A/N: Thank you to bethisabear and the guest that have left kind words on this fic ! It truly inspires me to keep writing and means a lot! I love writing Candy so I hope you guys are enjoying her story! xoxo

Chapter 7:

"Um, hello" a figure tapped on the window, balancing precariously on the balcony. The curtains twitched and a redhead opened the window a fraction. Revealing Candy. She had a long baby pink trench coat (much like Spike's duster but pink and more… Candy) and she was shuffling around on the ledge in her fluffy pink plastic heels which matched.

"Oh u-um, Candy!" Willow stuttered, unsure what was happening, "I, uh, how did you know where I lived?"

"The soap you use – it is very strong" She said bluntly before smiling brightly, her head tilted to the side as she asked, "May I come in?"

"I-I don't think-" Willow started, but as she looked into Candy's wide green eyes she felt something. She felt her honesty. Maybe it was Willow's brewing power or her willing naivety.

"I would not dream of hurting you" She assured, nodding along in her sincerity, "I cannot lie, child, well I can but I do not – it's bad luck after all even if your fingers are crossed"

"U-uh, okay…" Willow said slowly, her eyes unblinkingly looking into Candy's, "Come in" the redhead smiled cautiously, opening the window fully for Candy to enter.

"Thank you!" She swept past Willow who was half-expecting to be taken and bitten, but Candy just collapsed on the end of her bed and started to sob again. She put her head in her hands as her shoulders shuddered.

"Oh- oh, no! What is it?" Willow said, her panicked face worried as she sat beside the vampire that could have easily torn her to shreds.

"Me and Spike had a fight!" She wailed, "I-I wanted to be good, to fight beside you and be friends with you and shop at the mall, but he-he wouldn't listen! Said he-he couldn't support it" She sobbed and willow awkwardly patted her. Somehow, she believed her.

"You want to be… good?" She questioned.

"I've had so many interests and he's al-always supported me but suddenly, I want to be friends with Buffy and he's treating me as if I'm some child he can order around!" She looked up, sniffing, "I mean, he was happy when I owned Candy kiss, but now he cannot bare to look at me because I merely want to help!"

"C-Candy Kiss?" Willow asked, wide-eyed. She had heard of the brand, it was still vaguely popular.

"The makeup brand. I sold it when we moved again" She sighed, "I've always been by his side, I love him so much it hurts! Why can't I make my own choice in this? Why can't he join me?"

"W-well you did both come to town claiming to be evil and threatening to kill Buffy"

"I never did! Spike loves to kill slayers, that's his endearing little hobby, not mine" She insisted as Willow listened, and believed, the pink haired woman. Willow was happy to listen to everything Candy had to say, they stayed up for hours until Candy saw that the sun was starting to peak through the window, "Can I stay here? Just for a while?" She asked and Willow agreed after some thought. She made up a bed on the floor and said she would sleep in it. Candy shook her head, saying she would take the floor. She wouldn't dare be so rude as to take Willow's bed from her.

xoxoxo

Willow was struggling to keep her new houseguest a secret from the others. She tried so hard to act cool but it was quickly becoming suspicious to everyone around her. In the cafeteria at lunch, she began to act even weirder.

"What's with the lunch, is it bring your own massacre today?" Xander muttered as he stared at the state of Willow's food. What was supposed to be a PB&J sandwich was a clump of doughy, red 'bread' in a freezer bag. Willow cringed at what was in her hand as much as the rest of the table.

"Mom was trying to make bread but it wouldn't rise, Ca- uh, someone once told me that it usually happens when there's a c-corpse in the area" Willow rushed through her sentence wincing the whole way through it.

Candy had apologised profusely, aware that she was potentially the corpse in the area. That, or the neighbour she ate before she tapped on Willow's window.

"Ew" Cordy muttered.

"It's surprising anybody's bread rises in this town," Xander muttered and Willow nodded a little too vigorously and chuckled which sounded a little forced at her friends joke.

After a long silence where Willow kept looking around awkwardly and tapping her fingers on the table, she started talking loudly. It caught the attention of the tables beside them in the cafeteria, she was acting strange.

"Now I must be… somewhere that is away… from this place… now…" Willow said abruptly standing up and backing away from everyone with her uneaten 'sandwich' still in her hand.

