Buffy stalked back into the elevator, the boy in the funny cap who
pressed the buttons looking professionally blank. And it pissed her off
even more. "You guys are such assholes. I swear to God. Such idiotic,
dick-led, infantile, stupid... stupid... Stupids!"
The boy's brows drew up in confusion and slight fear. "E-E-Excuse me, Miss?"
"How many men have used YOUR elevator to go see their whores, huh?? He's such... oh my God! I KISSED his lying, miserable, STUPID, British mouth!"
"M-m-m-Ju-I-uh.... I'm sorry... What are you talking about??" He was flustered. This woman was crazy and he didn't enjoy being in an enclosed space with her.
She glared at him. Like it was all his fault. That pathetic shithead. HE pushed all the damn little buttons in this thing. Probably took Spike right up there to his... his... UGH! Whatever. "My... um.... well... Spike, he was in-in her room, and... he came out... and... half naked... and..."
"Who... is Spike?"
Who is Spike, indeed. Who WAS he to her?? Not a vampire. Not a lover... Not her... boyfriend... Her bottom lip shook a moment. "I don't KNOW," she told him plaintively.
The boy began to feel bad for the lady, and then it intensified as they reached her floor.
"I thought he was someone who loved me." She stepped off the elevator, defeated but still pissed beyond imagination. She stalked to Giles' door. Pounded. "GILES!"
Inside his room, the Watcher jumped. "Uh, come in?"
She tried the door. "Giiiiles...." She whined. "It's loooocked."
He got up and unlocked and opened it. "Sorry. I thought you were going back to your own room." He sighed. "I don't even know why I paid for you to have your own room, since you seem to be staying with me."
"The Ritz doesn't have a gym, does it??" She was shaking, head to foot. It wasn't all sadness, but it wasn't all anger either.
Giles considered. "No. I think that the pool is all they have." Looked at her. "Buffy, is something wrong?"
She began to pace. "He is such an amoral bastard."
"Who?"
"Spike! He's just... a dick-led piece of shit like the rest of them! Honestly! I got to his room to see if he wanted to work out later, and he's, he's coming out of this WOMAN'S room!" Stopped to glare at Giles. After all. He was a man, too. "HALF NAKED! And then that little slut comes out and gives him his shirt, and socks and shoes, and KISSES him! 'I'll see you tonight, Puppy,'" she simpered, mocking the girl.
Giles looked at her. " 'Puppy'?"
"EXACTLY!! She MUST know he's not STAYING with her!! I mean... can she possibly FATHOM how many STD's he has to have?? Oh, and she was just soooo pretty. Curves everywhere. Hips and boobs like she's something special. Long flowy TOUSLED black hair, pouty lips. Whore. And SPIKE! He's no better!!! He looked like... like... like he had sex!!! His hair was all... post-sexy... and... and half naked!!!"
Giles sat on the couch. "Buffy, I thought you didn't care about Spike."
She made sputtering noises. "I didn't- don't! I DON'T!!!! But that poor girl. Ya know? I don't want her wondering where she got... ya know... syphilis."
Giles chuckled. "First of all, vampires can not carry or transmit human diseases. And second of all, if you don't care about him, then why are you insulting the girl, and not him?"
"I DID!!! He's... He's an asshole! I mean... Oh yeah.. he LOVES me, can't you tell?? That's why he goes and fu-" She broke off, chose a new word. "Screws some... some... skeazy girl he COULDN'T have met more than twelve hours ago. Piece of shit rat bastard, stupid male!"
Giles sighed. "Okay, then. That still doesn't explain why it's bothering you so much."
She gave him a severely unhappy pouting look that she didn't know brought out the daddy in him. "He's supposed to love me. And... and... and it was... weird for me to just... walk in on that."
Giles gave a deep sigh, got up, and pulled Buffy back down onto the couch with him. "I'm sure there's some explanation. Did you ask him what happened?"
Gave him an incredulous look from her spot by his side. "No. He started to talk to me, and, and I told him to shut up. And I left."
Giles nodded. "Alright then. Do you plan to ignore him from now on?"
She hmmmphed self-righteously. "Yes. Son of a bitch."
