Buffy sat sprawled on the floor of the Ohana, between the passenger's and
driver's seat. Reading a magazine. A VERY thick magazine. And she had
a book beside her, should the magazine fail. She was learning how to
have flawless toenails for summer. She was not, in any part of her mind
thinking about rubbing against Spike, giving him a thorough dental
examination.
She ignored the fact that he was sitting on the floor by the booth, staring at her. She didn't notice a thing. Oooh. Horoscopes were on the next page. She skipped over them. Oooh. 'When You Run Out of Bottled Water on the Beach.' Stimulating article. Stimulating. It had to be. Because across the expanse of the floor was temptation. And temptation was bad. Very. And Buffy was a firm believer in that if you ignored temptation, you can eventually swim in DeNile with it, and make it drown.
Spike let out a loud sigh. Two days. It had been two days since that mind- blowing night at the dance club. When he closed his eyes it was almost like being there again, the memory was so vivid. He shifted slightly, stretching his legs a little. She wasn't... ignoring him. It was more like.. avoiding without being obvious about it. Which, when it came right down to it, was just as bad. He sighed again.
Her eyes lifted, but her head did not, from the magazine, and she wanted to scream. He WOULD sit like that, legs spread at her, lounging. Bastard. Eyes riveted back on her magazine. She was suddenly craving the bottle of water on the page. She shifted uncomfortably. No problem. Drown! Drown already!!!!
Uh huh. Yeah. This was fun. Spike shifted again. They had crossed yet another state line and were now in Ohio, and in the process of looking for a hotel. Not just any hotel, though. This had to be a good one. Really good. Expensive good.
Spike glanced up at the window, wishing he could help the others look out. But.. sunlight. Sunlight equals ow. So no looking out the window for him. Just staring at... Well, Buffy. Wasn't that what he always stared at? But he wasn't making it obvious. Just looking at her, with his eyes mostly closed, head turned slightly in the wrong direction. Yeah. Nothing obvious about this. Good Spike.
He wasn't looking at her. Well, she wasn't looking at him either. Not... officially. She peeked over the magazine, taking in his long jean- clad legs, tapered hips and waist, got stuck on his abs for a few moments, up over his tightly black clad pecs, his neck, that scar. His fuller bottom lip and well-shaped upper lip made his mouth, that housed the tongue that- BAD BUFFY!!!! DROOOOOWNNN!!! DROWN! DROWN!!! Ok. Moved up over the bridge of his nose, and... directly into blue eyes that were staring back at her. Well, shit.
Oops. When did he open his eyes? Recover. Uh... Oh! He gave her a half grin. She was staring at him, too, after all. And, she probably thought she did it first. So. Safe. Still good Spike.
One quick blink, and her eyes snapped back to the Cosmo. Deliberately crossed her legs.
And there we go. Disaster averted and.. why did the RV stop?
Buffy looked up from her magazine and swiveled her body to look up at Giles. "We stopped."
Giles chuckled. "Yes. I noticed, seeing as how I'm driving. Look. I believe we've found our stop." He pointed out the front window.
She looked out, and her jaw dropped. The Ritz Carlton. Her eyes swung towards Giles. "Seriously."
He nodded. "Wherever our money is coming from hasn't stopped just because the threat from Glory is passed. I don't see any reason why not. What city are we in, anyway?"
"Cleveland," Dawn supplied from the passenger's seat.
Giles nodded. "Seems a good place to stop for a few days. I'm taking votes. All those who want to stop here and stay in the Ritz Carlton for two or three days, say aye."
Resounding shouts of compliance filled the Winnabago.
"Alright then, it's unanimous," Giles said with a chuckle. Let's find a parking place."
========================================================
Madison opened the door to her room. 515. Holy shit. She was at the Ritz Carlton. Her uncle, Joshua, had sent her a plane ticket to visit him for her twentieth birthday, and after one hour pleading with her parents, they had agreed to let her stay in a hotel, instead of the house with her uncle and his horridly obnoxious children. Her huge surprise had been when she had picked up her rental car, and seen where her hotel directions. She had pulled up and screamed. Her parents had paid for three full days at the Ritz Carlton. In Cleveland. For her birthday.
After a thorough inspection of the room, she began to unpack. A few minutes later she came across her cell phone. Considered it a moment, then picked it up, and dialed.
--- ========================================================================== =========
Spike was laying flat on his hotel bed. The thing was so soft. After riding on the floor of the Ohana all day, his back had a very annoying crick in it that the bed was rapidly getting rid of. He was startled when a high pitched ringing came from his bag. His cell phone.
After many complaints from Giles about him constantly using his phone to talk to Madison and running up the Watcher's phone bill, Giles had finally caved and got Spike his own phone. The very same phone that he was digging out of his bag at that moment. Ah. Found it. "Hello?"
Madison laughed into the phone, spinning in circles around the room. "Tell me I'm beautiful."
Spike grinned at her tone of voice. "You are beautiful. What's got you so worked up, ducks?"
She giggled. "Today's my birthday. I'm officially legal tender."
Spike made an excited sound. "Happy birthday, Madison! The big 2 0, huh?"
"Yes!!! And I'm not at home!! Guess!!! You'll never guess!"
"Then why don't you save me the trouble?"
She was now jumping on the bed. "In... THE Ritz Carlton." Loud squeal.
"You've got to be kidding. I'm in a Ritz Carlton too!" He snorted. "Ok. Now I'm getting slightly freaked out."
She laughed. "How cool. I'm in the one in Cleveland. I'm visiting my Uncle Josh."
He froze. Fishmouthed at the phone. "You're *where*?"
"Cleveland. Ritz Carlton, room 515, thanks so much."
"Tell me you're kidding."
She was puzzled and stared at the phone. "No... Honey, are you drunk or something? Is something wrong?" Maybe it was her phone. She shook it, then put it back to her ear.
She only caught the last of his sentence because of that. "...land. Room 516."
"No, Spike. 515. I'm in room 515."
"I know. I'm in room 516. Across the hall."
She sighed disgustedly. "Not funny."
"I am not kidding. I'm going to open my door. Do the same, if you would."
She had a very haughty expression as she opened the door, leaning against the jamb. Stared into his eyes. Gave him a once-over, then flung herself at him.
He dropped his phone in favor of embracing his friend. "I honestly thought you'd talked to someone else first and were joking with me!", he laughed as he hugged her.
She hit his shoulder as she hugged him. "I thought you were just being mean!! How are you?"
He chuckled. "Great, really." Pulled back slightly, eyeing the phone that was still in her hand. "Might want to hang these up now."
She laughed, and hit the disconnect button. "Those guys aren't too old for me, now."
He picked up his own phone, hanging it up and tossing it back into the room. He growled at her. Real growl, but high pitched. "Not if I have anything to say about it." Pounced toward her. She squealed and ran into her room. He paused outside the door, and leaned on the invisible barrier. "Looks like you're safe, Madison."
She looked back at him. Put her hand out towards the barrier, and her hand passed through it to touch him.
He chuckled. "A vampire literally can not enter if not personally invited. This is how we are kept out."
She kept putting her hand through the shield. "How neat." Frowned. "But not nice. Um... how do I invite you in?"
He shrugged. "Just say come in, or something to that effect. Gestures don't work. It has to be verbal."
She smiled at him. "Welcome! Come in! Hi! How ya doing? Make yourself comfy!"
He was thrown off balance by the sudden disappearance of the barrier, and stumbled into the room, nearly falling over. "Thanks. A simple 'come in' would've sufficed."
She grinned at him. "Yup. Hey, you can go in my house, huh? Cuz I invited you in that night?"
He nodded, looking around the room that was mostly identical to his own. "They give queen sized beds for one person. I like it here."
"Me, too. It's so cool."
He trotted around, sniffing and examining things. "Last person in this room liked bananas a lot."
She gave him a weird look. "Bananas?"
"I can smell 'em." Sniffed at the bed. "Oh. My mistake. I think it was some sort of perfume. Smells like bananas, though." He cocked his head. "Who would want to smell like fruit?"
She laughed. "I was thinking the same thing!" She stuck out a wrist. "Does this offend your senses?"
He sniffed at her. "AB positive? Or your perfume?"
"P-perfume."
He chuckled. "I won't bite, Madison. I promise. And I like your perfume." He sat on the bed. "But I do have to keep my image up, though. I am a big, tough, scary vampire."
"Of course. Grrr... Very bumpy and fangy."
Straightened up. "Yeah. I'm dangerous. And scary. And.. and.. Gimme something else."
"Big. Mean."
He gave what was supposed to be an intimidating grin. Nuh-uh. "Yeah. And tough. And fearless. And totally without weaknesses." Grinned at himself. "Yep. That's me."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Except for a fifteen year old girl, who by all accounts has you whipped and wrapped."
"I was talkin' physical weaknesses. Dawn doesn't count. Besides, no one but you, Dawn herself, and Buffy know just how bad that particular vice is."
She smiled. "And how is Oblivious Buffy?"
Snort, followed by a depressed sounding sigh. "Well.. She kissed me a couple of days ago. And now she's avoiding/ignoring me all the time."
Her eyes got wide. "No way. She KISSED you?" Plopped down on the bed in front of him. "Spill."
"I don't want to talk about it."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Then you shouldn't have brought it up. I wanna know."
"I don't want to tell you. Now. Maybe later." He laid back, letting this bed cushion his sore back as his had done earlier.
She pouted. "Why not?"
"Cause. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do about it yet. Once I have a plan, then I can tell you. Shouldn't take long." He closed his eyes in an extended blink. Sighed. Change subject. "You never told me if you liked the movie."
"I liked it. Loved it. Scared me shitless, and I walked home with the stake in my hand the whole time. It's my birthday today. Does she kiss well?"
"I said I wasn't talking about this." He rolled over onto his stomach. "I pay attention. You can't trick me into telling you."
Her bottom lip was pouting. "Fine. But I'm mad that you didn't call and tell me when it happened."
"I was... in shock for want of a better term. And I DID call you that night! You never picked up."
"I was at my dad's! And you didn't even leave a message!"
"I was supposed to leave a message? And say what?" He held an imaginary phone up to his ear. "Hi. This is Madison's friend Spike." Snorted. "Actually, I called three times. And the third time, your mum picked up. I just hung up. I had no clue what to say."
"Try, "Hello." It might be odd for a British boy, but most people in America start conversations like that. My mom's cool."
He chuckled. "Oh? And what did you tell her about me? And, depending on the details involved, how long was she in the hospital?"
"Um... You're a guy who saved me from a rapist, and walked me home. Really nice, has extensive experience in the paranormal."
"Make me sound like a ghostbuster."
She grinned. "Mom, a vampire saved me from a green demon after he decided to not eat me. His name's Spike. Like that better?"
He laughed. "Ok. Your's is less likely to involve the calling of an ambulance. And easier to believe." He yawned, showing fangs.
Her eyes got wide, but she watched him, unafraid.
