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Chapter Three
Spike slipped out one of the basement windows of the house just as the sun set to finish getting things ready for the date and to meet up with the Scoobies at the magic shop.
He first drove to the magic shop and hurriedly entered to find Giles, Dawn, the witches, Anya and Xander getting ready for patrol.
"Oooo nice pants" Anya said eyeing Spike appreciatively "Xander why don't you have pants like that?" Xander just scowled at his fiancée.
"Glad ya like em" Spike said winking at her "Are you guys sure you can handle this on your own?" he asked the rest of the group.
"Sure thing, Captain Fang. Most of the demons have split town because they heard Buffy is back and we are just going to do one quick sweep of the cemetery to look out for those vamps you saw last night" Xander assured the worried vampire.
"Well I'll have my cell phone if you need us" Spike said "Here's the keys to the DeSoto he said handing the keys to Willow. Won't do for Dawn and Anya to lock themselves in Giles's car anyone could just rip the bleedin' top off"
"Good idea!" Anya said, "I like the way you think Spike. I can drive"
"NO!" Willow and Spike said together.
"Well if you don't need anything else I'll just be going," Spike said
"Have fun, Spike" Dawn said as she winked at him. Spike just rolled his eyes and made his exit.
"Just two more things to pick up" Spike said to himself once he was outside. Spike quickly flagged down a cab and was on his way.
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Buffy nervously paced back and forth in the living room. Spike was due to pick her up any minute now. She kept approaching the full-length mirror in the hallway to look at her outfit. "I can't believe I'm wearing leather pants and snakeskin boots" Buffy said dismayed as she adjuster her beige silk halter-top. "I'm dressed like Faith" he finished throwing her hands up in the air and began pacing again. "Stop it Buffy" she said to herself "It's just Spike, no reason to be nervous" She stopped her pacing when her slayer hearing picked up on a rumbling that seemed to be getting closer to the house. She made her way to the front door and went out on the porch just as Spike pulled up onto the lawn on his motorcycle. Buffy was frozen.
Spike put the kickstand down and leaned the motorcycle onto it. He held out his hand "Are you coming luv?" Buffy spun around and ran back into the house. "Not exactly the response I was looking for" Spike said confused. A split second later Buffy came bouncing out the house with two new leather jackets in hand.
"Now I understand all the leather" Buffy said smiling shyly at Spike as she handed him his jacked and slipped her own jacket on. "So where we going?"
"I thought our first stop would be the cemetery to check on your Scoobies to make sure they haven't run into trouble then on to our date" Spike said as he slipped the jacket on over his black t-shirt and held out his hand to help her onto the bike. "Climb on up cutie"
"So where are we going on our date, not to a biker bar, I hope" Buffy said jokingly as she took a seat behind Spike and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"You'll just have to wait and see" Spike said as he flipped up the kickstand and started the bike "Hold on" he said as he patted her hands once and took off.
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A few minutes later Spike and Buffy pulled up to the backside of the cemetery and parked the bike. "I don't want them to know we're checking on them" Spike whispered as he and Buffy crept into the cemetery and slipped in between two large monuments and crouched down.
"There they are" Buffy whispered while pointing towards the front of the cemetery. "Oh no they're in trouble we've got to go help" Buffy said as she started to get up.
"No, wait, they can handle this. There's only three vamps sneaking up on them" Spike whispered.
"But, Spike, they're doing my job. I should help." Buffy argued.
"They want to do this Buffy, you have to give them a chance. They've actually gotten quite good," Spike said.
Soon the three vamps pounced on the unsuspecting slayerettes. Giles grabbed the vamp that had started towards Xander holding him while Xander quickly staked the struggling vampire. Willow and Tara quickly began chanting causing the two remaining vamps to levitate off the ground and burst into flames. After the flames died away there was much hooting and hollering as the group high five each other.
"Hey they're not bad," Buffy said a little amazed.
"I told you, I just wish I could get them to stop the yelling and the high fiveing. Takes all the dignity right out of it." Spike said shaking his head. "We might as well go, they've scared off the rest of demons"
"Okay, right behind you" Buffy said as they spying duo crept back to the bike and drove off.
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An hour or so later Spike pulled up in front of a small cottage located along the beach. It was a warm night and Spike shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on the handlebars of the bike. He then turned to help Buffy with hers.
"Thank you" Buffy said, "Where are we?"
Spike just smiled and took her hand leading her to the door. He took the keys out his pocket and opened the door. It was a sensibly furnished cottage with a big stone fireplace in the back and rooms off to both sides.
"Is this place yours?" Buffy asked. Spike just nodded his head yes and continued to lead Buffy through the door to the left the furthest back. This door led to a small room sunroom with large french doors that led out onto a patio on the beach.
Buffy started to giggle "What's so funny?" Spike asked.
"Spike, you own a house with a sun room, ironic much?" Buffy said between giggles
Spike just laughed along with her "I guess I never thought about it" he shrugged his shoulders "Come on" he said still leading her towards the doors and out onto the patio.