"Ah. So. We're getting back on the road day after tomorrow, and you just plan to ignore him all the way to Washington DC? And then all the way back to Sunnydale? And then every single day for the rest of your life after that?" He was making a point.
"Yes..." It was weak, and trailed off at the end, unsure.
Giles nodded, and chuckled. "Well, you can try. I was thinking of asking everyone to come down to the pool later. A little group get together. I suppose we just won't invite him. Of course, Dawn will be upset..." Another point.
She grumbled under her breath.
Giles chuckled again, and leaned back. "Perhaps it's time for you to consider what you want."
"WHAT!?" It squeaked and was extremely high.
He shrugged. "By ignoring Spike, you will make Dawn extremely mad at you. Do you want that?"
She no longer felt like panting like a dog. Phew... "Mmm... well, I, no, of course not. We need each other."
Giles nodded, then got up. "Well. You think about what you want to do. I'm going to go take a shower." He went into the bathroom and shut the door.
She sat on the couch, pouting, counting the ways she'd like to maim Spike AND his little bitch. She sat, after running out of creative ways to kill them both, fidgeting uncomfortably. Giles was right. She had to figure out what she wanted. Spike. She wanted Spike. On his back, naked, under her. She knew that. How could she NOT after that kiss at the club? But.... that didn't explain the hurt. She started to chew her bottom lip. What did she want? Something. And Spike. She arched a brow helplessly at herself. Something... with Spike? A... relationship?
========================================================================== ==========
Spike was pacing back and forth at the foot of Madison's bed. He'd come over just as soon as she'd gotten back from shopping with her uncle. "...and she tells me to shut up, and leaves! God. She must think that I'm... I'm.. What? I can't be cheating on her, cause we aren't even going out. So why's she so upset!?" He sighed and sank down onto the bed, his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. "I'm so bloody confused."
She began to pet his hair. "I'm sorry, Puppy. I'm so sorry. If I'd have known that was her, I'd NEVER have-"
"It's not your fault." He sighed. "I probably just completely screwed up any chance I had. Which was little or none to begin with."
Madison glared. "She thinks we had sex. And she's jealous."
He shook his head. "She wouldn't even let me explain. I'm an idiot. I should have told her about you a long time ago." Laid on his back and closed his eyes. "I might as well just come home with you."
She laid down beside him, cuddled to his side. "If they don't start to appreciate you more, I will."
He sighed. "I can't leave Dawn, though. If it weren't for her, I'd go with you and never look back."
She smiled sadly. "Yes, you would. You'd look back everyday, until it broke you, and eventually, you'd give up on what you'd have built at my house and run back to her."
A sad chuckle. "Scary thing is, you're probably right." Sigh. "I just want... I want.. I don't know."
She reached over, petting his side. "For her to love you. To be able to be in love with anyone else, to make it stop aching, or get very drunk. Which one?"
"Is there an 'all of the above' answer?"
She chuckled. "Sure. Just for you. I wanna pound her."
He slipped an arm around her. "Don't. You don't even really know her." Chuckled. "Besides, she'd tear you apart."
"I know enough to not like her. And I'd at least break her nose before she killed me."
A low growl ran through Spike. "I would NOT let her kill you."
She nuzzled under his chin. "I know."
He sighed. "Bloody hell. Have you ever gotten the feeling that your muscles are attached to your emotions? Like, when you get upset, you get all tensed up, and it hurts a little?"
She nodded. "Oh yeah... Talking to a girl who's experienced finals week." She gave him a smile. "I give a mean massage with my scritching?"
Grin, half nod. "Yeah."
She tugged on his shirt. "C'mon."
He took off his shirt and laid across the bed. "Ya know, I think I'm getting addicted to this."
She laughed and set to work on him, using the knowledge she had gained from her summer working in a body oil massage shop.
Spike sighed, and turned his head to watch her. "I think I'm... a little scared. You know? What if everything I've worked for, everything I've endured for her, what if none of it matters to her anymore? I'll have to start all over with her hating me again."
She smiled at him, moved her hands to start massaging his neck. "I'm telling you, the only person she hates is me. She's a jealous little bitch."
He chuckled. "I want to tell you you're wrong. But I also don't want to lie to you."
She grinned. "We can MAKE her jealous, if you want to. I've got no problem with it, and new clothes to show off anyway."