He shook it off. "Sorry. That happens sometimes."
She shrugged. "No big. It looks comfy. Ya know, cuz your mouth never feels big enough to yawn."
He chuckled. "Yeah, but I wish I could do it without doing an impression of a saber-toothed tiger."
Madison just shrugged it off, getting the feeling that she'd be doing that a lot to be able to accept all the things she was going to learn. "So! How should I celebrate tonight?"
"Celebrating? I don't know." He glanced around the room, not really wanting to get off the bed. "Watch a movie?"
She nodded. "Sure. Turn it on. I'm gonna put my clothes up."
He found the remote and flipped the bigscreen tv that came with the room on. Flipping channels idly.
She began to hand her clothes in the closet, and her eyes lit up as she spotted a stack of boxes. "Anything good on?"
Annoyed snorting noise. "Reruns, reruns, and more reruns."
Slyly, "Wanna play a game?"
"Not Twenty Questions. I hate Twenty Questions."
She gave him a weird look. "I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of things I'm just not gonna ask about. Wanna play Twister?"
He sat up slightly. "What's that? Somethin' about tornados?"
"Nooooo a game! Twister."
He rolled onto his stomach again, watching her. "How do you play?"
She began spreading the plastic mat on the floor. "We flick the little spinny thing, and if it says left hand yellow, you have to put your left hand on yellow. The point of the game is to not fall down."
He chuckled and turned off the tv, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I've got cat-like reflexes, Madison. It wouldn't be fair to you."
She grinned at him. "I was in gymnastics for ten years. Are you sure it's fair to YOU?"
He snorted. "If I didn't think it a morbid expression, I'd tell you to eat my dust."
She grinned. "You're on. Oh! Wait!" She picked up a pair of clothes. "I wanna change first. Loose clothes are the WORST for this game."
He looked down at his tee shirt and jeans. "These okay?"
She shrugged. "I'd wear a tighter shirt, so you're not getting caught in your clothes and can see all the dots."
He nodded and started to walk to the door. "Uh, what about shoes? Won't they mess up the mat?"
"Barefeet!", she called to him from inside her closet.
A few moments later, he came back and knocked on the door, wearing the tight red shirt that Dawn had 'forced' him into at Wal-mart. Knocked. Again.
She answered in a shiny teal skintight tank top and black pants. Grinned. "Ready to have your undead ass kicked?"
He gave a growl that was undeniably playful. "In your dreams."
"Don't flatter yourself."
He chuckled as he followed her inside and shut the door behind him. "But I'm so good at it."
She smiled. "Which means I need to take you down a peg. By killing you at this."
Bored yawn.
She pointed to the mat. "Get ready."
He stood next to it. "Like this?"
"Yup." She flicked the spinner. "Right hand green." And so the game proceeded. By the time she heard the girl calling, Madison was stretched out in a split, one hand between Spike's legs, and the other between his two hands. His chin kept messing up her hair, and he had mussed his by at one time ducking his head under her arm.
He turned his head slightly, looking at her as best he could without throwing himself off balance. "Someone calling me, I think."
She nodded, and stood. "Better go check. I think it was a tie anyway." While he went to the door, she packed the game up.
Spike opened the door, and had to keep himself from laughing. Dawn had her back to him, knocking on the door to the room he SHOULD have been in. Pounded again. "Spike?"
"Behind you, Bit."
She spun quickly, to see him leaning against the doorjamb, and his other hand bracing on the other side. Wearing dark jeans, and the tight red shirt. And barefoot. And all... tousled and sexy looking. "Hey."
He chuckled. "Hey, Bit. You'll never guess who's here."
Madison came to the door, not being able to get around him, so she laced one hand around his waist, and leaned up on his shoulder, peering over it. "Who's here?"
Dawn's gaze went very cool. This dark haired girl with green eyes, and a tight, hoey teal tank top, as tousled and barefoot as Spike was all up on him. Well. Now that she knew who he was trying to look sexy for... Tight grin. "Sorry. Wanted to see if you wanted to go swimming. But, I guess you're already getting your daily requirement for exercise."
"Huh?" He cocked his head. Then his eyes went wide and he coughed to hide a laugh. "Dawn. It's.. She's.. This is my friend Madison. She's in town visitin' relatives and she wound up in the room across from mine. We were playing a game."
Another eyebrow arch. "I bet." Gave the girl a cool smile. As real as cheap polyester. "Hi."
Madison gave her a huge grin, not removing herself from Spike's back. "Hi! It's so cool to finally meet you. Spike says a lot of nice things about you."
Thinly veiled disinterest. "Mm. Cool. Well. I'm gonna go swimming now. Bye, Madison. It was sure something to meet you."
Spike pulled away from Madison to put a hand on Dawn's arm. "Bit. Wait. You've got the wrong idea." He turned to Madison. "Can she come in for awhile? I think I really need to sort this out."
Dawn just looked at him. Her face was blank. For the first time ever, absolutely no emotion was on her face. Just stared at his hand on her arm.
Madison gave a bigger smile, trying to make things less tense. "Of course."
Spike locked eyes with Dawn. "Please, Bit? Just for awhile. If you decide you hate me, I'll never bother you again."
She let emotion crack through, and it was irritation. "I can't hate you," she snarked at him. "Irritated, of course." Sighed. "Fine."
He gave her a hopeful grin, and lead her back into the room.
Dawn entered the room, allowing Spike to drag her behind him. She was so pissed at him. Not even... Wow. Her room was pretty, too. She was walking in, staring at the furnishings, then winced and yelped. "Owwwwwch!"
"What? What?" Spike looked at Dawn with a frantic look. Whatever touched her was going to be loads of dead.
She jerked her stockinged foot back up off whatever it was that bit her. Pouted at the hole in her foot. Damnit. She was bleeding. Looked down at it. A Twister Spinner. The old ones with the metal spoke instead of the new plastic ones.
Spike resisted the urge to carry her into the bathroom and check for any further injuries. The scent of her blood was making him nervous. He hated it when his Bit was hurt.
She was bleeding on her extremely cute, extremely new rhino socks. She glared at the spinner, cursed it in her head, but it was starting to hurt. She looked up at Spike with big watery eyes.
Madison watched the scene in silence. Felt like a VERY poor host. The girl was going to hate her forever now.
He glanced at Madison. "Bandaids. Fast. Please." Then at Dawn. "You're ok, Bit.. Don't cry. It's not that bad."
Madison went into the bathroom, praying for some to be stocked.
Dawn's bottom lip started to shake. Seeing her own blood had creeped her out since she had cut herself. And it really hurt.
That did it. Spike scooped her up and carried her to the bed, holding her tight in his lap. He pulled her injured foot up and pressed some kleenexs to the small wound, all the while murmuring to her that it would be ok. She was fine. He purred to her. Her purr. Family. Rested his chin on the top of her head.
She was trying not to cry. Just for him. She pushed his hand away gently and peeled off her sock, whimpered when some of the fabric was pulled out of the hole. She turned her face into his chest, wincing.
Madison came out, holding a white first aid kit. God bless the Ritz.
Spike gave Madison a grateful smile and took the kit with the hand that wasn't occupied with holding Dawn. He nuzzled her with his chin and continued the purr as he carefully put some antiseptic on the small wound.
She jerked her foot back a few centimeters. Spike knew it would probably hurt to walk for a day or two. The spinner spoke was almost half an inch high off the rest of the spinner, and it had hit the arch of her foot.
He continued to purr to her, interspersing it with whispered words of comfort, as he slowly put a bandage on the wound, then wrapped an ace bandage around it to ensure that it would not come off. He continued to hold her tightly, even after he was done bandaging. "I'm so sorry, Bit. I'm sorry."
Madison touched a piece of Dawn's hair lightly. "Can I do anything?" She felt awful. She should have been more careful than that.
Dawn kept her eyes closed, against the sight of her own blood, shook her head, then said, "Can you go just toss my sock in your sink, and turn on the cold water? I'll get it later. I just don't want it to stain."
Madison nodded with an understanding grin and went to soak her sock. Madison decided to do the sock herself. She was sure Dawn's blood wasn't dangerous, and, more over to give them a minute.
While she was gone, Dawn moved closer to Spike. "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, it was. I should have been watching where you were going."
Dawn gave him an almost grin. "Do you know how silly that sounds?"
He offered a tentative smile. "It did make more sense before I actually said it."
She butted her head gently under his chin. "Sorry for crying."
"Not your fault. Like me vamping when I'm hurt. It's a reflex. I don't mind, anyway. Just... kind of scared me, that's all."
She nodded. "Didn't mean to." She flexed her toes, now the only part of her foot visible from the ace bandage.
He held her to him, wondering where the irrational thought that she was going to die from a game piece had come from anyway. "S'ok, Bit. Really. I guess you believe us now, huh?"
She gave a rueful grin. "Hard not to when the game pieces attack you." She frowned at her foot. "That bled a LOT for such a tiny hole."
"Got a lot of veins in the feet, Bit. Several spots where the veins are close to the surface. Must have hit one."
She shrugged. "I'm just afraid to bleed now. Like... I'm gonna open a portal to hell if I cut my finger on a tuna can, ya know?"
He gave a half chuckle, and disentangled himself from her to crouch on the floor next to the bed, looking under it. "Well... I don't see any portals here. Hang on, there's something back there...."
She laughed, situated herself so she was hanging over the bed, upside down, looking under it. "Spike. It's the Ritz Carlton. They don't PUT stuff under the bed."
He now had most of his upper body under the bed. "I know that. But I see *something* and now I want to know what it is."
Madison came back out, certain Dawn's sock would be spotless. Was struck with the image of Spike's butt in the air, and Dawn's long hair pooling on the floor as she looked under the bed from her spot atop it. "Um... Guys? What's up?"
*THUNK* "OW! Damnit!" Spike tried to pull out from under the bed, but now his shirt was stuck to the box springs. "Bloody shit!"
Dawn laughed, then squirmed off the bed, went under it . "What's up?"
Spike's shirt was flipped back up over his head. He had two obvious choices. One, stay under the bed until he could untangle himself from the springs, or two, pull out of his shirt. The second option wouldn't be easy, because of the tightness of the shirt. "What does it look like? I hit my head and I'm STUCK!"
She stifled a laugh, because he had been so nice to her. Started to work at untangling him. Madison was out right laughing. A couple minutes later, Dawn pulled out, huffing a frustrated sigh. Gave Madison a hopeful look. "Wanna help me untangle him?"
Spike was still sputtering and cursing, mixed with growls from beneath the bed.
She grinned at Dawn. "Sure." Both girls went under the bed on opposite sides of him, tugging at his shirt gently. Madison grinned at Spike. "Puttin on the Ritz has a whole new meaning now."
He tried not to laugh. Unsuccessfully. Then, "This is not funny. I can't even move! I'm bleedin' trapped! AND! My sides are getting cold with this stupid shirt flipped up and twisted."
