "That much, Milly? Surely you can't be serious!"

Milly smiled warmly at Spike then winked at Buffy. "I'm completely serious, William. Once you've been trained, you'll be running the store as my manager and as such, you'll receive a manager's compensation."

Spike's open-mouthed fish impression made Buffy and Milly burst out laughing. Buffy waved her hand in front of Spike's shocked face then turned to Milly with a giggle. "I think you broke him."

Spike shook himself and straightened up; squaring his shoulders as he quickly looked over the rest of the contract then signed the bottom. "Not broken ladies, just… well… gob smacked would probably be the most appropriate term." He folded the paper and slipped it into a pocket of his duster then reached across the counter and caught Milly's hand in a tight grip. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. You won't be sorry… I'll make you proud, Milly… I swear it."

Milly squeezed his hand and nodded. "Of course you will, William. Of that I have no doubt." She quickly slipped the books Spike had selected into a large cloth bag and slid them across the counter. "Feel free to keep these as long as you like… I know you'll be careful with them, and should you wish to purchase them, as an official employee, you'll receive the employee discount."

Spike's fish impression was back on display as Buffy grasped the handles of the bag and started to lift. "Hey, fish-boy, little help here? These are kinda heavy."

Spike shook himself back to full awareness and took the bag as he mumbled an apology. "Sorry, pet."

Buffy leaned up and pressed a gentle kiss to his heated cheek. "No big, Spike."

Spike followed Buffy out of the store, turning just before he stepped into the sunlight to wave at Milly. "See you next Saturday, Milly, and thanks again."

After Spike had secured the books in the back of Buffy's car, she dragged him to the store next to his new place of employment and they stepped through the door accompanied by the jingling of several bells. The man behind the long glassed-in display of sparkling rings, earrings, and necklaces looked them over, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as they moved toward him. Buffy stopped in front of him and met his gaze, "Hi, we need a necklace and a few rings… and maybe a bracelet." She motioned toward Spike. "Silver maybe… something heavy and chunky. Do you have that?"

The man looked Spike over again, his gaze appraising this time instead of suspicious, then he nodded. "Yes. I think we have just what the gentleman requires. Please step this way."

After much trying on of different rings and bracelets, and a lot of Spike whispering to Buffy that this was far too expensive, and her whispering back that no, it wasn't, they finally left the store with one small bag. The bag contained the boxes and velvet bags that had contained the jewelry that now adorned Spike. He had a thick linked silver chain around his neck with a matching bracelet around his right wrist and a chunky ring on his right thumb. There was also another bracelet around his left wrist with a slightly thinner ring on his index finger.

Buffy smiled as the sunlight glinted off Spike's jewelry and leaned up to give him a kiss. "One more stop, then we hit the Bronze."

He wrapped his arms around her and smiled. "Think your Mum will like the new me?"

XX

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The Bronze was packed when they arrived shortly after four. Buffy paid the cover charge and they entered the club, Buffy clinging to Spike's hand as he tried to break trail through the throng of teenagers. Oz's band, Dingoes Ate My Baby, was playing that night, so it seemed that every teenager in Sunnydale was crammed into the club, all talking and laughing as they listened to the DJ. The music was loud and obnoxious as Spike led Buffy over to the slightly less loud hallway that led to the bathrooms and stopped, leaning back on the wall. Buffy leaned against him and spoke into his ear, "What's wrong? You look nervous."

Spike nodded, "Am a little."

"About what?"

"Meetin' your mates."

Buffy leaned back and looked at Spike then leaned up again. "You've met them before, Spike."

Spike shrugged, "Yeah, but that was when I was just that loser that kept gettin' pounded… I was nobody, really, and I've never even really spoken to any of 'em 'cept Oz… and he doesn't really speak. Now I'm your boyfriend. What if they don't like me? What if they tell you that you're makin' a mistake bein' with me?"

Buffy wrapped her arms around him and gently kissed his neck just above the chain. "They won't tell me that you're a mistake. We've been friends since I moved here, and if they can put up with the whole Angel situation without telling me that he was a mistake, then they're going to love you… just like I do."