He laughed and rolled slightly so that he could see her better. "Oh no, she'd never speak to me again, and I'd die of loneliness. After all, after tomorrow, I might never see you... again..." Trailed off, that particular fact just sinking in.
Madison leaned down to hug his back for a moment, then pulled back to keep working the tension out of him. "My father calls that blarney, and my mother foolishness. Of course you will."
"But after we go to DC, we're heading back to Sunnydale. California is a long way from South Dakota."
She smiled at him. "That's what planes and spring break, and summers and Christmas, and your birthday are for."
He chuckled. "I don't even remember when my birthday IS. And planes don't agree with vampires. No sure way to avoid sunlight."
"They're ok for me."
He shook his head. "Oh no, you are not coming to a Hellmouth. I don't want you getting killed. Besides.." He looked a bit embarrassed. "I live in a cemetery. You wouldn't be comfortable there."
She smiled. "Do you live there?"
Nodded. "Yeah. Well, unlive. In a crypt, actually."
She shrugged. "You'd take care of me, and we'd have fun."
He chewed his lower lip for a moment. "God. I really want you to come with us, or me go with you, or something. I'm gonna hate going back to phone calls after this."
"Well, you're gonna pass through South Dakota again, yeah?"
"If I have to tie myself to the wheel, yes."
She ran her thumbs down his spine. "Well then, you'll see me."
He shivered a little. "Gave me a chill." Grinned at her. "Yeah. Maybe I can convince the Watcher to let us stay in town for awhile."
She smiled. "You can stay with us while you're there."
His eyes grew wide. "With... you? And your family? In your house?"
Madison thumped the back of his head gently. "No... in an alternate dimension with my evil twin, in the yard with my psycho dog, Beowulf." She then started to scritch him. "Of course with me and my family. Well, I mean... Dad doesn't live with us. It's just me, Madre, and Will, but you're welcome."
He smiled and nuzzled against her. "Thanks. You think your mum'll like me?"
"Of course she will. You didn't eat me." Smiled. "You're sweet, and well-mannered when you want to be. She'll love you."
He grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let that stuff get around. How old is your brother, anyway?"
Groaned. "Sixteen. Biggest pain in my ass since programming the VCR."
He chuckled. "Well. I might just have to have a little man to man talk to him. Or, rather, vampire to teenager."
She laughed. "Only if you do it with your... um.... grr face on."
He chuckled. "Wouldn't want to scare him to death." He leaned against her. "Ya know what?"
"Hmm?"
He rolled on his back and looked up at her. "I love you. Like, really close friend love, ya know?"
She smiled back at him, a warmth filling it. "Thank you. I love you, too."
He sighed. "I wish everyone was like you. Seems to me that in a hundred years, I've only met three people who are like you. And you're one of them."
She blushed, shifted slightly. "That's silly. I'm just a normal girl. Nothing special about me."
He shook his head. "You see past things. See me for who I am, instead of what I am. The only other two people I've known like that are Joyce and Dawn." Couple of hard blinks.
She smiled gently, ran a thumb across one cheekbone. "It seems to me," she said thoughtfully, "That people would have to look past what a great man you are to start to see the demon. Because, when I REALLY looked at you, all I saw was the man."
He bit his lip and rolled over again, sticking his face inbetween his crossed arms. "There you go again. Embarrassing me." Muffled, because it was basically spoken into the comforter.
She pulled one arm loose, and crawled under it, laying by his side. "Yup. It's about to get worse."
He didn't look at her. "How do you figure?"
"Because I'm confessing to you."
Looked at her. "Confessing what?"
She tilted her head, looked at him. "I wish I could feel more than friendship for you. Wish I could fall in love with you, so I could steal you away from her, and make you happy. I really do."
He blinked once, then rolled slightly and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "You do make me happy, Madison. You really do." Half chuckle. "And you can't steal something from someone who doesn't want it in the first place."
She squeezed him back then patted his shoulder. "Oxygen becoming an issue, Puppy," she wheezed.
He released. "Sorry. I forget how strong I am." He left one arm over her, though.
She smiled at him, gave herself a few seconds to recover, and smiled at him again. "She does want you, though. I don't know how deeply, or anything, but... she does want you. And you can bet, if I took you to my bed, and she was POSITIVE of it, she'd be knocking my door down."