Dawn snorted a giggle. "What were you looking at anyway?"
"That." He motioned toward a cable plug at the head of the bed. "Looked a lot more interesting before I figured out what it was."
She laughed again, and finally worked her side of his shirt free of the evil boxsprings. Began helping Madison with hers.
"Gently, please. I'm a delicate creature."
Madison sighed, tugging with Dawn on it. "This is NOT the way I planned to spend my birthday, and why do I not believe you??"
"It's your birthday, huh? How old?"
"Twenty."
Dawn nodded. "Cool."
"Hello? I'm still stuck, here."
They both shushed him, working while they talked. "Spike says you've got him wrapped."
Dawn grinned. "Yeah, well, sometimes I get scared that it might be a two- way street. I almost didn't wear a halter top cause he didn't want me to."
Madison expressed her understanding. "But you wore it?"
"Oh yeah. Went with the red skirt."
The stuck vampire growled quietly.
Dawn grinned. "Not really scary with your shirt tangled in the boxsprings."
Madison smirked. "Oooh. Big scary vampire man. Run for the hills. Be afraid. Be terrified. Just be."
He turned his head to look at her. "I am scary. And if I weren't stuck, I'd... I don't know what I'd do, but you wouldn't like it."
She snorted. "Oh yeah. Quaking in my... uh... bare feet."
He growled again. "You should be. Besides, neither of you could stop me if I decided to eat you."
Dawn frowned, tapped his head. "Don't talk like that."
Snort. "Sorry. I guess being stuck to a bed doesn't agree with me." He twitched around a little, rubbing his back on the underside of the box springs. "Makes a good back scratcher, though."
Madison laughed, then crowed in triumph. "Don't get used to it, cuz you're free now."
He backed slowly out from under the bed, pressing himself to the floor to avoid being caught again. Sat on the floor, examining his shirt. "Did it rip?"
Dawn shook her head. "Not if it knows what's good for it."
He was craning his head around, trying to look at the back of his shirt, and doing a passable impression of an owl in the process. "Damn it. There are times I really miss my reflection."
Madison ran a hand down the back of his shirt. "No cuts."
He grinned. "Ok. Good. It survived." Whispered, loud enough that Dawn could hear. "I know she'd kill me if I ripped it. She picked it out."
Dawn grinned, patted his head. "Yes I would have. Right after I cried some more."
He gave her the patented 'whipped puppy look', and laid on his back on the carpeted floor. "How do they make a carpet that's more comfortable than the bed on the Ohana?"
Dawn laughed. "I have no idea, but I think I'm getting to like the couch I sleep on. I'm pretty attached to it."
Madison smiled. "Is the Ohana your RV?"
They both nodded.
"Cool. What's it mean?"
Spike looked at Dawn. "It was your idea, Bit. You tell her."
"Ohana is Hawaiian for family." She smiled and shrugged elegantly. "Family means no one gets left behind. That's all."
Madison nodded. "That's so cool. Spike said you guys have got a pretty close knit group."
With a laughing smirk, she answered, "Yeah... you could say that."
Spike chuckled. "They are extremely close. That's why I stay in back most days. Keeps me away from the occasional outbreaks of mushy stuff."
Dawn made a pouty face at him. "You just don't want Xander or Giles to ever touch you."
He shuddered. "Only you. And occasionally Buffy, unless she's gonna hit me. Then that's a no." Cocked his head. "Well, I guess I'm ok with the Wicca's too."
Dawn snorted. "Cuz they're lesbians."
Madison choked on a laugh.
Spike snorted. "It's because they are nice to me, Bit."
She nodded. "Nice lesbians. Who needs more for a sick-guy fantasy?"
His eyes got wide, and he made a very strange face. A look that it would probably be impossible to make on purpose. "Bloody hell... Dawn! For Harris, maybe." Shook his head hard to get rid of *that* mental image. "I should just go back under the bed."
"Prolly safer than the bathroom of the Ohana."
"Especially when Harris and Demon girl get going.." He shuddered again, and made to crawl back under the bed.
Dawn fisted her hand in the material of his shirt, preventing him from escaping. "Uber-eww. I just meant when I was barracading in there."
Madison watched them with a smile.
Spike tugged, not half as hard as he could. "Leggo, Bit."
"Nuh-uh."
He rolled sideways, thankful for the large expanse of floor, taking her with him. But he had no clue how she wound up straddling his back with him laying on his stomach, and the bafflement showed plainly on his face.
She wiggled excitedly. "Buffy's been giving me lessons."
Madison was laughing now.
He just lay there, still shocked that the Slayer's LITTLE SISTER had effectively pinned him, and he shot a glare at Madison for laughing at him. "Get off, Bit. I can't move. This is not fair."
She moved off with a delighted laugh. "I did it!"
He 'grrrr'ed, and pounced at her. Only to wind up on the bottom again. This time with her sitting on his abs. "What the..?"
Smug smile. "I'm the Slayer's sister. I'm tough. Even though I'm a big baby."
He sighed. "Might as well stay up there. Keeping me warm." Looked at Madison upside down. "What's so funny?"
Madison shrugged. "She totally has you pinned, and she's sixteen. I'm twenty, and I just cried and cowered." She smiled at Dawn. "That's really cool."
"I can get her off if I want to. And I wasn't actually attacking her."
The girls ignored him as Dawn said, "In all fairness, I've known about demons for four years. I've had a lot of time and experience to learn how to take care of myself. My sister makes me train with her sometimes, so I'll be ok by myself on patrol."
Madison gave her a confused look. "You... patrol?"
"She most certainly does NOT!" The venom of that remark was slightly negated by the fact that Spike was still on his back, pinned by the very person in question.
"Eh... Not yet, but soon enough. Buffy and Giles think it's a good idea that I learn, in case she gets sick or anything. But... it's... scouting for demons, and vamps, and things that go bump in the night, and killing them."
"You are ignoring me."
"Basically." Looked at Madison. "Any other questions?"
Madison said with a small laugh, "None I want answered."
Spike snorted. "No one cares about me." Faked sniff.
Dawn smiled at him. "I do, but you're not agreeing with me. I wanna patrol, and you'll probably yell at them for letting me."
"Are you really in that big of a rush to get killed, Bit?"
She glared down at him. "I'm strong and I'm good."
He sighed. "I know... I just.. Nevermind." Turned his head to the side. Only thing he could do, since he couldn't move at the moment. He shifted and looked back up at her. "Do you want to show Madison anything that you've learned about vamps? Since you've got a trapped test subject."
She grinned. "What can we show her without security coming in?"
"Very funny." He cocked his head. "I dunno. What was that book you and the Watcher were looking in the other day? That you thought was so funny."
She smiled. "It was called inventive attacks and staking methods."
He snorted at her. "Ok. Not that. Think of something else. You've already got me pinned, so inventive attacks have been covered."
She smiled. "Pin me and I'll get out."
He grinned. "In your dreams. Get off me first."
She stood, extended him a hand.
Madison moved to the bed to give them floor room.
Spike stood, and backed a couple of paces away, thinking. Then launched himself at Dawn, pinning her on her back quickly.
Dawn sat up, reversing the positions, but couldn't get her hands free right away. As he went in to pretend to bite her neck, she leaned to the opposite side, ramming her shoulder upwards. And hitting him square in the nose. "OW!" He sat rather unceremoniously on his butt, legs spread, rubbing at his nose.
She planted one fist over his heart. "Stake in, stake out, I win." Frowned concernedly at him. "Sorry."
He continued rubbing his nose, slightly surprised when his hand came away bloody. "Ok, I take back everything I've said. You *are* ready to patrol."
She rose quickly to retrieve the first aid kit, pulled out a tiny pack of tissues, held one to his nose. "I'm so sorry."
Madison was impressed. This girl just took out a vampire. She smiled. And now she was fixing what she had broken. Madison liked her.
Dawn was biting her bottom lip, holding a new tissue to his nose, making sure no blood got on him. "I'm really really really sorry."
Spike grinned at Dawn, taking the tissue from her. "I'm fine, Bit. Really. Doesn't even hurt much anymore." He used his other hand to cup her cheek. "I love you. And I'm proud of you. You just effectively did what your sister's been trying to do for years."
She frowned, confused, but tipped her head in his hand. "Give you a bloody nose?"
"You staked me. Imaginary stake, though it was. That's what she's been trying to do." He gave a chuckle. "She's given me *plenty* of bloody and broken noses over the years. Believe me."
Dawn grinned. "You and Buffy don't kill eachother for the same reasons. You guys like having equals in firepower, and it'd suck to have no one to play with."
He laughed, then winced and held the tissue to his nose again. "Good point. Both of them. But I doubt your sister is *playing* with me. Ever."
Dawn shrugged. "Whatever lets you sleep easier at night."
Madison smiled at them. Then glanced at the clock. "Ooh. Guys, I'm sorry. I really like having you here, but... I have to be at my uncle's in less than an hour, and I need to get ready."
Spike glanced up, shocked at the amount of time that had passed. He stood, helping Dawn to her feet. "Ok. We'll go. We're gonna be here for a couple more days, though. So, if you need anything, just knock. I'm right across the hall." He chuckled. "I don't know why, but I've always wanted to say that."
Dawn smiled at him, then Madison. Limped slightly to the door. "It was really nice meeting you, Madison. I'm in room 443, if you wanna talk, ever."
Madison smiled and nodded.
"Have fun at your uncle's!"
Madison rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, him and his three brats. The fun." She shut the door behind them.
Dawn began to limp towards the stairwell.
Spike shut the door after saying his goodnights to Madison, then followed Dawn, scooping her into his arms quickly. "You are not walking all the way down those stairs." Headed for the elevator.
She smiled at him sheepishly. "I took the stairs here because I couldn't find the elevator."
"Well, I had a hard time finding it too, but then I found it. The problem is, the doors look just like any other door. If I hadn't seen the buttons." He pressed the down button as if to prove his point. "I would have still missed it."
She nodded. "I feel dumb. I'm all injured and stuff." Dawn shrugged. "She's... nice."
He grinned. "See? What'd I tell you?" Stepped into the elevator when it came. Pressed the fourth floor button.
Dawn looked at the elevator guy with more than a little trepidation. The hat creeped her out. She squirmed closer to Spike.
They got out on Dawn's floor, and Spike carried her to her room. "Got the key?"
"I need down."
He set her gently on her uninjured foot, a hand staying on her shoulder to steady her.
She stood on one foot, dug in her pocket, and produced her key. Slid it in, and opened her door. "Come on in," she told him as she hopped to a table.
He walked in, grinning at her. "Got anything you need my help with, Bit?"
She sighed. "Can you dig me out a pair of jamma's, and my blue slide on sandals?"
He nodded, and went over to her bag. Found the items, and brought them to her with a triumphant grin.
She grinned. "Thanks. It's so cool to have a room to myself."
He chuckled. "Yeah. How *did* you talk Buffy into letting you out of her sight, anyway?"