Spike wrapped Buffy up tight and captured her lips in a heated kiss. "Love you too, pet." He took a deep breath and looked down the hallway at the milling crowd. "You're sure, luv?"

Buffy nodded and leaned close, her lips just brushing his ear. "I'm sure. You're an awesome guy, Spike. They'd be stupid not to like you and none of them are stupid, so you've got nothing to worry about."

Spike smiled and took Buffy's hand then led her back down the hallway. The DJ announced that he was closing up shop as they started threading their way through the crowd, searching for Angel. Spike was getting a lot of interested looks from a lot of the teenagers, male and female, and Buffy was grinning as she overheard more than a few of them ask each other who the new hot guy was. They finally spied Angel at a table in the back corner near the pool tables, sitting anxiously as he held tight to a warm glass of Pepsi. He looked up as they stepped up next to the table and smiled as his eyes landed on Buffy. His smile faltered and his eyes went wide as they landed on the guy standing next to her. "Spike?"

Spike grinned and took the chair next to Angel, pulling Buffy down onto his lap. "Yeah."

"What happened to you?"

Spike smirked, "My encounter with you yesterday scared the shite right out of me… what do you think happened, you ponce? Buffy dragged me to a salon this mornin' and got me a 'makeover.' You're lookin' at Spike 2.0, the new and improved version."

Angel laughed loudly then clapped Spike on the back. "Well, if you were going for the whole blending into the background look, you've completely blown that out of the water. I'm pretty sure that your hair can be seen from space."

Spike shot him the two finger salute then peeked over Buffy's shoulder as the crowd parted and Xander stumbled through towing Willow behind him. "Buffy! Holy crap, this place is packed!" He dropped down into the chair across from Buffy and looked warily over at Angel, slightly confused by his presence being that Buffy broke up with him, but because he wasn't currently draped over her in his usual impersonation of a spiky-haired blanket, Xander shrugged and muttered, "O'Connor."

"Harris."

Willow perched nervously on the chair furthest from Angel and looked up shyly through her hair at Buffy. "Hi, Buffy." Her eyes widened as Spike peeked out from behind Buffy and she elbowed Xander. "Xan!"

Xander looked where she was pointing then peered closely at the guy that Buffy was apparently sitting on. There was something… Realization hit and Xander's mouth dropped open in shock as he sputtered, "Spike?"

Buffy giggled and got to her feet, "Might as well stand up and show off your new look." She pulled him to his feet and he stood straight, his thumbs hooked into his belt, as he met each of their surprised eyes in turn.

Oz popped out of the crowd and stepped up behind Willow, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders. "Spike. Good look. Suits you."

Spike smiled, "Thanks, Oz. Was all Buffy's doin'. She dragged me all over the mall yesterday and to a bleedin' salon and jewelry store this mornin'."

Oz smirked, "Lorne?"

Spike nodded, "Yeah. He do yours?"

Oz nodded. "Yeah."

Xander laughed, "Well, now that we've established that Bleach Boy and Blue Boy get their hair done by the same dude… Buffy? Do you have anything you want to share with the group? Something involving Captain Peroxide there, perhaps?"

Buffy blushed slightly and reached for Spike's hand, twining their fingers together. "Spike and I are going out… exclusively."

Oz held his hand out and Spike shook it as Xander jumped up and wrapped his arm over Spike's shoulders. "Welcome to the Scoobies! It's always cool to have another guy in the group…" He narrowed his eyes and glared at Angel. "A nice guy." Angel ducked his head and stared at his soda as Xander sat back down then glanced at Willow, wondering what she thought of the Spike and Buffy news. She was just sitting there, still as a statue except for the nervous glances she kept shooting at Angel. Xander thumped his cast on the table top, "So… not that your news isn't cool and great and everything, but that's why you wanted us to meet you here? You couldn't just tell us this on the phone? Or at school on Monday?"