He chuckled, then raised an eyebrow. "Technically, we can say that we've slept together." Playfully suggestive grin.
She laughed. Gave him a fake-lewd grin. "And the noises you made all night..."
He laughed. "Oh yeah. Purring is sooooo important to this sort of thing."
"Mmm-hmm... And ya know, Twister. But I have to say. I might have to find a man who can purr."
"You won't. Only vampires purr. And any other vamp would eat you in a heartbeat."
She pouted. "Why? I'm not tasty."
He licked his lips. Moved slowly toward her neck. "You look pretty good to me..." Evil grin.
She laughed, pretended to cower. "No, please, Mr. Big Vampire, sir..."
He snorted, then rolled on his back. "Yeah. Right. I wish I still was scary."
She scoffed. "Hello?? You ARE!"
"Nope. I'm Puppy. Remember? Puppies aren't scary."
"You're Puppy to ME, because you love me. Do you WANNA scare people you love?"
He shook his head. "No." Grinned up at her. "I'm a good puppy. See?" Held his arms up like paws and panted playfully.
She laughed and scritched his hair. "Good, Puppy."
He purred happily.
Then she gave him a sincere look. "You really are terrifying when you want to be. I mean..." She did a respectable British accent. "It'll hurt a lot less if you hold still, ducks..."
He chuckled and swatted at her. "Don't imitate me! That isn't true, anyway. Hurts like hell. Trust me."
She laughed, batted back. "That's what you said!!! No, really?? I thought it would be a pleasant touch, leave me feeling all tingly and warm."
He chuckled. "Well, that's a different kind of bite." Batted at her hands. "Quit it."
Laughed again. "Pervert. You quit!"
"You first!" Snapped at her hand playfully.
She grabbed his hand, started gnawing on his pointer finger.
"Ow!" Didn't jerk back, though. "You've got sharp teeth for a human."
Grinned at him over her gnawing, ferally, went back to chewing.
He laughed and pulled his hand back. "Stop it! You're slobbering all over my hand!" Grinned at her. "How'd you like it if *I* started chewing on *your* hand?"
She looked at him, offended. "Ugh! I do not SLOBBER! I NIBBLE! Fine!" Shoved her hand at him. "Do a better job of nibbling! You couldn't!"
He chuckled. "You're kidding, right?"
Looked down her pert little nose at him. "*I* am the princess of nibbling. I do *not* slobber."
He laughed. "You know, in vampires, nibbling on hands like that can have two meanings. The way you were doing it, is actually sealing a friendship bond." He took her hand, stuck a finger in his mouth, chewed gently. "Ike tiss."
She smiled, but wagged her other finger at his nose. "No slobbering."
"Uh-uh." Kept his gentle chewing going.
Reached her hand up to scratch in his hair. "What's cementing a bond? When you're done doing it."
He released her finger and pushed against her hand. "It means two things. One, we'll now be able to tell when the other one is near. And two, in vampires, it means that we're now part of the same pack. But that's kind of pointless, since I don't have a pack anymore."
She smiled. "Isn't a pack like a family?"
Half nod, so as not to pull away from her hand. "Yeah."
She smiled. "You're part of two packs."
He looked up at her with one half open eye. "I don't follow."
"The Ohana, Dawn's adopted you firmly into that fold. And MY family."
Spike opened the other eye. "Really?"
A gentle turning of the corners of her lips. "Really. You're part of my family, now."
He gave a deep sigh, mixed with purring that had suddenly gotten much louder. He moved around a little and put his head on her leg. "Thank you."
She ran a hand over his hair, over and over. "I hope you can meet my extended family."
He nuzzled her hand. "I hope I can too." Looked up at her. "You've already met Dawn, so you know mine."
"She's one hell of a kid. Ornery. Ready to kill me."
He chuckled. "Runs in that family, apparently."
She gave a satisfied, female smile. "I'd love to just walk up to Buffy, smile and say hello, just to see what she'd say. Before she decked me, anyhow."
Snort. "You mean before she drew her fist back and I grabbed it."
She gave him a surprised look. "Wow. THAT much protection from Bitchy Buffy?"