She smiled serenely. "Told her how much fun it was going to be to stay up all night all two days."
"And she wasn't too inclined to agree with you?"
"Nope. I think that her sleep-cycle is overrated. But, it got me my own room, so... Whatever."
He laughed. "Want me to leave you alone, now?"
She nodded. "I'm gonna go to bed early, tonight. Do you think I could swim with my foot like that?"
He cocked his head at it. "Hmm. Try a bath first. Then we'll see."
She nodded. "Night, Spike. Thanks for taking care of me."
"Always my pleasure, Bit." He walked to the door, opened it, turned back around. "Love you."
Big smile. "Love you, too."
He smiled and shut the door behind him. Despite the fact that the last two days had been... well, nerve-wracking, annoying, frustrating, and several other choice words, this afternoon and evening had made up for it. Also, knowing that both Dawn AND Madison were there if he needed them gave him a pervading sense of calm. He wasn't tired, so he decided to explore the hotel.
-=======================================================
Buffy swam in a lazy circle on her back in the pool. It was warm. Beautifully tiled across the bottom, and warm. She had seen it, and ran for her bikini. It was sky blue, with silver woven into it, giving it a shimmering appearance. She loved the calm of swimming. All the outside noise was cut out by the muffling water.
Spike had wandered around the hotel for about an hour before coming upon the HUGE indoor pool. Curious, he walked into the pool room, and found Buffy... Buffy in a bikini...Buffy swimming in a bikini... And all ability to form coherent thoughts just flew out the window.
She sighed, knowing she had been in there forever, and she should go check on Dawn. She had been talking herself into it for the last half hour. She finally decided to move. She stood, walking up a nearby set of stairs, water streaming off her like rivers.
There was an audible thump when Spike bumped into a large planter that was near the edge of the pool. Well, actually, he nearly sat on it.
The noise drew her attention, and she saw Spike. And that he was pleased to see her. She turned her eyes to his, and began to walk slowly towards him, slightly exaggerating the movement of her hips.
The vampire swallowed hard, and started to back up, unsure of her intent, but was stopped by that damn planter again.
Soon enough, she was standing in front of him. Her lips were parted, and she tossed her dripping hair over her shoulder. Ran a hand from her throat, over her torso, to cover the shiny blue material of her bikini bottom.
Being male, he could not stop his eyes from following choice droplets as they coursed down her body. He started to say something. Licked his lips, tried again. Still nothing.
Buffy moved her hand from her bikini, tilted her head, and let her fingers touch a few of his choice droplets.
Voice. Must find it. *Squeak*. Nope. That wasn't it. Try again. "...Buffy... Uh..." Well. Not much better than the squeak. But it was a start.
She lifted her hand from where it had been playing along the top of her bikini, she smoothed her now wet fingers across his lips.
He swallowed again. Stared at her ches- Face. Stared at her face. Bad Spike. Very bad Spike.
One of her fingers petted at his bottom lip till it opened, teased the inside seam of it with her still wet finger.
Ok. Control is a good thing. Why was she ignoring me before now? And now, all of the sudden she's... Oops. There went coherent thoughts again. Out to lunch.
She stepped closer to him, legs spread so that one was between his, the other on the outside of his left leg. Lifted her knee slowly, and not in a pain-causing manner. Rubbed softly. Scraped a finger down the front of his shirt.
And he nearly fell over backwards. Ok. Explanation. Uh, I'm dreaming. I went to sleep in the elevator... That is stupid.. And this is most definitely *not* a dream... and.. what was I thinking again? What a pretty color blue the bikin- Water. The pool water. Oh, hang in there Spike. Please.
Buffy took in his 'deer-in-headlights' look, and leaned closer, her lips less than an inch from his.
He wanted to kiss her. God, did he ever want to kiss her. But.. Should he? What should... Oh, who cares? He leaned toward her.
She waited. Waited till his lips touched hers, parted them, and when he went in for the kill... She placed a hand to the middle of his chest, and shoved. A physical representation of Drowning in DeNile.
Spike hit the pool with a resounding SPLASH! And came up sputtering and coughing. "Slayer!" He doggy paddled over to the edge, where Buffy was doubled over, laughing at him. "That was *not* civil!"
He heard her mutter something about 'Not just for Egypt anymore' between her laughing bouts.
That did it. He reached the edge of the pool, and made as if to climb out. Instead, he grabbed one of the Slayer's legs and chucked her over his shoulder into the water.
She landed with a splash and a scream.
Now he was laughing. Leaning against the pool wall with one arm up on the side.
She came up quickly, tossing her head back to move her hair from her face. Looked indignantly at him. She was loosing her bikini bottom at one hip.
He tried to curb the chuckling. 'Tried' being the operative word. "You started it," he said around a snort.
She smiled sweetly. "Just helping you cool off. Looked like you could use a cold shower."
"Ha ha. Very funny." He splashed water at her. "Then why are you the one taking one?"
"I was ambushed." Her bikini sparkled when it was wet, and she loved it. Whoah. Back on track. She had zoned for a minute, but the material WAS really cool.
Spike, in the time that Buffy'd been studying herself, had ducked silently underwater, making sure that there was no air in his lungs that might keep him from doing what he'd intended. He swam up underneath her, humming the 'Jaws' theme in his head. Wait for the moment that she realized that he'd disappeared.
She looked around. Ok. No Spike. Not a cool thing.
A hand grabbed her ankle. Giving her just enough time to draw in a breath before she was pulled under. And Spike was already swimming circles at the bottom of the pool again. This was fun.
She sputtered to the top again. Looked around anxiously. Not funny. She saw him swimming at the bottom, took a breath, and dived after him.
He saw her coming and his eyes got wide, he swam for the deep end of the pool, hugging the bottom. But his clothes slowed him down a bit.
She followed closely after him, but she needed air. Drowning was not a favorite thing of hers. She heaved in a few breathes the second she hit the top.
He saw her surfacing, and followed, popping up behind her silently. Treaded water there.
Ok... Breathing is key, Buffy, she told herself. Took a few more unnecessary but calming breaths, and treaded water a moment, preparing to dive again.
He tapped her on the shoulder. "Boo."
She spun with a ready punch.
He quickly swam backwards. "Whoa, easy, luv. I was just playing with you. Besides, I've already had a bloody nose from one Summers this evening."
She didn't know why she did, but she was glad Dawn had pegged him. "Water games, not of the good."
"Says the woman who pushes people into pools then laughs at them. Look at my clothes! I'm soaked!"
She gave a small grin at her accomplishment. "Pushing and tossing are different than pulling under."
He ducked his head, nearly getting a nose full of pool water in the process. "Sorry. You're right. I just.. I like playing shark." He ducked underwater and swam a circle around her then popped back up. "One time, I went to sleep in a pool, and woke up at the coroner's."
She burst out laughing. "You're kidding me?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Nearly gave an intern a heart attack when I sat up. He had a scalpel poised right over my stomach, too. We scared each other right proper."
She gave him a grin and started to swim back to more shallow water. "I'll bet he didn't eat you, though."
"No. Nor I him, for your information." He followed her and sat on a stair that put his upper body mostly out of the water, and his lower body totally submerged. He absently began taking off his shoes. They were weighing him down, anyway.
She sat cross-legged, up to her chin in water. "That was nice of you."
"Not really. He scared me so bad, it was all I could do to think of finding my clothes and getting out of there." He cocked his head as he put his shoes and soaked socks on the pool's edge. "I wonder how in the hell I slept through the ambulance ride in a body bag, though."
She shrugged. "No idea."
He held the top stair, allowing his legs to float up, leaning his head back with eyes closed. "Warm water." Yawn.
She nodded. "Very. I've been talking myself into getting out and checking on Dawn for over an hour."
"If it helps, when I left her, she was okay. Gonna take a nap, I think."
"When did you see her?"
He yawned again. Ok. Only what she needs to know, here. "She came up to my room for awhile. We messed around a bit. I got stuck under the bed. Then I walked her back downstairs."
She smiled. "Thanks."
He grinned at her, then stripped off his shirt, wringing it a little. "This thing is not worth all the trouble I took to steal it. Gets caught on bedsprings, and then soaked."
She started backfloating again, spreading her arms on either side of her. "But it's a cool color."
"Yeah, yeah." He climbed up and stretched out on the long top step, letting his legs float. "So I'm guessing you've decided against getting out just yet?"
"Mmm... If I fall asleep in here, I'll drown, huh? That would suck again."
He chuckled. "No. You'd float. It's only if you rolled over that you'd be in trouble."
She smiled. "Ok. I'm sleeping in here."
He laughed. "You know what? I think I'm gonna wind up joining you." Chuckled. "Talk about your water beds."
Small laugh, stirred herself in a circle. "I won't really, though. I need to check on Dawn and Giles."
"Your Watcher can't take care of himself?"
She gave him a look. "Just wanna see if he needs company or anything."
"Ah." Yawn. "Well. I'm gonna stay as long as you do. It gets lon- Boring. You know. Me, up in my room all alone."
She nodded. "I think I'll hang out in Giles' room. He'll share. Or I could hang with Dawn, and you could keep Giles company."
Snort. "I really do not want to spend anymore time than I have to with the Watcher. He chains me to stuff. Tightly. It hurts. Why don't I stay with Dawn, and you with your Watcher."
She shrugged. "He won't chain you to stuff now, as far as he's concerned you have a chip. But if you want to, that's fine." She didn't look at him as she said, "We can both stay at Giles. I mean, no big, right?"
No answer. He just cocked his head at her. Then, "Answer me one thing. Are you suggesting this out of any type of feeling for me? Like not wanting me to be lonely or something like that?"
She lost the relaxation necessary for buoyancy. She stood and faced where he was laying. "We're... friends."
He sat up half way. "What does 'friends' mean to you, anyway? You don't have to answer. If you don't want to."
She shrugged, started walking to the steps, the water streaming off of her making her shiver. "It means I look out for you."
He stood quickly, getting out of her way and also bringing her a towel. "You do?"
She wrapped it around herself immediately, trying to seal her heat in. "That's what it means to me, so that's what I do."
She obviously thought he'd push it. The 'you wanna make somethin' of it?' tone was in her reply. He would suprise her. "Thank you." Picked up his shirt, socks and shoes, and began walking toward the door.
"Yeah. No big." That was what she stressed to herself. What big? There was no big. "So... I'll change, see you at Giles?"
He paused. Turned around with a sheepish look. "You'll have to tell me the room number, first."
"Ummm 448."
He nodded. "Ok. So.. Should I bring anything? Like.. food or clothes?" Gave a half embarrassed duck of his head. "I've never really done this before."
She shrugged. "Just... come. We stockpiled the food there. I'm just gonna watch TV and sleep in there."
He grinned. "Alright. Oh, and Slayer?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For inviting me. For trying this... friend thing. If it helps.. I'm kind of confused about it too. Oh, and you should know something."
