"Slayer!" Spike clutched his sore
nose. "Why the hell did you do that?"
"You deserved it."
"Did not."
"A date?" Buffy snorted. "That wasn't
in our play book. What made you go all high school on Lydia?" She began to clear away the remnants of the ill-fated tea.
"Just tryin' to help you know. Doin'
my bit for puppies, and Christmas, and the American way." He cocked
his head and considered Buffy's stiff movements as she put their cups on
a tray. She was really brassed off. Delicious. "'Sides,
apparently Lydia knows a good thing when she sees it."
Buffy's eyes flared. "Apparently
Dr. Higginbottom," she paused, lingering over the Watcher's ridiculous
name, "is deaf, dumb, and blind." Without another word she huffed
into the kitchen. Didn't he realise what was at stake here, no pun
intended? Her future. Dawn's future. And Spike had absolutely
no idea how to charm a woman. None. Nada. Even when he'd
been human, he'd been completely clueless. William, the Bloody Awful
Poet. Ha! Buffy's future flashed before her eyes: a future
that included golden arches and the phrase, "Do you want fries with that?"
"I just hope he leaves the chains and the
bourbon at home," she muttered, slamming the cups into the dishwasher.
Spike's elation began to fade as the Slayer's
words reached his ears. Stupid bint! As if he didn't know a
thing or two about pleasing women. He may have seemed a right tosser
when he went after her, but that was just . . . just.
Because he cared too much.
Bloody hell, Dru liked being chained up!
"Slayer, I'm leaving."
Buffy continued to load the dishwasher. "Incinerate, see if I care."
"Look at me Buffy."
Buffy reluctantly met his gaze. His
eyes were soft.
"I won't screw this up." A brittle
smile crossed his lips. "Gotta keep the cash flowing for my Niblet."
"Do you need some money?"
Spike arched an eyebrow.
"For tonight I mean. Luigi's is expensive."
Guilt flickered briefly across his chiseled
features, but was quickly contained. "Nah. Got it covered."
"Do you have some clothes that aren't vintage
Billy Idol?"
"Slayer, I'll have you know that he ripped
me off, not the other way around."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
Buffy began to wipe the already clean countertop.
God, he couldn't do this anymore. "Look Slayer, if it'll make you feel better, I'll come 'round after and
give you the full report."
"That's OK." She considered him closely. "I trust you."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Niblet! What're you tryin' to do? Choke me?"
Dawn giggled as she "adjusted" his tie. "You don't breathe Spike."
"Still, that bloody well hurt." He
massaged his neck.
Dawn considered her friend. He looked
hot. Tousled hair, grey suit, crisp white shirt, blue tie. Lydia was lucky.
Dawn sat on a nearby sarcophagus and began
to swing her legs. "She's jealous you know."
"Huh?"
"Buffy. She's really jealous."
"Nah. She's just worried 'bout me
screwin' things up."
"That too. But believe me, she's
jealous."
"How do you know Niblet?"
"How did I figure out you were in love
with her? I notice these things Spike."
Spike stroked her hair affectionately. "Do I look OK?"
"Yup. Lydia will be a puddle of goo."
Spike's eyes glinted. "Well, won't
that just be . . . neat."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"More wine luv?" Spike filled the
flushed Watcher's glass again. It was her third.
Dr. Lydia Higginbottom had arrived spot
on time to find a very distinguished-looking Mr. Bloody already waiting
for her. Her armed guard had kept his distance, and thus far their
evening had been quite pleasant although her date, ahem, her informant
had proved less than informative about his relationship with the Slayer.
"So, Mr. Bloody." Lydia unconsciously ran
a hand through her carefully coiffed hair. She'd left it down tonight
and it fell in loose waves around her face. She'd also left her glasses
at the hotel.
Spike's eyes locked with hers. "I told
you pet. Call me William."
Lydia took another sip of her wine and
blushed. "Very well, William. You still haven't told me about
the nature of your relationship with the Slayer. I can't believe
you would sacrifice so much unless you were getting something . . . um
. . . significant in return."
Spike was saved from answering by the arrival
of their entrées.
Lydia watched in amazement as Spike tore
hungrily into his Shrimp Diavolo. "I've never heard of a vampire
who enjoyed human food."
Spike stopped in mid bite and whispered
seductively, "You'll find I enjoy many human activities."
Lydia cleared her throat, blushed for the
thousandth time that evening, and took another sip of wine. "I see."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lydia gazed blurrily at her dinner companion
and took another sip of wine. He really was quite charming. And entertaining. And devastatingly attractive.
"So pet, you already know all about me. How 'bout you? How'd you get into the Watching thing?"
Lydia's words slurred slightly as she spoke. "Well, you see, I come from a long, long, long line of Watchers. And I went to Oxford and just never left. All those lovely, lovely
books." She giggled.
"Fascinating. Do go on luv."
"And then I began work on my thesis, "Mating
patterns of male vampires in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries."
Spike looked disappointed. "I thought
you said the whole thing was about me."
"Oh it is." Lydia lowered her voice. "You were my primary case study. You're quite an unusual vampire. So devoted to your . . ."
Spike arched his eyebrow suggestively and
finished her sentence, "lover?"
"Yes. I mean you stayed faithful
to Drusilla for years and years and years."
Spike smiled wistfully. "Fat lot
of good that did me."
"Drusilla was a fool." Lydia took
another sip of wine.
Suddenly Spike felt the need for another
drink as well.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lydia rose unsteadily from her seat. "Mmmm, feeling a bit woozy."
Spike took her arm to steady her and led
her out of the restaurant. Her guard followed discretely. "I
don't think you should drive luv."
"Oh, Henry will drive. Henry?" Lydia
called to her protector.
"Yes, Dr.?"
"Will you be a dear and get the car?" She rummaged through her purse and produced the keys. "Voila!"
"Dr. Higginbottom, I really shouldn't leave
you alone with . . . Mr. Bloody."
"Tish, tosh. William and I will be
perfectly fine. Won't we William?" Lydia smiled drunkenly up
at Spike.
"Yes pet, we'll be fine. You know
I can't hurt her Henry."
"Very well." Henry departed.
"I had a simply splendid, splendid, splendid
time William." Lydia swayed towards him. "I think I know now
what kind of man you are."
"What kind is that luv?"
"Scrumptious." Lydia grabbed him
and kissed him passionately.
In the shadows across the street a Slayer
watched. "Bastard."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Spike returned Lydia's kiss. Well
he had no bloody choice did he? Couldn't very well reject the woman
whose organisation was gonna pay his Slayer!
"Dr. Higginbottom!"
Henry's shocked voice interrupted them.
"Leave us alone Henry. We're busy."
"Come on Doctor. I think you've had
enough," he considered Mr. Bloody with a dark glare, "excitement for one
evening."
Lydia pouted. "Don't want to go."
Spike kissed her hand. "Listen pet. Best do as the man says."
"Oh, alright." Henry helped the very
drunk Lydia into the car. "William, William, William, my sweet William
don't forget. We have some unfinished business."
"Uh huh luv." Bloody hell! He hoped she wouldn't remember this in the morning.
END PART EIGHT