Title: What A Difference A Friend Makes 1/1

By: Chen

Rating: G

Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon and ME (Grr! Argh!) and, alas, not to me.

Spoilers: Kinda all the way to GONE.

This is dedicated to Blue Eyes, because even the darkest being needs a friend.

*

He saw her the first time at Willie's. Not an usual sight. She seemed like a nice, normal girl. That *was* the problem of course. What would a nice, normal girl be doing at Willie's? She had tried not to give away that she was looking at him. But doing a lousy job at it. Hey, she was not a bad looking one at all. Spike took in the long, black hair and the black on black attire, mirroring his own black jeans and T-shirt. She had style. Her full lips were of a deep red, even though there was not a drop of make-up on her face. A soft and gentle face too. She reminded him of a Renaissance Madonna.

Hell, why not? It was not like he had anything else to do tonight. The Slayer had made it very clear she wanted nothing to do with him. And to tell the truth he was getting fed up with the hot/cold/hot winds coming from Revello Drive.

Spike got up and strode to the end of the bar, sitting on the stool next to the girl.

"Hello there pet? What is a nice girl like you, doing in a place like this?"

"That is the lamest line I have ever heard. You are *that* out of practice?" She had an attractive smile, graced with deep dimples on each side of her mouth. She looked at him and said the last thing he had expected, "I was looking for you."

She was a feisty one then. "Well, you've found me luv. What do you say about." - Spike whispered in her year what he would like to do to her.

The girl laughed outloud, making heads turn. Definitely not a reaction he had ever received when making that kind of proposition. A slap on the face, even being thrown out of a window. But laughter? He didn't like it and made a movement to get up from the stool.

Her hand on his arm stopped him. "I was looking for you." Something in her black eyes made him sit back on the stool. "You don't remember me, do you? It's okay. You saved me. Saved my life some months ago. It took me a while to track you down. But I found you."

"Please - no need to thank me. Wait, maybe you can repay me.. What I said earlier. interested?"

"It's tempting, but no. Like I said, it took me a while to track you down. And when I was trying to find you I learned all about Spike, the vampire traitor. The one who fights side by side the Slayer because. He loves her. So, even if you are one fine looking vamp. I think I will pass."

"Is it all over the place now? Maybe I should carry a sign."

"I think it's poetic. Like Romeo and Juliet. Oops. Bad comparison. We all know how that ended."

"Badly. So will this."

"Not necessarily." Seeing his forlorn face she looked at him and asked, "Are you all right? Want to talk about it?"

Motioning to Willie the girl got a hot Bloody Mary for Spike and with her eyes indicated a more private booth.

They talked for hours. Well, he talked and she listened. He told her about Buffy, about the summer she was gone and how it had been when she had been brought back. He found himself telling the stranger all the things he had been carrying around for a very long time. She interrupted him every once in a while, asking relevant questions and probing him on. Time passed and Spike was surprised to see it was almost dawn - they had been talking all night. He would have just enough time to make it back to his crypt.

"Nice talking to you, lamb. What is your name? I don't think I got one from you."

"My name is  Charlotte, but my friends call me Charlie." She gave him a dimpled smile. "After tonight, you get to call me Charlie."

"Well, good to meet you, Charlie."

Regretfully he had said good bye to the girl. What a strange bird she was. He couldn't deny though, he actually felt better after the talk. Not an ordinary girl... going through all that trouble just to thank him.

A couple of days latter Spike found himself stuck in an alley when the sun unexpectedly had peeked through the clouds. The day had been dark enough to venture off when he had ran out of fags. Oh hell, he could wait a few minutes to make it to the tunnels. He sat on a the floor and had been startled by the sound of a zippo closing with that characteristic click. 

"Hello Spike." It was the girl from Willie's. She was again wearing the black on black and had a burning cigarette between her fingers.

"Charlie. Fancy meeting you here. Can I bum a fag?"

Her rich laughter filled the alley, "You want to bum a fag??"

"Yeah, yeah. You Yankees are so cute. We gave you your culture, your language and now we are the ones who talk funny. You know what I mean."

"Yes, I do. But c'mon . That was funny!" 

She dug into her pocket and pulled a pack of Marlboros, "Here you go. Keep the pack."

"Thanks pet." He lit the cigarette and noticed Charlie had been observing him intently. "What is it?"

"You are a vampire, but you are out in the daylight. I thought you guys were. You know. Creatures of the night!" - she did her best Vincent Price imitation.