WAY too much sharing. He was making it a big. "What?"
"You are an incredible kisser." The door shut behind him.
She ignored the fact that he was sitting on the floor by the booth, staring at her. She didn't notice a thing. Oooh. Horoscopes were on the next page. She skipped over them. Oooh. 'When You Run Out of Bottled Water on the Beach.' Stimulating article. Stimulating. It had to be. Because across the expanse of the floor was temptation. And temptation was bad. Very. And Buffy was a firm believer in that if you ignored temptation, you can eventually swim in DeNile with it, and make it drown.
Spike let out a loud sigh. Two days. It had been two days since that mind- blowing night at the dance club. When he closed his eyes it was almost like being there again, the memory was so vivid. He shifted slightly, stretching his legs a little. She wasn't... ignoring him. It was more like.. avoiding without being obvious about it. Which, when it came right down to it, was just as bad. He sighed again.
Her eyes lifted, but her head did not, from the magazine, and she wanted to scream. He WOULD sit like that, legs spread at her, lounging. Bastard. Eyes riveted back on her magazine. She was suddenly craving the bottle of water on the page. She shifted uncomfortably. No problem. Drown! Drown already!!!!
Uh huh. Yeah. This was fun. Spike shifted again. They had crossed yet another state line and were now in Ohio, and in the process of looking for a hotel. Not just any hotel, though. This had to be a good one. Really good. Expensive good.
Spike glanced up at the window, wishing he could help the others look out. But.. sunlight. Sunlight equals ow. So no looking out the window for him. Just staring at... Well, Buffy. Wasn't that what he always stared at? But he wasn't making it obvious. Just looking at her, with his eyes mostly closed, head turned slightly in the wrong direction. Yeah. Nothing obvious about this. Good Spike.
He wasn't looking at her. Well, she wasn't looking at him either. Not... officially. She peeked over the magazine, taking in his long jean- clad legs, tapered hips and waist, got stuck on his abs for a few moments, up over his tightly black clad pecs, his neck, that scar. His fuller bottom lip and well-shaped upper lip made his mouth, that housed the tongue that- BAD BUFFY!!!! DROOOOOWNNN!!! DROWN! DROWN!!! Ok. Moved up over the bridge of his nose, and... directly into blue eyes that were staring back at her. Well, shit.
Oops. When did he open his eyes? Recover. Uh... Oh! He gave her a half grin. She was staring at him, too, after all. And, she probably thought she did it first. So. Safe. Still good Spike.
One quick blink, and her eyes snapped back to the Cosmo. Deliberately crossed her legs.
And there we go. Disaster averted and.. why did the RV stop?
Buffy looked up from her magazine and swiveled her body to look up at Giles. "We stopped."
Giles chuckled. "Yes. I noticed, seeing as how I'm driving. Look. I believe we've found our stop." He pointed out the front window.
She looked out, and her jaw dropped. The Ritz Carlton. Her eyes swung towards Giles. "Seriously."
He nodded. "Wherever our money is coming from hasn't stopped just because the threat from Glory is passed. I don't see any reason why not. What city are we in, anyway?"
"Cleveland," Dawn supplied from the passenger's seat.
Giles nodded. "Seems a good place to stop for a few days. I'm taking votes. All those who want to stop here and stay in the Ritz Carlton for two or three days, say aye."
Resounding shouts of compliance filled the Winnabago.
"Alright then, it's unanimous," Giles said with a chuckle. Let's find a parking place."
========================================================
Madison opened the door to her room. 515. Holy shit. She was at the Ritz Carlton. Her uncle, Joshua, had sent her a plane ticket to visit him for her twentieth birthday, and after one hour pleading with her parents, they had agreed to let her stay in a hotel, instead of the house with her uncle and his horridly obnoxious children. Her huge surprise had been when she had picked up her rental car, and seen where her hotel directions. She had pulled up and screamed. Her parents had paid for three full days at the Ritz Carlton. In Cleveland. For her birthday.
After a thorough inspection of the room, she began to unpack. A few minutes later she came across her cell phone. Considered it a moment, then picked it up, and dialed.
--- ========================================================================== =========
Spike was laying flat on his hotel bed. The thing was so soft. After riding on the floor of the Ohana all day, his back had a very annoying crick in it that the bed was rapidly getting rid of. He was startled when a high pitched ringing came from his bag. His cell phone.
After many complaints from Giles about him constantly using his phone to talk to Madison and running up the Watcher's phone bill, Giles had finally caved and got Spike his own phone. The very same phone that he was digging out of his bag at that moment. Ah. Found it. "Hello?"
Madison laughed into the phone, spinning in circles around the room. "Tell me I'm beautiful."
Spike grinned at her tone of voice. "You are beautiful. What's got you so worked up, ducks?"
She giggled. "Today's my birthday. I'm officially legal tender."
Spike made an excited sound. "Happy birthday, Madison! The big 2 0, huh?"
"Yes!!! And I'm not at home!! Guess!!! You'll never guess!"
"Then why don't you save me the trouble?"
She was now jumping on the bed. "In... THE Ritz Carlton." Loud squeal.
"You've got to be kidding. I'm in a Ritz Carlton too!" He snorted. "Ok. Now I'm getting slightly freaked out."
She laughed. "How cool. I'm in the one in Cleveland. I'm visiting my Uncle Josh."
He froze. Fishmouthed at the phone. "You're *where*?"
"Cleveland. Ritz Carlton, room 515, thanks so much."
"Tell me you're kidding."
She was puzzled and stared at the phone. "No... Honey, are you drunk or something? Is something wrong?" Maybe it was her phone. She shook it, then put it back to her ear.
She only caught the last of his sentence because of that. "...land. Room 516."
"No, Spike. 515. I'm in room 515."
"I know. I'm in room 516. Across the hall."
She sighed disgustedly. "Not funny."
"I am not kidding. I'm going to open my door. Do the same, if you would."
She had a very haughty expression as she opened the door, leaning against the jamb. Stared into his eyes. Gave him a once-over, then flung herself at him.
He dropped his phone in favor of embracing his friend. "I honestly thought you'd talked to someone else first and were joking with me!", he laughed as he hugged her.
She hit his shoulder as she hugged him. "I thought you were just being mean!! How are you?"
He chuckled. "Great, really." Pulled back slightly, eyeing the phone that was still in her hand. "Might want to hang these up now."
She laughed, and hit the disconnect button. "Those guys aren't too old for me, now."
He picked up his own phone, hanging it up and tossing it back into the room. He growled at her. Real growl, but high pitched. "Not if I have anything to say about it." Pounced toward her. She squealed and ran into her room. He paused outside the door, and leaned on the invisible barrier. "Looks like you're safe, Madison."
She looked back at him. Put her hand out towards the barrier, and her hand passed through it to touch him.
He chuckled. "A vampire literally can not enter if not personally invited. This is how we are kept out."
She kept putting her hand through the shield. "How neat." Frowned. "But not nice. Um... how do I invite you in?"
He shrugged. "Just say come in, or something to that effect. Gestures don't work. It has to be verbal."
She smiled at him. "Welcome! Come in! Hi! How ya doing? Make yourself comfy!"
He was thrown off balance by the sudden disappearance of the barrier, and stumbled into the room, nearly falling over. "Thanks. A simple 'come in' would've sufficed."
She grinned at him. "Yup. Hey, you can go in my house, huh? Cuz I invited you in that night?"
He nodded, looking around the room that was mostly identical to his own. "They give queen sized beds for one person. I like it here."
"Me, too. It's so cool."
He trotted around, sniffing and examining things. "Last person in this room liked bananas a lot."
She gave him a weird look. "Bananas?"
"I can smell 'em." Sniffed at the bed. "Oh. My mistake. I think it was some sort of perfume. Smells like bananas, though." He cocked his head. "Who would want to smell like fruit?"
She laughed. "I was thinking the same thing!" She stuck out a wrist. "Does this offend your senses?"
He sniffed at her. "AB positive? Or your perfume?"
"P-perfume."
He chuckled. "I won't bite, Madison. I promise. And I like your perfume." He sat on the bed. "But I do have to keep my image up, though. I am a big, tough, scary vampire."
"Of course. Grrr... Very bumpy and fangy."
Straightened up. "Yeah. I'm dangerous. And scary. And.. and.. Gimme something else."
"Big. Mean."
He gave what was supposed to be an intimidating grin. Nuh-uh. "Yeah. And tough. And fearless. And totally without weaknesses." Grinned at himself. "Yep. That's me."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Except for a fifteen year old girl, who by all accounts has you whipped and wrapped."
"I was talkin' physical weaknesses. Dawn doesn't count. Besides, no one but you, Dawn herself, and Buffy know just how bad that particular vice is."
She smiled. "And how is Oblivious Buffy?"
Snort, followed by a depressed sounding sigh. "Well.. She kissed me a couple of days ago. And now she's avoiding/ignoring me all the time."
Her eyes got wide. "No way. She KISSED you?" Plopped down on the bed in front of him. "Spill."
"I don't want to talk about it."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Then you shouldn't have brought it up. I wanna know."
"I don't want to tell you. Now. Maybe later." He laid back, letting this bed cushion his sore back as his had done earlier.
She pouted. "Why not?"
"Cause. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do about it yet. Once I have a plan, then I can tell you. Shouldn't take long." He closed his eyes in an extended blink. Sighed. Change subject. "You never told me if you liked the movie."
"I liked it. Loved it. Scared me shitless, and I walked home with the stake in my hand the whole time. It's my birthday today. Does she kiss well?"
"I said I wasn't talking about this." He rolled over onto his stomach. "I pay attention. You can't trick me into telling you."
Her bottom lip was pouting. "Fine. But I'm mad that you didn't call and tell me when it happened."
"I was... in shock for want of a better term. And I DID call you that night! You never picked up."
"I was at my dad's! And you didn't even leave a message!"
"I was supposed to leave a message? And say what?" He held an imaginary phone up to his ear. "Hi. This is Madison's friend Spike." Snorted. "Actually, I called three times. And the third time, your mum picked up. I just hung up. I had no clue what to say."
"Try, "Hello." It might be odd for a British boy, but most people in America start conversations like that. My mom's cool."
He chuckled. "Oh? And what did you tell her about me? And, depending on the details involved, how long was she in the hospital?"
"Um... You're a guy who saved me from a rapist, and walked me home. Really nice, has extensive experience in the paranormal."
"Make me sound like a ghostbuster."
She grinned. "Mom, a vampire saved me from a green demon after he decided to not eat me. His name's Spike. Like that better?"
He laughed. "Ok. Your's is less likely to involve the calling of an ambulance. And easier to believe." He yawned, showing fangs.
Her eyes got wide, but she watched him, unafraid.
He shook it off. "Sorry. That happens sometimes."
She shrugged. "No big. It looks comfy. Ya know, cuz your mouth never feels big enough to yawn."