Everyone was suspicious of Willow, she had never been good at keeping secrets. They just needed to figure out what. When Willow didn't turn up to next period, they knew something was up. She had gone to the Butcher's to get some blood for Candy. Buffy and Xander decided to interrogate her at the Bronze that night.

While Candy was waiting for Willow to return from school and bring her something to eat, she became increasingly bored. She was restless and couldn't sleep. She had already learned everything she could about Willow through her sweet room and had painted and repainted her nails several shades while she waited.

After a while, she decided to risk the sunlight and visit someone she was realising was looking pout for her. It was centuries too late, of course. But it still meant something.

"Angel? Sweet Angel?" She called,

"M-" he started and winced. He had almost said it. Marissa. The way he would taunt her. Sing her name while she screamed. He had to shake the thoughts away, pretend he wasn't reliving the horrific nature of his actions, "Candy! What are you-"

"I have been hiding away from Spike, I need to cool off. I am living with a witch and her mother. Surprisingly, the mother has a broomstick wedged so far up her-" Candy started to giggle as Angel cut her off. She believed in individuals respecting their own parents, she did not respect people unless they earned it. Besides, she had lived with Spike for centuries – certain things rubbed off.

"Right, well, what can I do for you?"

"Sorry, did I speak out of turn? Spike says to speak your mind is important. Well, he always wants me to share what's going on in my mind"

"Speak your mind, Candy. Don't let anything stop you"

"I do still have manners, but I do appreciate that you are trying to hint for me to allow myself to speak despite you trying to beat that out of me. Particularly harshly on Sundays, I recall" She smiled widely at her own words, but inside she was hurting still.

"I'm sorry"

"Angel, the time for apologies has passed. You are not the same man without your soul.

"But I'm still sorry. I stay up in the day just thinking about how-"

"No matter, cherub. It is past. Please, let us keep it there now" she said softly, her eyes were unfocused and glassy. She didn't wish to discuss the finer details. It hurt her, she had never felt anything so strongly. Except, of course, Spike's love. Which now also hurt her to think about.

Candy returned to Willow's home just before she arrived back from school. The vampire was spraying herself with some of Willow's finer body sprays (ones that had been gifted to her for Birthdays that she had never used) to mask the smell of her slightly sizzling skin after her little trip out.

Willow explained that she would be out that evening, at the Bronze with the others.

"Can I come?!" Candy exclaimed, "Oh please can I come?"

"I'm not sure that's an outfit the Bronze is ready to see" Willow said softly, not sure how else to say no. But Candy had already started to look through Willow's belongings to find herself something suitable.

"So I shall borrow your clothes!"

"I-I don't really have anything that you-"

"A mini-skirt! I want this one… and the halter!"

"Oh, um, I haven't even worn those yet" Willow hadn't had the courage yet, she thought she might save it for Halloween. But she wouldn't mind Candy trying it on.

"Oh, sorry, did you want-"

"No! No, that's- you try them"

"Okay" she moved as if she was about to strip off in front of willow.

"Oh, n-no! You can-I'll, um, look away" Which stopped Candy as she noted Willow had averted her eyes, having stared a little too long (in her own observation) at Candy's chest earlier. So her getting changed right there would be too much.

"Why?" She asked confused, she hadn't associated with humans for a long while. She didn't recall embarrassment.

"P-privacy"

"Oh, thank you!" she smiled as Willow dipped out of the room. She tugged on the skirt and halter top after she left. She couldn't see what she looked like in a mirror but decided she liked the feel of the fabric against her skin.

They arrived at the Bronze and Xander and Buffy were already waiting, this was unusual as Willow was usually early. Buffy smiled when she saw Willow but became confused when she saw who her friend was.

"Hello, I wish to enjoy music and alcohol with friends!" Candy beamed at the three humans, excited to finally have a seat at the table.

"Wow" Xander said, he hadn't managed a thought past this since she walked in.

"Excuse me?" Candy asked softly, scanning Xander to pick up on some kind of clue as to what he meant. There was a pause while Xander picked up his jaw from the floor and tried to come up with some actual words.