"What can I say? I've always been a rebel, luv." He favored her with one of his rare full smiles.

"You have the most adorable smile! I hadn't realized that. So what are you doing here, Mr. Rebel?"

"I wanted to get fags before Passions started on the telly. The sun came out full force for a while and I got kind of stuck. The blanket here was smoking something awful and it's a long way to the tunnel."

"Passions? You watch the soap? Do you think Timmy will have to sacrifice his life to win his love??" 

"No! I don't think so. Bugger! I will kill those gits at the NBC if they kill Timmy! You watch Passions Charlie?"

"Yes. I usually don't like the soaps, but Timmy kinda won me over. I'm a closet fan though, I have nobody to talk to about it."

"Well, now you have me." Spike looked at the fellow Timmy fan with satisfaction. Joyce had been the only other person who had liked Passions. "Want to come over and watch it with me? My place is not posh or anything."

"I would love to!" 

"If you don't mind the blanket I think that now we could make a run for the tunnel a couple of blocks down."

"No problem. Lead the way."

They had watched Passions together and Spike was delighted that Charlie talked at the TV like he did. This girl was something else. She hadn't even blinked when he had led her through the tunnels to his crypt. Her only remark upon entering it, was "You get cable in here?"

When the soap was over she had gotten up to go, still smiling over something he had said.

"Charlie, humm. You are all right."

"So are you Spike. That girl must be blind." She picked up her bag. "I have to go now, there's a story I need to finish."

"A story?"

"Yeah. That's what I do. I write children's books." His look of shock brought forth another burst of her very loud laugh. "What did you think?"

"I didn't. Children's books, uh?"

"Yes, children books. You would like my latest. It's. a different kind of story. Well, I really have to go now. It will be dark soon, and as I have learnt first hand, I shouldn't be out here after dark."

"Want me to walk you out of the cemetery? Lots of baddies out there."

"No, I will be fine. Besides that blanket of yours needs a rest. Here's my phone number. Call me when you feel like hanging out."

Spike looked at the card in his hand. Card? Hanging out? He was turning into a poof. 

When he looked up to say something, Charlie was already gone. The card laid there on the table of his improvised kitchen for days. Calling Charlie would be so. human of him. He couldn't bring himself to do it. What would that say about him? He did miss the girl though. She was. fun.

A week latter Spike woke up to find a parcel wrapped up in brown paper, carefully tied with twine, waiting for him on the chair in front of the TV. On top of it was a note in an elegant calligraphy.

Dear S.,

This is the story I have been working on. It's just my first draft, but I wanted your take on it.

Call me to say what you thought about it.

Take care,

Charlie

He opened the parcel and inside were some printed pages. Horace, the Good Vampire? What the. He sat down and started reading. It was a simple story about a nice vampire who didn't want to hurt or scare anyone. All he wanted was to find a friend to play with him. Spike read on, chuckling at the adventures of Horace. Charlie had a gift for telling a story in a way a child would understand, but at the same time conveying to the tots a deeper message. This one was very clear: What you see is not always what you get. Horace was a vampire, but he was a good guy.

Spike got up and found the card. He turned it in his hands, a decision finally made. He picked up his duster and headed to the nearest pay phone.

The weeks after that opened a new world to Spike and he liked it. Charlie was great fun and he liked hanging out with her. They were. friends. She had introduced him to her girlfriend, a journalist who was out of town a lot. He liked the girls and was astounded when they accepted him as part of the family. When  Frances was away on assignment, Charlie and Spike would hang out together by themselves. They talked about everything. Eventually Spike told Charlie his deepest secrets. He told her about William and about the other William, the Bloody one. Once he started, he couldn't shut up. Charlie took it all in. Sometimes crying, sometimes laughing. But always trying to understand the "why's" of what he told her. It was a revelation to the vampire. He had never had any real friends, not even as a human. Charlie didn't laughed at him, but always with him. They did that a lot together - laughed and watched their favorite soap. The first time Charlie had hugged him he had stood there, not really knowing what to do. She had looked at him and filled the room with that scandalous and warm laugh that was Charlie and "taught" him how to hug back. Spike was not used to physical contact that wasn't about sex. Who would have thought hugs that didn't involve a shag could feel so good? Who would have thought that a friend could make such a difference in a vampire's life?

He saw Buffy on patrol and with Charlie's encouragement was able to keep his distance. Life was better now that he had a mate to do things with.