Nodded. "Yeah. I love Buffy, but I don't want her to hurt you. I wouldn't hurt her. Just hang on as long as I could and tell you to run. Then duck before she decked ME."
She glared. "You'll let her hit me. Because she will NOT be breaking you up anymore than she already has."
He shook his head. "Nuh-uh. Sorry. I'm not letting her hurt you. Besides, it can't get any worse." He actually stuck his tongue out at her for a moment. "Just cause I love you, doesn't mean that I'll do what you say. You can't make me. I do what I want. If I want Buffy to hit me, she'll hit me. Not you."
Sad, pouty, lip tremble face. "Don't let her hurt you for me."
He closed his eyes. She couldn't get to him if he couldn't see her. "Dawn has a saying. And I quote, 'I don't wanna, I don't hafta, you can't make me'."
She laid her cheek against his, and he could feel the tiny tremors by her mouth.
He twitched away from her. "No cheating. That's cheating. Besides, vampire's can't feel guilt, so it wouldn't work anyway."
She was devious. "Not guilt. Just care."
Quiet whimper. Bit his lip. Looked at her. "Won't matter, anyway. Cause you are not going to go say hi to her."
"Why not?" She gave him her best smile. "We could be buddies."
"Uh-huh. Yeah. And I'm gonna turn into a bat and fly out that window."
She gave him an excited look. "Can you guys really do that??"
He chuckled. "Dracula could. But it was just gypsy stuff. Even a human could do it." Cocked his head. "I've always wanted to do the wolf, though. That might be fun."
She nodded. "Please, Puppy? Let me play? I'll only kill her a couple times..."
He laughed. "You mean *she'd* kill *you*. And no."
Winked at him. "We can give her a double team attack."
He chuckled. "Would not work. She pins me even when we spar. She'd stake me, then kill you."
She snorted. Said quickly, "The hell that bitch would." Seemed a bit surprised at herself. "Ooh! Go me!"
That did it, Spike just lay there, laughing hard, a tear coming from his eye. "God... Determined, aren't you?"
She nodded, grinning. "Yup. Hispanic and Irish... I'm supposed to be passive?"
"'Bout as much as I am." Shook his head, trying to end the sudden laughing fit. "Sorry.."
She shrugged. "No big."
Swallowed a couple of times. Gained control. "No. I don't know what comes over me when I'm with you. I've been laughing more these last few days than in my whole bloody life before this."
Poked at him playfully. "Don't be falling in love with me."
Swatted her hand away with a snort. "Quit it." Gave a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately, my unbeating heart belongs to another. And is currently in use as her doormat."
Mumbled three obsenities in English, two in Spanish, and five in Gaelic. Which set the vampire off again. She gave him a stern look. "Don't laugh at me! I was serious!"
He tried to stop, honest, he did. Just couldn't. "Sorry... sorry..."
Prodded him. "What was so funny??"
He managed to slow down to just uncontrollable chuckling with a snort here and there. "Oh.. just you. So... bleedin' protective of me.. And I'm also.. a little surprised... that you know so many... different.. curse words..." Trailed off into laughter again. "I mean, come on... You called her a.." Repeated two of the Gaelic obscenities. "Tell me that's not funny!"
Her golden skin stained a light pink. She didn't know other people knew those words. "Learned them from my Da."
"I heard 'em from Angelus." He was chewing on his lip to try and curb the laughter.
She laughed. "He's got a ripe mouth on him, then, doesn't he?"
"You have no idea." Cocked an eyebrow at her. "And look who's talking."
She held her head high. "I can talk with any man in Ireland, now, thank you so much."
"And quite a few sailors, I'd wager."
Grinned, batted at him. "What of it? You're just jealous because I can talk to TWO kinds of sailors."
Looked up at her with a chuckle. "Oh? There's more than one kind?"
She rolled her eyes. "I meant Hispanic and Irish."
He chuckled. "Madison, I speak French, Gaelic, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, and a bit of German. English, vampiric, and several demon languages aside." Winked at her. "When you live a long time, you pick up certain things."
She pouted. "Well, you just ruined my day."
He grinned. "How can I make it up to you?"
Bit her lip, batted her eyes at him. "Well..."
"Yes?"
Sweet grin. "Lemme play, Puppy."
Swallowed. "With what, exactly?"