On the patio sat a round table with a white lacey tablecloth. On the table sat two place settings, a vase of flowers and several lit candles and a crystal bell. Spike pulled out one chair for Buffy to sit down. "My lady" he said to Buffy indicating she should sit.
Buffy took her seat and mumbled "Thank you" a little unsettled at Spike's gentlemanly behavior.
Spike took his seat and gently rang the crystal bell sitting on the table. Immediately soft music started from the speaker mounted around the patio and 3 men wearing tuxedos rushed out of the side door of the house. One carrying a bottle of wine and the other two carrying covered dishes. The one carrying the wine spoke as he was pouring the wine "Master Spike, dinner will be ready in 15 minutes. I hope you and the lady will enjoy these hors d'oeuvres that we've prepared" the other two uncovered their dishes setting them down on the table. Buffy's eyes were as wide as saucers.
"I'm sure everything will be lovely, I'll ring when we wish to be served" Spike said dismissing them with a wave of his hand.
As soon as the waiters had re-entered the cottage Buffy hissed, "Those were vampires! Spike how could"
"Shhh luv" Spike interrupted "All the real caterers were booked, this was short notice you know" he then leaned across the table and whispered conspiratorially "We'll stake them after the dishes are done" he finished with a wink.
Buffy burst out laughing, "I should have known a date with you would be interesting" she said between laughs.
Spike stood and held out his hand slightly bowing at the waist "May I have this dance?"
Buffy blushed and looked up at him through her lashes as she took Spikes out stretched hand. Spike gently pulled Buffy into his arms and began to sway to the soft music. Within seconds Buffy began to relax into Spikes arm and placed her cheek on Spike's shoulder.
Spike could feel Buffy's soft warm breath on his neck and knew that if he was staked at that very moment he could die a happy vampire.
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"What do you think they're doing?" Xander asked from his position on the couch in the Summer's living room.
"I bet they're" Anya started.
"NO" the rest of the scoobies yelled.
"Ahn, no one wants to know what you think they are doing, it would be way too disturbing" Xander explained to his pouting fiancée.
"It's . . .it's not really any of our business" Tara stammered.
"Tara's right" Willow said, "We never sat around wondering what Buffy was doing when she dated Riley"
Xander raised his hand "Am I the only one here who remembers Spike is a vampire. I know he's changed but really he is still a member of the undead. Come on Giles, back me up here"
"I've had my discussion with Buffy, I don't have anymore to say on the subject. I'm going to turn in now. I've got that early fight tomorrow."
"Giles are you sure you have to go?" Willow asked "Couldn't you email them reports or or video conference what about that?"
"No he needs to go, so I can run the shop, right Giles" Anya piped. "No trolls, this time" She said furrowing her brow in Willows direction.
"I'm so not taking the blame for that, little miss I like to talk during spells" Willow retorted.
Giles smiled at high tech witch and the entrepreneur "No, I'm afraid I do have to go, but it would be nice if trolls didn't destroy my shop again" he said looking between Willow and Anya. "It won't be so bad, I should have some extra time to visit my family and see a few plays while I'm there. Good night all"
"Night Giles" the gang said in unison.
"Dawn, isn't about time you headed off to bed too?" Tara suggested.
"I guess, if I'm still up when Buffy gets home I'll be in trouble" Dawn said as she shuffled her way up the stairs.
"So anyway like I said, since Giles put me in charge of the shop there will be no stealing of" Anya started but was interrupted by door bell ringing.
"Saved by bell, ladies to your corners" Xander said as he hopped up to go answer the door.
"Who would be coming over at this time of night?" Tara asked as the girls followed behind Xander to open the door.
Xander looked through the peephole and said "Uhh oh, this is not going to be good" before opening the door and inviting the visitor in."
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The night had been perfect, dinner was perfect, the dancing had been perfect the walk on the beach perfect even staking the caterers had been a spot of fun. Buffy just couldn't believe what a wonderful time she was having. She tightened her arms around Spike's waist and snuggled into his back as they sped back to their home.
Spike felt Buffy tighten her embrace and smiled knowing that Buffy was happy and that he was the one that made her that way.
Several minutes later Spike and Buffy pulled up in the back yard on the bike coasting most of the way as to not make too much noise and wake the neighborhood.
"Are all the lights out?" Buffy asked as she got off the bike.
"The ones back here are anyway" Spike said "I'm sure everyone's asleep, it's almost dawn"
"Speaking of which, lets get you inside. I don't want my date bursting into flames," Buffy said pulling on Spikes arm to get him off the bike and into the house.
Spike got off the bike and grabbed Buffy around the waist spinning her around in the air as he carried her up on the porch. Buffy giggled like she didn't have a care in the world.
Spike set Buffy down just beside the back door and she looked up into his eyes "I really enjoyed myself tonight Spike, thank you" she said as she put her arms around his neck and gave him a hug.
Spike hugged her back "The pleasure was all mine, pet" he said quietly.
Suddenly the back door flung open surprising the embraced couple.
"Bugger it all Spike said, what in the bloody hell are you doing here" Spike said anger creeping into his voice as he tightened his hold on Buffy.
"Oh boy" Buffy said.
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