When the pain would get too much he would drag his sorry ass over to an awaiting Charlie. Hot chocolate in hand and a sympathetic ear. On one of these nights he was sitting on his favorite chair at the girl's small house, telling Charlie the same sad tale when the girl got up, looked at him and said: "Gimme a minute?"

With that she disappeared into her bedroom, only to come out half an hour latter looking like a million dollars.

"What's the get up for?" Spike took in the clingy dress and the high heels.

"Enough of the sad talk. Let's go and have some fun! You, mister, are taking me dancing at the Bronze."

"The Bronze? No, luv. The Scoobies will be there."

"I know." Winking, she gave him a pouty look and asked, "Are you ashamed to be seen with me?"

"No! Not at all! You look. You know you look great. It's just that Buffy."

"Buffy will see you, dancing at the Bronze, with me. Get it?"

He did.

They went to the Bronze and Charlie headed straight to the dance floor dragging him with her. The girl could dance too.

"Don't look for her. Just look at me and I will do the reconnaissance. Think of me as a nice juicy pint of blood!" She laughed and turned, swaying her hips to the music while surveying the room. She had heard about the Scoobies and Buffy often enough that she could spot them. And soon she did. 

"Table at the back, to the right. Redhead, whelp, girl with blond hair - that is a horrid color by the way - and. Yep. She is here." He was turning his head when she placed a hand on each side of his face and made him look at her. "She is looking at us and if she doesn't close her mouth, she will eat a fly soon." She smiled at Spike and started dancing closer. Spike go the message and concentrated on not looking behind him. 

Buffy couldn't believe her eyes. There was Spike, dancing with a *very* pretty girl. If you went for that type, of course. If you went for very tall, with legs up to there and long silky hair, type of girl.

Charlie leaned closer and whispered in his ear. "After this song. We could go and get something to drink. We would have to pass right by their table and you could introduce us."

Spike loved this girl. He gave her a happy smile and his enthusiasm made Charlie laugh.

The song ended and to the bar they headed. He didn't even have to walk over, for Xander called him, "Hey, Spike! Who is your. friend?" Xander had to stop himself from adding "hot" to the question.

"Oh, hello everybody. This is Charlie. Charlie. These are Willow, Harris, Anya and Buffy. I help them with slaying sometimes."

"You mean, she knows about." Willow couldn't help staring at the tall babe that was hanging on Spike's arm.

"That Spike is a vampire? Yes. Nice to meet you all."

"You know?" Xander's turn to ask.

"That's how we met, actually. I was about to be sucked dry by this ugly thing and Spike here saved me, didn't you honey?" 

Well, it wasn't a lie, was it? He made a note to himself to get Charlie a big box of those dark chocolates she was so fond of. "Yes, sweetheart. And a happy night that was." Charlie was holding his hand and Buffy couldn't take her eyes off the entwined hands.

"So, you followed my advice and got a girlfriend. Good for you. I mean, if she is okay with you being undead and all." Xander's mouth moved, but his eyes were stuck to Charlie's cleavage.

"What matters is what is in a person's heart." Charlie's voice was like a purr. She was really making an impression. "And William here has more heart than most humans I know." With that she kissed Spike full on the lips. Just a quick one, but enough to leave a carmine smudge. A smudge she cleaned by rubbing her thumb provocatively slowly over his lips. "Well, nice to meet you, but we were heading to the bar to get something to drink. Bye."

"I will see you tomorrow at patrolling, Slayer."

With that the two left. The four at the table were silent for a while, their eyes following Spike and his. girlfriend. Anya noticed that Xander's eyes were glued to the girl's hips as she walked away.

"Xander likes Spike's girlfriend."

"What? No sweetie. It's just that it is weird. I mean, we were so used to dead boy there following Buffy around with those puppy eyes."

"It looks like he is over it. No more Spike under the tree. Must be a relief Buffy." Anya had a way with words that was hard to ignore.

"Yeah. A relief." Her voice trailed off. She looked over to the bar and saw Spike engrossed in conversation with Charlie. He was making the girl laugh again and Buffy felt something tugging at her heart. Spike looked so happy. So. relaxed.

The night went from bad to worse for Buffy. She couldn't help it but see the odd couple everywhere she looked. They were dancing, they were laughing. Amazon Girl even played pool with him. Willow made some commentary about how long the girl's hair was and Buffy's hand unconsciously went to her now short hair. Charlie was very pretty. Too pretty.