Looked at him through her eyelashes, her green eyes just barely shining through. "Please?"
Sighed. "You mean you want me to introduce you to Buffy, don't you?"
She nodded.
"If you wind up in the hospital, don't blame me, then." Sat up, pulled his shirt on. "I think they all were gonna go swimming around now. I might as well introduce you to everyone."
She squealed, and hopped up from the bed. "Really?"
Defeated sigh. Trudged toward the door. "Yeah..."
"Ooh! You have to wait! I have a new suit!"
His eyes got big. "Wait a minute, you're gonna swim, too?"
She started to root through one of the many bags she had brought up from her shopping excursion. Bless her Uncle Josh's soul for paying for it all. "Well, yeah."
He sat in a chair near the door. "God. Slayer's gonna kill me for this. I just know it." Looked toward her. "Do you have one of those little portable vacuums in there, by any chance?"
She smiled, walked next to him to buss his cheek. "I'll protect you." She walked away with a tissue wrapped package to the bathroom and called out a few minutes later, "Puppy?"
"Yeah?"
She stuck a hand out the door, revealing nothing else. "I need that robe on the chair by the armoire."
He stood, retrieved the item, and gave it to her, dutifully not even glancing through the partially open door.
She ripped it back through the door, slammed it shut and was out thirty seconds later, pulling a pair of emerald green silk thong flip flops on. They matched her eyes perfectly. She smiled at him, bundled to the throat in the hotel robe. "Aren't you swimming?"
He bit his lip again. When the hell had THAT become a habit? "Uh, no. I don't think so."
Gave him a direct pout. "Yes, you are. Go change."
"I don't have swim trunks. I don't swim."
She frowned, looked him over twice, head to toe. Picked up the phone and spoke brusquely to someone for five minutes, and hung up the phone again. "Two minutes. You will have trunks."
He cocked his head at her. "What did you do?"
"Housekeeping. Had them go buy a pair of mediums from the store across the road." Bit her lip nervously for a moment. "Promise me two or three things, Puppy?"
"Ok... What things?"
"Cater to me down there. When we're there. Kind of follow my lead, ok?"
He gave her a suspicious look. "Only if you tell me what we're doing and why."
She sighed. "I won't be jumping your bones in front of them in a passionate display of affection."
Half chuckle. "Figured that. But tell me what you WILL do."
"I'll need you directly behind me, to the side a little bit, with your far hand on my hip. And to take my robe without looking at anyone else when I hand it to you."
"Now for the why."
"Because I need to watch her. And because I'm asking you to."
He sighed. "Okay." There was a knock at the door. "You gonna get that?"
She answered the door, took the package the short brunette handed her, and handed the lady a wad of bills. "Thanks so much," she chirped, closing the door. She handed the package to Spike, ushered him to the bathroom. "Change. Oh. I might hold your hand when we first walk in, too."
He sighed, and looked at the trunks. Dark blue, but not dark enough to be confused with black. Oh, Dawn'll love this. He changed, then walked out of the bathroom, feeling kind of stupid. "Swimming. Why couldn't it be weight-lifting, or something?"
She smiled. "You look great. Two more things, ok?"
Grudging nod. "I look like a pasty, white, dead fish."
"You do not. If and when the Bitch looks at you, you cannot look down, or away, or anything. Never turn when you feel her staring at you. Only if your eyes meet, and never look away, or down first."
Cocked his head at her and gave a snort. "You mean act l'm the dominate?"
One sharp nod. "Because you are. And because you've got me running this campaign, and I am a dominate, too."
He sighed. "Okay. But what are we trying to prove? Dawn'll know that you and I aren't.. together. She might blow it."
Madison shook her head. "Dawn is smart. She usually keeps her mouth shut till she thinks she knows what's going on. She'll pick it up, and she's go with it." She grinned. "I think Dawn might even enjoy it a little bit."
Spike nodded and chuckled. "You're probably right." Squared his shoulders. "Okay. Let's go."
"Ehhh... one more thing."
Paused, looked at her. "What?"
She bit her lip. Motioned to the robe. "For this to work, body language is imperative. When I lose this... don't laugh. Don't look shocked. Look like you've seen it and you liked it, and you're comfortable with it, ok? But especially don't laugh."