He chuckled. "Yeah, but I wish I could do it without doing an impression of a saber-toothed tiger."
Madison just shrugged it off, getting the feeling that she'd be doing that a lot to be able to accept all the things she was going to learn. "So! How should I celebrate tonight?"
"Celebrating? I don't know." He glanced around the room, not really wanting to get off the bed. "Watch a movie?"
She nodded. "Sure. Turn it on. I'm gonna put my clothes up."
He found the remote and flipped the bigscreen tv that came with the room on. Flipping channels idly.
She began to hand her clothes in the closet, and her eyes lit up as she spotted a stack of boxes. "Anything good on?"
Annoyed snorting noise. "Reruns, reruns, and more reruns."
Slyly, "Wanna play a game?"
"Not Twenty Questions. I hate Twenty Questions."
She gave him a weird look. "I have a feeling there's gonna be a lot of things I'm just not gonna ask about. Wanna play Twister?"
He sat up slightly. "What's that? Somethin' about tornados?"
"Nooooo a game! Twister."
He rolled onto his stomach again, watching her. "How do you play?"
She began spreading the plastic mat on the floor. "We flick the little spinny thing, and if it says left hand yellow, you have to put your left hand on yellow. The point of the game is to not fall down."
He chuckled and turned off the tv, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I've got cat-like reflexes, Madison. It wouldn't be fair to you."
She grinned at him. "I was in gymnastics for ten years. Are you sure it's fair to YOU?"
He snorted. "If I didn't think it a morbid expression, I'd tell you to eat my dust."
She grinned. "You're on. Oh! Wait!" She picked up a pair of clothes. "I wanna change first. Loose clothes are the WORST for this game."
He looked down at his tee shirt and jeans. "These okay?"
She shrugged. "I'd wear a tighter shirt, so you're not getting caught in your clothes and can see all the dots."
He nodded and started to walk to the door. "Uh, what about shoes? Won't they mess up the mat?"
"Barefeet!", she called to him from inside her closet.
A few moments later, he came back and knocked on the door, wearing the tight red shirt that Dawn had 'forced' him into at Wal-mart. Knocked. Again.
She answered in a shiny teal skintight tank top and black pants. Grinned. "Ready to have your undead ass kicked?"
He gave a growl that was undeniably playful. "In your dreams."
"Don't flatter yourself."
He chuckled as he followed her inside and shut the door behind him. "But I'm so good at it."
She smiled. "Which means I need to take you down a peg. By killing you at this."
Bored yawn.
She pointed to the mat. "Get ready."
He stood next to it. "Like this?"
"Yup." She flicked the spinner. "Right hand green." And so the game proceeded. By the time she heard the girl calling, Madison was stretched out in a split, one hand between Spike's legs, and the other between his two hands. His chin kept messing up her hair, and he had mussed his by at one time ducking his head under her arm.
He turned his head slightly, looking at her as best he could without throwing himself off balance. "Someone calling me, I think."
She nodded, and stood. "Better go check. I think it was a tie anyway." While he went to the door, she packed the game up.
Spike opened the door, and had to keep himself from laughing. Dawn had her back to him, knocking on the door to the room he SHOULD have been in. Pounded again. "Spike?"
"Behind you, Bit."
She spun quickly, to see him leaning against the doorjamb, and his other hand bracing on the other side. Wearing dark jeans, and the tight red shirt. And barefoot. And all... tousled and sexy looking. "Hey."
He chuckled. "Hey, Bit. You'll never guess who's here."
Madison came to the door, not being able to get around him, so she laced one hand around his waist, and leaned up on his shoulder, peering over it. "Who's here?"
Dawn's gaze went very cool. This dark haired girl with green eyes, and a tight, hoey teal tank top, as tousled and barefoot as Spike was all up on him. Well. Now that she knew who he was trying to look sexy for... Tight grin. "Sorry. Wanted to see if you wanted to go swimming. But, I guess you're already getting your daily requirement for exercise."
"Huh?" He cocked his head. Then his eyes went wide and he coughed to hide a laugh. "Dawn. It's.. She's.. This is my friend Madison. She's in town visitin' relatives and she wound up in the room across from mine. We were playing a game."
Another eyebrow arch. "I bet." Gave the girl a cool smile. As real as cheap polyester. "Hi."
Madison gave her a huge grin, not removing herself from Spike's back. "Hi! It's so cool to finally meet you. Spike says a lot of nice things about you."
Thinly veiled disinterest. "Mm. Cool. Well. I'm gonna go swimming now. Bye, Madison. It was sure something to meet you."
Spike pulled away from Madison to put a hand on Dawn's arm. "Bit. Wait. You've got the wrong idea." He turned to Madison. "Can she come in for awhile? I think I really need to sort this out."
Dawn just looked at him. Her face was blank. For the first time ever, absolutely no emotion was on her face. Just stared at his hand on her arm.
Madison gave a bigger smile, trying to make things less tense. "Of course."
Spike locked eyes with Dawn. "Please, Bit? Just for awhile. If you decide you hate me, I'll never bother you again."
She let emotion crack through, and it was irritation. "I can't hate you," she snarked at him. "Irritated, of course." Sighed. "Fine."
He gave her a hopeful grin, and lead her back into the room.
Dawn entered the room, allowing Spike to drag her behind him. She was so pissed at him. Not even... Wow. Her room was pretty, too. She was walking in, staring at the furnishings, then winced and yelped. "Owwwwwch!"
"What? What?" Spike looked at Dawn with a frantic look. Whatever touched her was going to be loads of dead.
She jerked her stockinged foot back up off whatever it was that bit her. Pouted at the hole in her foot. Damnit. She was bleeding. Looked down at it. A Twister Spinner. The old ones with the metal spoke instead of the new plastic ones.
Spike resisted the urge to carry her into the bathroom and check for any further injuries. The scent of her blood was making him nervous. He hated it when his Bit was hurt.
She was bleeding on her extremely cute, extremely new rhino socks. She glared at the spinner, cursed it in her head, but it was starting to hurt. She looked up at Spike with big watery eyes.
Madison watched the scene in silence. Felt like a VERY poor host. The girl was going to hate her forever now.
He glanced at Madison. "Bandaids. Fast. Please." Then at Dawn. "You're ok, Bit.. Don't cry. It's not that bad."
Madison went into the bathroom, praying for some to be stocked.
Dawn's bottom lip started to shake. Seeing her own blood had creeped her out since she had cut herself. And it really hurt.
That did it. Spike scooped her up and carried her to the bed, holding her tight in his lap. He pulled her injured foot up and pressed some kleenexs to the small wound, all the while murmuring to her that it would be ok. She was fine. He purred to her. Her purr. Family. Rested his chin on the top of her head.
She was trying not to cry. Just for him. She pushed his hand away gently and peeled off her sock, whimpered when some of the fabric was pulled out of the hole. She turned her face into his chest, wincing.
Madison came out, holding a white first aid kit. God bless the Ritz.
Spike gave Madison a grateful smile and took the kit with the hand that wasn't occupied with holding Dawn. He nuzzled her with his chin and continued the purr as he carefully put some antiseptic on the small wound.
She jerked her foot back a few centimeters. Spike knew it would probably hurt to walk for a day or two. The spinner spoke was almost half an inch high off the rest of the spinner, and it had hit the arch of her foot.
He continued to purr to her, interspersing it with whispered words of comfort, as he slowly put a bandage on the wound, then wrapped an ace bandage around it to ensure that it would not come off. He continued to hold her tightly, even after he was done bandaging. "I'm so sorry, Bit. I'm sorry."
Madison touched a piece of Dawn's hair lightly. "Can I do anything?" She felt awful. She should have been more careful than that.
Dawn kept her eyes closed, against the sight of her own blood, shook her head, then said, "Can you go just toss my sock in your sink, and turn on the cold water? I'll get it later. I just don't want it to stain."
Madison nodded with an understanding grin and went to soak her sock. Madison decided to do the sock herself. She was sure Dawn's blood wasn't dangerous, and, more over to give them a minute.
While she was gone, Dawn moved closer to Spike. "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, it was. I should have been watching where you were going."
Dawn gave him an almost grin. "Do you know how silly that sounds?"
He offered a tentative smile. "It did make more sense before I actually said it."
She butted her head gently under his chin. "Sorry for crying."
"Not your fault. Like me vamping when I'm hurt. It's a reflex. I don't mind, anyway. Just... kind of scared me, that's all."
She nodded. "Didn't mean to." She flexed her toes, now the only part of her foot visible from the ace bandage.
He held her to him, wondering where the irrational thought that she was going to die from a game piece had come from anyway. "S'ok, Bit. Really. I guess you believe us now, huh?"
She gave a rueful grin. "Hard not to when the game pieces attack you." She frowned at her foot. "That bled a LOT for such a tiny hole."
"Got a lot of veins in the feet, Bit. Several spots where the veins are close to the surface. Must have hit one."
She shrugged. "I'm just afraid to bleed now. Like... I'm gonna open a portal to hell if I cut my finger on a tuna can, ya know?"
He gave a half chuckle, and disentangled himself from her to crouch on the floor next to the bed, looking under it. "Well... I don't see any portals here. Hang on, there's something back there...."
She laughed, situated herself so she was hanging over the bed, upside down, looking under it. "Spike. It's the Ritz Carlton. They don't PUT stuff under the bed."
He now had most of his upper body under the bed. "I know that. But I see *something* and now I want to know what it is."
Madison came back out, certain Dawn's sock would be spotless. Was struck with the image of Spike's butt in the air, and Dawn's long hair pooling on the floor as she looked under the bed from her spot atop it. "Um... Guys? What's up?"
*THUNK* "OW! Damnit!" Spike tried to pull out from under the bed, but now his shirt was stuck to the box springs. "Bloody shit!"
Dawn laughed, then squirmed off the bed, went under it . "What's up?"
Spike's shirt was flipped back up over his head. He had two obvious choices. One, stay under the bed until he could untangle himself from the springs, or two, pull out of his shirt. The second option wouldn't be easy, because of the tightness of the shirt. "What does it look like? I hit my head and I'm STUCK!"
She stifled a laugh, because he had been so nice to her. Started to work at untangling him. Madison was out right laughing. A couple minutes later, Dawn pulled out, huffing a frustrated sigh. Gave Madison a hopeful look. "Wanna help me untangle him?"
Spike was still sputtering and cursing, mixed with growls from beneath the bed.
She grinned at Dawn. "Sure." Both girls went under the bed on opposite sides of him, tugging at his shirt gently. Madison grinned at Spike. "Puttin on the Ritz has a whole new meaning now."
He tried not to laugh. Unsuccessfully. Then, "This is not funny. I can't even move! I'm bleedin' trapped! AND! My sides are getting cold with this stupid shirt flipped up and twisted."
Dawn snorted a giggle. "What were you looking at anyway?"
"That." He motioned toward a cable plug at the head of the bed. "Looked a lot more interesting before I figured out what it was."