The next night during patrolling Buffy had been dying to ask Spike about Charlie, but waited for him to volunteer some information. When Spike kept to himself, as he was doing more and more often now. She caved in.

"So. That Charlie girl. She's okay with you being a vampire? What is she? Some kind of demon-lover?"

"Don't talk about her like that, please. Charlie is a very nice girl, who has done nothing to you - other than go dancing with me."

"I don't care what you two do. I just think it's weird for a human to be hanging around a vampire."

"You did." The emphasis on the 'you' made Buffy wince. "And before you say something nasty, I don't feel like fighting. We are here to patrol, not to go into one of those fruitless discussions on how I am a thing."

They walked for a while in tense silence. Spike fetched a cigarette from his duster and lit it. He didn't like those heavy silences between them, but he also didn't like Buffy thinking badly about his friend. "If you have to know, Charlie is a writer. A good one too. The fact that I am a vampire doesn't bother her because, as she says, what you see is not always what you get. You see a vampire - an evil thing. Charlie sees the person who saved her life and who makes her laugh." He took a deep drag from his cigarette. "It all depends on how deep one looks. She chose to look deeper."

Buffy was speechless. She wanted to answer him with some wisecracking remark, but the obvious affection Spike had for the girl was what had. stung her. He really cared for the amazon gal. And that hurt.

Spike saw her face and the hurt in her eyes made his heart soar. Buffy was jealous. But it was better not to lie to her. Sooner or latter she was bound to find out the truth about his relationship with Charlie and. "We are just friends, Buffy."

"Yeah, right." Sarcasm made her voice quite unattractive.

"Why would I bloody lie to you, woman?! Or is it so impossible that I actually have a friend? I get it - it's plausible that some other human is into the kinky sex for sex's sake with the vampire. But, friends? That would imply trust, affection.real feelings. And that is something an evil thing like me is incapable of!" He was very close to loosing his cool and he had promised himself, and Charlie, he wouldn't let the Slayer push his buttons anymore. "It's late - you don't need help patrolling anymore. I have to go."

With that he left. Spike knew exactly where he was headed - he was going to Charlie's. He desperately needed someone to talk to. It was late, but Charlie didn't mind. She joked with him the reason they got along so well was that she lived like a vampire. Writing late into the night and sleeping the better part of the morning. What the vampire didn't see was the tiny blond girl following him from a safe distance.

He got to Charlie's house and rang the bell. A couple of minutes latter the door opened and Charlie stood at the door. "Buffy?"

"Buffy. Damn her." He stood there with his head hanging down, feeling the anger beginning to change to the all too familiar slayer blues.

"You know, we really should stop meeting like this. C'mon inside sweetie. Mumsy will make you some hot chocolate." To his questioning face, Charlie gave a theatrical sigh and answered, "Okay, *with* marshmallows. Boy, she must really have gotten to you tonight."

Buffy stood in the shadows as the vampire followed the girl into the house. She circled towards the back door and peeked through the window. What she saw and heard next, came as a total shock to her.

Spike was perched on the kitchen's counter while Charlie, in sweats, poured mini-marshmallows into his mug.

"There - extra marshmallows. What did she do now?"

"I tried to tell her you and I were just friends. You know? I didn't want to lie to her."

"And.?"

"And she just wouldn't believe me, luv. It's okay if I was shagging you, but the fact that I have a human friend who likes me?" He snorted. "No, that is just not possible."

"Oh, Spike. Why do you let her get to you like that? She really doesn't deserve such devotion, you know?"

"But she isn't always like that, Charlie. She is so loyal to those friends of hers. She is such a brave girl. And you should see her fight!" His eyes shone when the image of Buffy in full Slayer mode flashed before his eyes.

"You are a lost cause." Charlie tousled his hair as if he was a child. In more ways than one the vampire reminded her of a little lost boy.

"She just can't get past what I was. In truth, what I am."

"Forgive me honey, but what you were is not who you are anymore. You changed. I am not saying that what you did wasn't wrong. The stories you told me gave me nightmares for days. But you haven't been that for a long time. You managed to become a pretty decent guy - and with no help from anybody. If you want my opinion, she is just using that as an excuse to keep you away."

"Well, she is doing a mighty good job at that."

"What a waste. Such a good match." Spike shot her a surprised look. "Don't look so surprised, hon. She is the Slayer. What does she think? She is going to settle down with some nice bloke with a 9 to 5 job? If she is as strong as you say she is, she will crush the poor bastard! I feel bad for her. But life is not easy. It's not supposed to be. If she wasn't such an abusive person, I would say you two were perfect for each other."