He cocked his head at her, truly puzzled. "Why would I laugh? You're beautiful, Madison."
She shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah. Gorgeous. Remember that when Buffy's watching you watch me. And I will, too. I'll try to be beautiful for this to work."
He smiled at her. "You won't have to try." Opened the door for her. "After you."
She smiled, lifted her head like a queen and strolled confidently down the hall.
He trotted after her, reminding himself that this would only be an act. Madison must have something in mind that could help him with his Buffy problem, and he would go with it. They got in the elevator.
========================================================================== ==============
Buffy and Dawn were already in the pool, and after finally coaxing a reluctant Giles into the water, were splashing him.
After a moment, Giles had enough, and began splashing back at them. After all, this was a vacation, they were supposed to have fun.
Xander and Anya were lounging in pool chairs, watching the others... and occasionally making out. And Willow and Tara were sitting on the side of the pool, far from the splash fight, with their legs in the water, laughing when Buffy and Dawn managed to push Giles underwater. But all activity stilled when the new couple walked into the humid room.
Their hands tangled together, before they were all the way in, Madison whispered, "Let me lead in the room, kind of use our hands to gently move me forward. Understand?"
He gave an almost imperceptible nod, and his actions showed just how much he did understand.
She gave an almost smile as he gracefully edged her forward, following at an arm's length, hands still together. She slowly let go of his hand as she passed an empty lounging chair, but he was still in line with it. Carelessly untied the sash, let the robe fall off her shoulders, then swept it to one side, the hand Spike had been holding. It was the movement of a woman who knew, unerringly, that she would be attended.
As if it was a movement that he was totally accustomed to, Spike slid the robe off her arm and laid it on the chair. He kept his eyes focused on her, even though he could feel everyone's shocked gazes on him.
Buffy gaped, THAT was the woman. THAT WAS THE WOMAN!!!!! A violence rose in her, as she stared at her. AND SPIKE JUST... SERVED HER!
Dawn looked at them confusedly, and then her brow cleared. Well then. Buffy was gonna shit bricks. And didn't it serve her right? And, man! Madison looked great. And Madison exuded the attitude of someone who ALSO thought they looked great. The bikini was emerald green, the same color of the flip flops and her eyes. The suit was silk, and there were gold threads woven through it. It showed off all her curves to perfection, the bottom riding low on her hips, and her skin, a milky gold not from the sun, but her incredible heritage. Everything blended perfectly, including her jet black hair curling gently, but seductively down her back, and her lips and eyes shone with the lightest sheen of bronze. She was a goddess. She brought one shoulder forward, not even a centimeter forward, a silent beckon for Spike to touch her. As she felt him walking behind her, she scanned everyone's faces in the pool. With the cool detachment of royalty to peasants.
Spike's hands rested on her shoulders, then slid down and back up to her shoulders again. The vampire was looking at her as if she was a goddess and he was her willing worshiper, ready and able to provide for her every need. He then ducked his head behind her neck slightly. To onlookers, it appeared as if he was kissing her neck. In reality, he had needed a second to chew his lip. All the staring was making him nervous.
She rolled her back, the movement un-noticeable except to move his hand to her hip. There. Better.
Buffy's eyes were riveted on Spike.
He felt her staring at him. Felt the jealousy coming off her in waves, and it gave him new strength. He moved to Madison's neck again, and didn't fake the kiss that he planted there. She cocked her hips to the side, serving to slide his hand across her front more. Spike allowed his hand to slide around to her stomach, gently stroking the skin he found there. Planted another kiss on her neck, dutifully resisting the urge to look up and sneer at Buffy.
She spared him a touch, his goddess, one delicate golden hand to the back of his neck, seemingly holding him to her, but really giving him a reassuring scritch. She seemed to be complete with her appraisal of the people in the pool. Lifted one eyebrow in barely-there interest. "That's them?" All breezily casual.
Spike raised his head and gave the pool a quick glance, fighting back a grin when he saw that Giles' mouth was hanging open slightly. Dismissive. "Yeah. Them."
"Mmm..." Disinterest. Bent slowly, Spike still at her back to slip off her shoes. Stayed that way a moment. She regained her posture just as slowly, holding the delicate flip flops, then without looking back, handed them out, as she had with her robe.