"Nope, that's all I got. Wow" Xander repeated for emphasis as he took in Candy's new attire. She appeared to suit anything.

Buffy smiled at Candy but pulled Willow's elbow to stand away from the vampire so they could talk.

"Willow, you brought Candy?"

"She's lonely, Buff. Her and Spike - they had a fight. Because she wants to help us. She really wants to change, shouldn't we, help her?"

"Has she joined the 12-step program for blood addiction?" Buffy deadpanned, not convinced this wasn't some kind of trap.

"I have already attended this, it was incredibly hard and they had too many crosses in the little room they held the meetings in so I stopped going. And by that time Spike had killed the clergy next door…" Candy explained, appearing behind them from nowhere. She couldn't help overhearing their conversation. She overheard everyone's conversations.

"Okay, I'm choosing to ignore that and dance. It's my night off" Buffy muttered. Also, she didn't want to admit that once she was in her presence, she didn't mind having Candy around either despite the obvious threat she could pose.

Buffy and Xander went towards the dancefloor and Candy stood off to the side watching them and swaying slightly. Willow started to join them but saw her stood alone, looking a bit sad that she still hadn't been included. Willow stayed with her and made her laugh as they watched the others dance. She really appreciated the young witch and her friendship. They did this for several songs, watching them dance and laughing together. Candy was really started to feel like she could belong.

xoxoxo

Spike entered the Bronze, wiping the blood from his face after his recent meal. He had been drinking too. Ever since she walked out he had been trying to keep it together.

He stalked in, having smelt her scent. The scent he associated with home. Love. Intimacy. He stepped purposely, weaving around the children that were dancing and laughing. He didn't care to look at them, he was only scanning the crowd for her.

He wanted her. Ached for her. If grovelling was what he needed to do, then he wasn't above it. Not for her.

He saw her, bouncing with happiness and smiling. How could she be smiling when all he wanted to do was cry?

"Oh, I don't want this night to end! I'm having fun! Real fun!" She said happily, "Let's have a slumber party! We can have cookie dough and pillow fights!"

"You don't have to ask me twice" Xander muttered, his mind clearly full of wild ideas.

"I have already got my bed on the floor in Willow's space, there is plenty of room!"

"You're staying with Willow-?"

"Oh, um, did- did I say something wrong?"

"She can't stay with you, Will. She's dangerous"

"She has nowhere to go" Willow said softly as Candy looked off into the distance. Ever since Candy's story, Buffy couldn't help but feel some kind of protective instinct for the vampire. Especially considering she was now dating the man that had hurt her so badly.

Buffy understood, somewhat, her want for friends. To help out in some way. Angel had explained it. Her own form of atonement, without really understanding that was what she was doing.

Buffy wouldn't characterise it as such, but a lot of what she felt for the vampire was pity. And that was what made her decide to take her in rather than Willow (at least if this really was a trap, she'd have more chance at staking Candy than Willow did).

Buffy rolled her eyes at herself and slipped a hand into Candy's, bringing her towards the dancefloor.

Candy and Buffy started to dance together, with Buffy raising her hand and swaying her hips to the bass. Candy followed, starting to join Buffy. The pair gained a lot of attention, especially because of the way Candy's clothes barely covered her skin. Buffy took Candy's hand and smiled, making Candy's whole face light up. This look, it spelled friendship. Fun and shopping and sharing a drink at the Bronze. It's something she had longed for, a platonic relationship with a group she could trust. With people that weren't just using her.

Buffy held Candy's hand and twirled her around allowing her to sway her hips against Buffy with the slayer swaying in time behind her. Candy found herself grinding against the slayer and noted that lots of friends appeared to do this, often to vie for male attention. She was just looking to enjoy herself, but she definitely did catch one man's attention. One vampire's, anyway.

He couldn't handle it anymore. He stalked directly over to them both, shoving Buffy's shoulder and knocking her back and grabbing Candy by the wrist. Candy had her eyes closed and they snapped open when she felt the tug of Spike's hand.

"What the bloody hell have you got on?" he hissed, raking his eyes over her body before looking back to her eyes.