She laughed again, and finally worked her side of his shirt free of the evil boxsprings. Began helping Madison with hers.
"Gently, please. I'm a delicate creature."
Madison sighed, tugging with Dawn on it. "This is NOT the way I planned to spend my birthday, and why do I not believe you??"
"It's your birthday, huh? How old?"
"Twenty."
Dawn nodded. "Cool."
"Hello? I'm still stuck, here."
They both shushed him, working while they talked. "Spike says you've got him wrapped."
Dawn grinned. "Yeah, well, sometimes I get scared that it might be a two- way street. I almost didn't wear a halter top cause he didn't want me to."
Madison expressed her understanding. "But you wore it?"
"Oh yeah. Went with the red skirt."
The stuck vampire growled quietly.
Dawn grinned. "Not really scary with your shirt tangled in the boxsprings."
Madison smirked. "Oooh. Big scary vampire man. Run for the hills. Be afraid. Be terrified. Just be."
He turned his head to look at her. "I am scary. And if I weren't stuck, I'd... I don't know what I'd do, but you wouldn't like it."
She snorted. "Oh yeah. Quaking in my... uh... bare feet."
He growled again. "You should be. Besides, neither of you could stop me if I decided to eat you."
Dawn frowned, tapped his head. "Don't talk like that."
Snort. "Sorry. I guess being stuck to a bed doesn't agree with me." He twitched around a little, rubbing his back on the underside of the box springs. "Makes a good back scratcher, though."
Madison laughed, then crowed in triumph. "Don't get used to it, cuz you're free now."
He backed slowly out from under the bed, pressing himself to the floor to avoid being caught again. Sat on the floor, examining his shirt. "Did it rip?"
Dawn shook her head. "Not if it knows what's good for it."
He was craning his head around, trying to look at the back of his shirt, and doing a passable impression of an owl in the process. "Damn it. There are times I really miss my reflection."
Madison ran a hand down the back of his shirt. "No cuts."
He grinned. "Ok. Good. It survived." Whispered, loud enough that Dawn could hear. "I know she'd kill me if I ripped it. She picked it out."
Dawn grinned, patted his head. "Yes I would have. Right after I cried some more."
He gave her the patented 'whipped puppy look', and laid on his back on the carpeted floor. "How do they make a carpet that's more comfortable than the bed on the Ohana?"
Dawn laughed. "I have no idea, but I think I'm getting to like the couch I sleep on. I'm pretty attached to it."
Madison smiled. "Is the Ohana your RV?"
They both nodded.
"Cool. What's it mean?"
Spike looked at Dawn. "It was your idea, Bit. You tell her."
"Ohana is Hawaiian for family." She smiled and shrugged elegantly. "Family means no one gets left behind. That's all."
Madison nodded. "That's so cool. Spike said you guys have got a pretty close knit group."
With a laughing smirk, she answered, "Yeah... you could say that."
Spike chuckled. "They are extremely close. That's why I stay in back most days. Keeps me away from the occasional outbreaks of mushy stuff."
Dawn made a pouty face at him. "You just don't want Xander or Giles to ever touch you."
He shuddered. "Only you. And occasionally Buffy, unless she's gonna hit me. Then that's a no." Cocked his head. "Well, I guess I'm ok with the Wicca's too."
Dawn snorted. "Cuz they're lesbians."
Madison choked on a laugh.
Spike snorted. "It's because they are nice to me, Bit."
She nodded. "Nice lesbians. Who needs more for a sick-guy fantasy?"
His eyes got wide, and he made a very strange face. A look that it would probably be impossible to make on purpose. "Bloody hell... Dawn! For Harris, maybe." Shook his head hard to get rid of *that* mental image. "I should just go back under the bed."
"Prolly safer than the bathroom of the Ohana."
"Especially when Harris and Demon girl get going.." He shuddered again, and made to crawl back under the bed.
Dawn fisted her hand in the material of his shirt, preventing him from escaping. "Uber-eww. I just meant when I was barracading in there."
Madison watched them with a smile.
Spike tugged, not half as hard as he could. "Leggo, Bit."
"Nuh-uh."
He rolled sideways, thankful for the large expanse of floor, taking her with him. But he had no clue how she wound up straddling his back with him laying on his stomach, and the bafflement showed plainly on his face.
She wiggled excitedly. "Buffy's been giving me lessons."
Madison was laughing now.
He just lay there, still shocked that the Slayer's LITTLE SISTER had effectively pinned him, and he shot a glare at Madison for laughing at him. "Get off, Bit. I can't move. This is not fair."
She moved off with a delighted laugh. "I did it!"
He 'grrrr'ed, and pounced at her. Only to wind up on the bottom again. This time with her sitting on his abs. "What the..?"
Smug smile. "I'm the Slayer's sister. I'm tough. Even though I'm a big baby."
He sighed. "Might as well stay up there. Keeping me warm." Looked at Madison upside down. "What's so funny?"
Madison shrugged. "She totally has you pinned, and she's sixteen. I'm twenty, and I just cried and cowered." She smiled at Dawn. "That's really cool."
"I can get her off if I want to. And I wasn't actually attacking her."
The girls ignored him as Dawn said, "In all fairness, I've known about demons for four years. I've had a lot of time and experience to learn how to take care of myself. My sister makes me train with her sometimes, so I'll be ok by myself on patrol."
Madison gave her a confused look. "You... patrol?"
"She most certainly does NOT!" The venom of that remark was slightly negated by the fact that Spike was still on his back, pinned by the very person in question.
"Eh... Not yet, but soon enough. Buffy and Giles think it's a good idea that I learn, in case she gets sick or anything. But... it's... scouting for demons, and vamps, and things that go bump in the night, and killing them."
"You are ignoring me."
"Basically." Looked at Madison. "Any other questions?"
Madison said with a small laugh, "None I want answered."
Spike snorted. "No one cares about me." Faked sniff.
Dawn smiled at him. "I do, but you're not agreeing with me. I wanna patrol, and you'll probably yell at them for letting me."
"Are you really in that big of a rush to get killed, Bit?"
She glared down at him. "I'm strong and I'm good."
He sighed. "I know... I just.. Nevermind." Turned his head to the side. Only thing he could do, since he couldn't move at the moment. He shifted and looked back up at her. "Do you want to show Madison anything that you've learned about vamps? Since you've got a trapped test subject."
She grinned. "What can we show her without security coming in?"
"Very funny." He cocked his head. "I dunno. What was that book you and the Watcher were looking in the other day? That you thought was so funny."
She smiled. "It was called inventive attacks and staking methods."
He snorted at her. "Ok. Not that. Think of something else. You've already got me pinned, so inventive attacks have been covered."
She smiled. "Pin me and I'll get out."
He grinned. "In your dreams. Get off me first."
She stood, extended him a hand.
Madison moved to the bed to give them floor room.
Spike stood, and backed a couple of paces away, thinking. Then launched himself at Dawn, pinning her on her back quickly.
Dawn sat up, reversing the positions, but couldn't get her hands free right away. As he went in to pretend to bite her neck, she leaned to the opposite side, ramming her shoulder upwards. And hitting him square in the nose. "OW!" He sat rather unceremoniously on his butt, legs spread, rubbing at his nose.
She planted one fist over his heart. "Stake in, stake out, I win." Frowned concernedly at him. "Sorry."
He continued rubbing his nose, slightly surprised when his hand came away bloody. "Ok, I take back everything I've said. You *are* ready to patrol."
She rose quickly to retrieve the first aid kit, pulled out a tiny pack of tissues, held one to his nose. "I'm so sorry."
Madison was impressed. This girl just took out a vampire. She smiled. And now she was fixing what she had broken. Madison liked her.
Dawn was biting her bottom lip, holding a new tissue to his nose, making sure no blood got on him. "I'm really really really sorry."
Spike grinned at Dawn, taking the tissue from her. "I'm fine, Bit. Really. Doesn't even hurt much anymore." He used his other hand to cup her cheek. "I love you. And I'm proud of you. You just effectively did what your sister's been trying to do for years."
She frowned, confused, but tipped her head in his hand. "Give you a bloody nose?"
"You staked me. Imaginary stake, though it was. That's what she's been trying to do." He gave a chuckle. "She's given me *plenty* of bloody and broken noses over the years. Believe me."
Dawn grinned. "You and Buffy don't kill eachother for the same reasons. You guys like having equals in firepower, and it'd suck to have no one to play with."
He laughed, then winced and held the tissue to his nose again. "Good point. Both of them. But I doubt your sister is *playing* with me. Ever."
Dawn shrugged. "Whatever lets you sleep easier at night."
Madison smiled at them. Then glanced at the clock. "Ooh. Guys, I'm sorry. I really like having you here, but... I have to be at my uncle's in less than an hour, and I need to get ready."
Spike glanced up, shocked at the amount of time that had passed. He stood, helping Dawn to her feet. "Ok. We'll go. We're gonna be here for a couple more days, though. So, if you need anything, just knock. I'm right across the hall." He chuckled. "I don't know why, but I've always wanted to say that."
Dawn smiled at him, then Madison. Limped slightly to the door. "It was really nice meeting you, Madison. I'm in room 443, if you wanna talk, ever."
Madison smiled and nodded.
"Have fun at your uncle's!"
Madison rolled her eyes. "Oh yeah, him and his three brats. The fun." She shut the door behind them.
Dawn began to limp towards the stairwell.
Spike shut the door after saying his goodnights to Madison, then followed Dawn, scooping her into his arms quickly. "You are not walking all the way down those stairs." Headed for the elevator.
She smiled at him sheepishly. "I took the stairs here because I couldn't find the elevator."
"Well, I had a hard time finding it too, but then I found it. The problem is, the doors look just like any other door. If I hadn't seen the buttons." He pressed the down button as if to prove his point. "I would have still missed it."
She nodded. "I feel dumb. I'm all injured and stuff." Dawn shrugged. "She's... nice."
He grinned. "See? What'd I tell you?" Stepped into the elevator when it came. Pressed the fourth floor button.
Dawn looked at the elevator guy with more than a little trepidation. The hat creeped her out. She squirmed closer to Spike.
They got out on Dawn's floor, and Spike carried her to her room. "Got the key?"
"I need down."
He set her gently on her uninjured foot, a hand staying on her shoulder to steady her.
She stood on one foot, dug in her pocket, and produced her key. Slid it in, and opened her door. "Come on in," she told him as she hopped to a table.
He walked in, grinning at her. "Got anything you need my help with, Bit?"
She sighed. "Can you dig me out a pair of jamma's, and my blue slide on sandals?"
He nodded, and went over to her bag. Found the items, and brought them to her with a triumphant grin.
She grinned. "Thanks. It's so cool to have a room to myself."
He chuckled. "Yeah. How *did* you talk Buffy into letting you out of her sight, anyway?"
She smiled serenely. "Told her how much fun it was going to be to stay up all night all two days."
"And she wasn't too inclined to agree with you?"