"You are saying that to make me feel better." Yes, just like a little lost boy. How could Charlie resist playing mommy?

"No, I am saying it because I love you and I always tell you the truth."

Spike's eyes suddenly were full of tears. He tried to look away, but Charlie had caught it.

"What's the matter? You are. crying?" The concern in her voice only made it worse for Spike.

"I have to go." He got up hurriedly and tried to escape.

"You get your cute behind back in here and tell me what is wrong. I mean it. Now."

"It's just. I haven't heard that. In a long time." Spike whispered as he turned to his friend, his eyes wet with tears.

"Oh, baby." Charlie put her arms around him, drawing him into a comforting hug. "I love you. You know that. And there's no need to be embarrassed about having feelings." She hugged him tighter. "I could kill that girl for hurting you so much."

Spike's raised his head from Charlie's shoulder and he was grinning at her. "Charlie. thanks pet, but Buffy would kick your ass."

"Okay, then maybe it's safer to write a letter instead?" They both giggled at that.

Buffy left the window and started going home. Spike had told her the truth. They were just friends. Really good friends. From what she could gather Charlie had been told by Spike about his adventures pre-chip. She had seen how affectionate Charlie had been with Spike. Spike had a girl friend, not a girlfriend. A girl friend who thought Buffy was being abusive. A friend who made him hot chocolate and listened to his troubles. A friend that took his side. Much like Willow when the witch was consoling Buffy. She was stunned. He had been right, and how she hated that he usually was, it had been easier for her to believe he was shagging Charlie than to believe he had something as normal as a friend. With a sigh, she opened the door to her house. She had a feeling she had a lot of thinking to do.

Buffy decided to go to the crypt during the day. It was better to catch him unaware. She walked in to find Spike sitting on his chair watching TV. With Charlie beside him. She felt like the intruder there - the two had been talking, abruptly halting the conversation when she walked in.

Charlie got up and kissed Spike on the cheek. "I'll see you latter, baby. Call me."

As she passed by Buffy, she whispered, "Please, don't hurt him."

Buffy felt her face grow hot with shame. The crypt door closed and the silence between the two was tense.

"Slayer."

"Spike."

The two had started to speak at the same time and now felt even more embarrassed.

"Spike, I just wanted to say I am sorry. I had no right to."

"You're right about that. Insulting me is one thing, but insulting my friend..."

Buffy cut him, "I said I was sorry."

They fell into another long silence. Buffy bit nervously at her bottom lip. Not knowing how to start.

"I've missed you." That should do for a start, she thought.

"Missed your toy, Slayer?" He couldn't leave the bitterness out of his voice.

"No, I've missed my friend."

"We can't be friends, Slayer. No more than Charlie and I can be lovers. Don't you know I can't be close to you without getting all sorts of feelings ricocheting inside?"

"It's. like that. for.. me. too." Her voice was so soft that only a vampire would have been able to hear.

"Buffy?" He had crossed the space separating them so fast she was startled to find him standing inches away from her "You are saying.?"

"I am saying that. it's not only the sex. It's more than that. But I don't know what it is and. I need to figure it out. I need to stop being such a bitch... I know." Buffy looked genuinely embarrassed. "When I saw you with Charlie at the Bronze. I wanted to chop off her hair." She looked up at his face and was met with a smile that illuminated his eyes. "I am not saying it will be all hugs and puppies. I need time to get used to this. But. if you give me time I want to try. I will try to be better. We could date."

"Date after everything that we've done together?"

"Yes. Specially because of everything that we've done together. We, I mean I, started this the wrong way. It would be a way of getting to know each other. in a new way."

Spike embraced her and pulled her close, not trusting himself to speak. After so long, she was saying what he had longed to hear. An honest shot at a relationship. He felt his chest expanding. The joy inside occupying every atom of his body. He lowered his head and kissed the lips she was offering him. they were salty from her tears. Spike searched Buffy's face for any doubt. There was none to be found. She was scared, yes. but determined. "I love you. If that's what it takes, that's what we'll do. You can come and meet my friends." Buffy giggled. "I have friends, you know!"

"I know, hon." Buffy's imitation of Charlie's endearment was music to his ears. One day, maybe, she would really call him hon.

Nah. probably not. She was the Slayer after all.



The End