"It's a mini-skirt, you remember the '60s don't you? I used to wear them then" Candy reminded him, starting to twirl but Spike stopped her, his hands gripping either side of her arms. She frowned, looking down at herself. She liked her outfit, and she knew Spike usually would too. He just didn't like how quickly she had changed. How quickly she had turned into one of them. She was even bloody dressing like them. And men were staring, leering.

"This… isn't you, love" He tried to appeal to her.

"It is!" She insisted, starting to push him off her. He moved in, fighting against her struggling as he leaned in to whisper his plea.

"Kitten, please… your place is with me. By my side… I'm bloody hollow without you" he dropped his voice further for the last part, almost embarrassed at the way the Scoobies were staring. He wanted to kill them for looking. Rip their eyes out with his bare hands and drink from their sockets.

"William, I love you with everything I have… I just want a chance. One small chance at this… please support me?" Spike started to soften, it was her after all. He wanted the best for her, wanted her happy. But this? No way.

"Look at them, love! Do you think they really want to be your friend? They're only keeping you around to spite me"

"Not everything is about you, William!"

"That's it" He grabbed her by the arm and she fought scratching at him to get off. That was when Buffy stepped in. she wasn't sure why, only that she could tell Spike was more hurt by her perceived betrayal than could ever be by her blows.

"Leave her alone, Spike!" Buffy stated, stepping between the lovers argument. She stared at him, hard.

"You don't have a bloody clue! She'll drop you when she gets bored and then you'll see – she'll come straight back to me" He insisted. When he saw nobody was moving, he tensed his jaw and glared – blaming the slayer.

Spike stalked off, snatching a bottle of jack from the bronze as he left. He was upset, he had been insecure about her leaving him. He had been scared of this moment, fearful that she would drop him the way he shifted her phases of interest.

"Thank you, Slayer" Candy said, rubbing her upper arm where Spike had grabbed for her.

"Buffy. I think we've come to the first-name part of our friendship" The slayer shrugged, a friendly smile that widened at the vampire's reaction.

"Our friendship?!" Candy squealed grabbing Buffy in a tight hug, smelling Buffy's hair as she did.

"Not quite with the hugging though" buffy said, patting Candy to release her from the hug.

"I'll have a hug" Xander offered and so Candy ran at him and almost broke his spine. Although she hissed at him as a cat would when he held too tight and too low on her skin. He surrendered and she nodded, stepping away. Buffy moved in front of Xander, giving him a look as she passed him before turning back to Candy.

"I think it's best if you stay with me, Mom will agree if we say you were kicked out" Buffy said, as well as saying that she would have to drink only animal blood.

"Okay!" she smiled, and she was right. Joyce welcomed her with open arms, a young girl that had been thrown out of her home for no reason of her own. Buffy was surprisingly happy to tell lies to her mother. Candy hid her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers hoping it would do something, trying to not to upset the luck out of her favour – or Buffy's for that matter.

When they were sat in Buffy's bedroom with a camp bed set up in the far corner for Candy, Buffy explained that, "I'll have to restrain you, tie you up while I sleep"

"But of course" candy nodded, presuming this would be the case. She had smiled wide when willow had appeared to trust her to sleep without.

If it meant the slayer felt safe, she would agree. She held her hands out in front of her and Buffy tied her up tightly. She was allowed some pyjamas, they were not the silk she was used to but she was grateful. Mostly she would sleep naked beside Spike, who also liked to sleep that way, but she knew it wasn't correct to sleep that way in unfamiliar company. Or she presumed as such, judging on Willow's reaction to her changing.

It had been a long time since Candy had slept in the night, and even longer since she had slept without Spike by her side. She missed him desperately, a feverish sleep that quickly turned sour. Her nightmares started to creep in, as they always would when she was apart from him. His presence was soothing, she felt protected by his side. Just as he only felt calm and content with her by his side.

Candy began to toss and turn before she began whimpering and speaking urgently, it sounded like pleading.

"Candy? Candy are you okay?" Buffy charged sleepily out of bed and rushed to the vampire's side, waking her.

"Memories like fire and ants in my brain, too much too young… too much for any age" she sighed, trying to get comfortable in her restraints, "I apologise, I shouldn't make such a noise again"

"Okay then, if you're sure..." Buffy checked, but Candy had already rolled over.

She wished to save herself from the Slayer seeing her crying.