Spike sat back down and tugged Buffy back down onto his lap as Oz took the seat next to Willow. Buffy nodded to Angel. "He's got something to say to you guys. I didn't tell you that because I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Everyone turned their eyes to Angel and he gulped and looked down at his hands that were still clutching the glass of Pepsi. "All right. Um… I'd like to apologize." He looked up at Xander. "I'm sorry for pushing you down the stairs, and…" He dug in his back pocket and handed Xander an envelope. "Here's the money for your medical bills."

Xander opened the envelope and thumbed through the bills inside. "Holy shit." He looked up at Buffy. "This is why you wanted to talk to my Mom last night? I thought that was of the weird, you hardly ever talk to my Mom."

Buffy nodded, "Yeah. Angel needed to know how much your arm cost."

Xander grinned at Angel as he tucked the envelope into his back pocket. "Thanks, man. Now my Dad will hopefully lay off me. He was pretty pissed about the bill and he's been making me work weekends at the site doing clean-up to pay him back. Sucks with only one arm."

Angel gripped his soda tighter. "Sorry about that."

Buffy nudged Angel. "Keep going."

Angel nodded and turned to Oz. "I'm sorry I broke your bass. Is the one you got going to work?"

Oz nodded and pointed at the stage. "Taking her out on her virgin voyage tonight."

Angel took a deep breath as he looked at Willow. "Willow… um… I know that there's nothing I can buy you or pay back to make this better, and I know just saying I'm sorry probably isn't going to make you stop being afraid of me, but I really mean it. I am sorry. I really didn't mean any of those things I said to you, and like I told Spike and Buffy, I let Riley and the other guys get to me. I know I'm the one who did it, and I'm not trying to make excuses, but that's why." He looked around at the group and took another deep breath. "I'm not going to pick on any of you anymore, I promise."

Nobody spoke for a few minutes as they all just stared at Angel. Finally he leaned over and whispered to Buffy. "Um… what now?"

Buffy looked around the table. "Do you guys believe Angel and accept his apology?"

Xander nodded, "Yeah… I'm good. Oz?"

Oz smiled, "I'm good." He leaned into Willow and wrapped his arm over her shoulders. "Wils?"

She looked over at him then shyly glanced at Angel and dropped her eyes to her lap. Her hand clenched into a fist as she slowly raised her head and her resolve face slipped to the fore. "No, Angel, there isn't anything you can buy me that will erase the mean and hurtful things you said to me." Angel's face crumpled in shame and he dropped his gaze to his lap. Willow leaned forward and knocked smartly on the table top. "Not done, mister. I took the things you said, so you can damn well look me in the face right now." Angel looked up and locked eyes with her. "You hurt me, Angel. The things you said cut me and bruised me, but it's nothing that you can see and nothing that a cast or a new bass will fix." Angel wanted to drop his eyes in shame again, but he held fast and was surprised when the hint of a smile flitted around Willow's lips. "I believe you, Angel. I don't know why, but I do. I'll give you a chance, I guess, but… don't hurt me again."

Angel shook his head vigorously, "I won't, Willow, I promise. And if anybody else starts hassling you…" He looked around the table. "Any of you… let me know and I'll handle it."

Xander looked at Angel in surprise. "You're gonna go against your team? Riley and Forrest and the rest of them?"

Angel nodded, "Yeah."

Buffy nudged Angel again. "He's gonna tell Riley to lay off Spike when he gets back to school, so he's going to be leper boy as far as the team's concerned." She smiled over at Angel. "Spike and I told him he could hang with us if he wanted."

Angel chuckled, "But Spike absolutely refused to have any sleepovers or braid my hair."

Xander looked between Spike and Angel then burst into laughter. "I just had a vision of you two having a pillow fight… while wearing girl's pajamas." When his announcement was met with quiet, wide-eyed stares, he blushed and smiled depreciatively. "Yeah… it's scary inside my head sometimes."

Something in the crowd over Xander's shoulder caught Spike's eye and he looked at Angel. "You remember how you said you were gonna stand up to Finn?"

Angel nodded, "Uh… yeah. Just said it a minute ago, Spike. I haven't taken that many hits that I can't remember what happened a minute ago."

"Fair enough." Spike nodded toward the figure that had stepped up next to Xander. "Looks like you're 'bout to get the chance."