"Nope. I think that her sleep-cycle is overrated. But, it got me my own room, so... Whatever."
He laughed. "Want me to leave you alone, now?"
She nodded. "I'm gonna go to bed early, tonight. Do you think I could swim with my foot like that?"
He cocked his head at it. "Hmm. Try a bath first. Then we'll see."
She nodded. "Night, Spike. Thanks for taking care of me."
"Always my pleasure, Bit." He walked to the door, opened it, turned back around. "Love you."
Big smile. "Love you, too."
He smiled and shut the door behind him. Despite the fact that the last two days had been... well, nerve-wracking, annoying, frustrating, and several other choice words, this afternoon and evening had made up for it. Also, knowing that both Dawn AND Madison were there if he needed them gave him a pervading sense of calm. He wasn't tired, so he decided to explore the hotel.
-=======================================================
Buffy swam in a lazy circle on her back in the pool. It was warm. Beautifully tiled across the bottom, and warm. She had seen it, and ran for her bikini. It was sky blue, with silver woven into it, giving it a shimmering appearance. She loved the calm of swimming. All the outside noise was cut out by the muffling water.
Spike had wandered around the hotel for about an hour before coming upon the HUGE indoor pool. Curious, he walked into the pool room, and found Buffy... Buffy in a bikini...Buffy swimming in a bikini... And all ability to form coherent thoughts just flew out the window.
She sighed, knowing she had been in there forever, and she should go check on Dawn. She had been talking herself into it for the last half hour. She finally decided to move. She stood, walking up a nearby set of stairs, water streaming off her like rivers.
There was an audible thump when Spike bumped into a large planter that was near the edge of the pool. Well, actually, he nearly sat on it.
The noise drew her attention, and she saw Spike. And that he was pleased to see her. She turned her eyes to his, and began to walk slowly towards him, slightly exaggerating the movement of her hips.
The vampire swallowed hard, and started to back up, unsure of her intent, but was stopped by that damn planter again.
Soon enough, she was standing in front of him. Her lips were parted, and she tossed her dripping hair over her shoulder. Ran a hand from her throat, over her torso, to cover the shiny blue material of her bikini bottom.
Being male, he could not stop his eyes from following choice droplets as they coursed down her body. He started to say something. Licked his lips, tried again. Still nothing.
Buffy moved her hand from her bikini, tilted her head, and let her fingers touch a few of his choice droplets.
Voice. Must find it. *Squeak*. Nope. That wasn't it. Try again. "...Buffy... Uh..." Well. Not much better than the squeak. But it was a start.
She lifted her hand from where it had been playing along the top of her bikini, she smoothed her now wet fingers across his lips.
He swallowed again. Stared at her ches- Face. Stared at her face. Bad Spike. Very bad Spike.
One of her fingers petted at his bottom lip till it opened, teased the inside seam of it with her still wet finger.
Ok. Control is a good thing. Why was she ignoring me before now? And now, all of the sudden she's... Oops. There went coherent thoughts again. Out to lunch.
She stepped closer to him, legs spread so that one was between his, the other on the outside of his left leg. Lifted her knee slowly, and not in a pain-causing manner. Rubbed softly. Scraped a finger down the front of his shirt.
And he nearly fell over backwards. Ok. Explanation. Uh, I'm dreaming. I went to sleep in the elevator... That is stupid.. And this is most definitely *not* a dream... and.. what was I thinking again? What a pretty color blue the bikin- Water. The pool water. Oh, hang in there Spike. Please.
Buffy took in his 'deer-in-headlights' look, and leaned closer, her lips less than an inch from his.
He wanted to kiss her. God, did he ever want to kiss her. But.. Should he? What should... Oh, who cares? He leaned toward her.
She waited. Waited till his lips touched hers, parted them, and when he went in for the kill... She placed a hand to the middle of his chest, and shoved. A physical representation of Drowning in DeNile.
Spike hit the pool with a resounding SPLASH! And came up sputtering and coughing. "Slayer!" He doggy paddled over to the edge, where Buffy was doubled over, laughing at him. "That was *not* civil!"
He heard her mutter something about 'Not just for Egypt anymore' between her laughing bouts.
That did it. He reached the edge of the pool, and made as if to climb out. Instead, he grabbed one of the Slayer's legs and chucked her over his shoulder into the water.
She landed with a splash and a scream.
Now he was laughing. Leaning against the pool wall with one arm up on the side.
She came up quickly, tossing her head back to move her hair from her face. Looked indignantly at him. She was loosing her bikini bottom at one hip.
He tried to curb the chuckling. 'Tried' being the operative word. "You started it," he said around a snort.
She smiled sweetly. "Just helping you cool off. Looked like you could use a cold shower."
"Ha ha. Very funny." He splashed water at her. "Then why are you the one taking one?"
"I was ambushed." Her bikini sparkled when it was wet, and she loved it. Whoah. Back on track. She had zoned for a minute, but the material WAS really cool.
Spike, in the time that Buffy'd been studying herself, had ducked silently underwater, making sure that there was no air in his lungs that might keep him from doing what he'd intended. He swam up underneath her, humming the 'Jaws' theme in his head. Wait for the moment that she realized that he'd disappeared.
She looked around. Ok. No Spike. Not a cool thing.
A hand grabbed her ankle. Giving her just enough time to draw in a breath before she was pulled under. And Spike was already swimming circles at the bottom of the pool again. This was fun.
She sputtered to the top again. Looked around anxiously. Not funny. She saw him swimming at the bottom, took a breath, and dived after him.
He saw her coming and his eyes got wide, he swam for the deep end of the pool, hugging the bottom. But his clothes slowed him down a bit.
She followed closely after him, but she needed air. Drowning was not a favorite thing of hers. She heaved in a few breathes the second she hit the top.
He saw her surfacing, and followed, popping up behind her silently. Treaded water there.
Ok... Breathing is key, Buffy, she told herself. Took a few more unnecessary but calming breaths, and treaded water a moment, preparing to dive again.
He tapped her on the shoulder. "Boo."
She spun with a ready punch.
He quickly swam backwards. "Whoa, easy, luv. I was just playing with you. Besides, I've already had a bloody nose from one Summers this evening."
She didn't know why she did, but she was glad Dawn had pegged him. "Water games, not of the good."
"Says the woman who pushes people into pools then laughs at them. Look at my clothes! I'm soaked!"
She gave a small grin at her accomplishment. "Pushing and tossing are different than pulling under."
He ducked his head, nearly getting a nose full of pool water in the process. "Sorry. You're right. I just.. I like playing shark." He ducked underwater and swam a circle around her then popped back up. "One time, I went to sleep in a pool, and woke up at the coroner's."
She burst out laughing. "You're kidding me?"
He shook his head. "Nope. Nearly gave an intern a heart attack when I sat up. He had a scalpel poised right over my stomach, too. We scared each other right proper."
She gave him a grin and started to swim back to more shallow water. "I'll bet he didn't eat you, though."
"No. Nor I him, for your information." He followed her and sat on a stair that put his upper body mostly out of the water, and his lower body totally submerged. He absently began taking off his shoes. They were weighing him down, anyway.
She sat cross-legged, up to her chin in water. "That was nice of you."
"Not really. He scared me so bad, it was all I could do to think of finding my clothes and getting out of there." He cocked his head as he put his shoes and soaked socks on the pool's edge. "I wonder how in the hell I slept through the ambulance ride in a body bag, though."
She shrugged. "No idea."
He held the top stair, allowing his legs to float up, leaning his head back with eyes closed. "Warm water." Yawn.
She nodded. "Very. I've been talking myself into getting out and checking on Dawn for over an hour."
"If it helps, when I left her, she was okay. Gonna take a nap, I think."
"When did you see her?"
He yawned again. Ok. Only what she needs to know, here. "She came up to my room for awhile. We messed around a bit. I got stuck under the bed. Then I walked her back downstairs."
She smiled. "Thanks."
He grinned at her, then stripped off his shirt, wringing it a little. "This thing is not worth all the trouble I took to steal it. Gets caught on bedsprings, and then soaked."
She started backfloating again, spreading her arms on either side of her. "But it's a cool color."
"Yeah, yeah." He climbed up and stretched out on the long top step, letting his legs float. "So I'm guessing you've decided against getting out just yet?"
"Mmm... If I fall asleep in here, I'll drown, huh? That would suck again."
He chuckled. "No. You'd float. It's only if you rolled over that you'd be in trouble."
She smiled. "Ok. I'm sleeping in here."
He laughed. "You know what? I think I'm gonna wind up joining you." Chuckled. "Talk about your water beds."
Small laugh, stirred herself in a circle. "I won't really, though. I need to check on Dawn and Giles."
"Your Watcher can't take care of himself?"
She gave him a look. "Just wanna see if he needs company or anything."
"Ah." Yawn. "Well. I'm gonna stay as long as you do. It gets lon- Boring. You know. Me, up in my room all alone."
She nodded. "I think I'll hang out in Giles' room. He'll share. Or I could hang with Dawn, and you could keep Giles company."
Snort. "I really do not want to spend anymore time than I have to with the Watcher. He chains me to stuff. Tightly. It hurts. Why don't I stay with Dawn, and you with your Watcher."
She shrugged. "He won't chain you to stuff now, as far as he's concerned you have a chip. But if you want to, that's fine." She didn't look at him as she said, "We can both stay at Giles. I mean, no big, right?"
No answer. He just cocked his head at her. Then, "Answer me one thing. Are you suggesting this out of any type of feeling for me? Like not wanting me to be lonely or something like that?"
She lost the relaxation necessary for buoyancy. She stood and faced where he was laying. "We're... friends."
He sat up half way. "What does 'friends' mean to you, anyway? You don't have to answer. If you don't want to."
She shrugged, started walking to the steps, the water streaming off of her making her shiver. "It means I look out for you."
He stood quickly, getting out of her way and also bringing her a towel. "You do?"
She wrapped it around herself immediately, trying to seal her heat in. "That's what it means to me, so that's what I do."
She obviously thought he'd push it. The 'you wanna make somethin' of it?' tone was in her reply. He would suprise her. "Thank you." Picked up his shirt, socks and shoes, and began walking toward the door.
"Yeah. No big." That was what she stressed to herself. What big? There was no big. "So... I'll change, see you at Giles?"
He paused. Turned around with a sheepish look. "You'll have to tell me the room number, first."
"Ummm 448."
He nodded. "Ok. So.. Should I bring anything? Like.. food or clothes?" Gave a half embarrassed duck of his head. "I've never really done this before."
She shrugged. "Just... come. We stockpiled the food there. I'm just gonna watch TV and sleep in there."
He grinned. "Alright. Oh, and Slayer?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For inviting me. For trying this... friend thing. If it helps.. I'm kind of confused about it too. Oh, and you should know something."
WAY too much sharing. He was making it a big. "What?"
"You are an incredible kisser." The door shut behind him.