Just as gracefully as before, attending to his mistress, the vampire took them and set them on the chair near the robe. He leaned close, made it look like he was nibbling her ear. "What do we do now?"
She turned her head to *almost* nuzzle at his lips. "Follow me, don't touch me again until I've stopped walking. I want this graceful." She started towards the four foot mark. No stairs. Her hips swayed gently with every movement. She finally stopped a foot or so from the ledge.
He came up behind her and did as she had told him, resting a hand on her shoulder, and running the other one down her side and around to her stomach.
She placed her hand over his a moment, caressed his, then let it drop.
Buffy's eyes flared. Damned whore.
Madison's eyes swept everyone again, and she said indolently, "Who are they?"
He waved a hand, pointing at each one in turn. "Giles, Dawn, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara." Pretended to count off on his hand. "Oh. And Buffy."
A small smirking grin took her full lips. "Buffy?" She said, inclining her head to the blonde.
Buffy tried to stand as tall, and look as graceful as possible for being engaged in a splash fight when her highness had walked in. Tried for an elegant nod.
Madison swept a hand down Spike's cheek, moving his head gently to be beside hers. Gave an amused laugh as her eyes raked Buffy over. "You didn't tell me she was so... small..."
"Play your hand around my bikini top," she murmured, her lips almost not moving with the words.
He did as she asked. "Yeah.. Well.. never came up, luv."
She shrugged one shoulder elegantly, dismissively. "Mm..."
Buffy was almost shaking in anger. Small??? SMALL would be the kinds of BITS they would be finding that bitch's BODY in for WEEKS!
Dawn was truly depressed that she couldn't applaud.
Madison gave Spike a frank look. "I want to swim."
Under different circumstances, Spike might have grinned, then picked her up and tossed her into the pool. But now... "Can I get you anything, pet?"
She looked around. "A few towels, Puppy."
He grinned, but managed to change it into a quick look of desire. And walked off to do as she asked.
Buffy was stopped from moving forward by Giles weighing a hand on her shoulder.
As Spike walked past Madison, she ran a hand over his back, her fingers trailed off as he kept walking to get the towels.
In the towel room, he had to pause and breathe for a moment. This was taking a lot out of him. It wasn't easy to act like he liked Madison THAT way. It just didn't come naturally. He shook his head a couple of times, reminding himself that there was a point to this, and grabbed two towels, then headed back out into the pool area. Time to test the dominance thing. He deliberately locked eyes with Buffy, making sure that he only projected a, 'sorry, you missed the boat' expression.
Buffy's eyes were on his, confusion and TONS of pissy female written there.
Oh, he wanted to gloat. Wanted it soooooo badly. But no. Be a good puppy. Play the game. Continued to stare at her. She would look away first, or his eyes would dry out. One or the other.
She shifted suddenly, her eyes jerking to a different side of the room.
YES!! He shot Madison an excited, 'Did you see THAT!?' look that no one but her and Dawn caught. Since everyone had a clear view of her, she only allowed a slow smile to take her face, that the others interpreted as her admiring what was hers. The satisfaction was visible to everyone, but only Spike understood fully what it was REALLY for.
He placed the towels on the chair with Madison's robe and flip-flops, then he sat on the side of the pool, dangling his legs in the water.
"Puppy, I want to swim."
He dropped down into the water, doing his best not to flinch at the temperature difference, and turned around, offering her a hand.
She took one of them, gliding into the water as smoothly as possible. She thanked God that there was no embarrassing splash.
Buffy watched her, mentally agape. What the HELL was going on??? It was like.... like he was... She didn't even know what. But it nauseated her.
Madison gave him a small smile, and ducked to be totally submerged in the water, came back up, her hair already slicked back, but tendrils were getting ready to fall in her face. She hoped she didn't look ridiculous. Gave Spike a hidden apprehensive look.
He smiled at her, and brought one hand up to run through her soaked hair, stroking it out of her face. He leaned forward, resting their foreheads together, knowing that Buffy would recognize the vampiric gesture as one of deep affection. He pulled back, running his fingers through her hair again. "Beautiful..", he whispered, loud enough for the others to hear.
Buffy was gritting her teeth. What the hell was he doing?? Did she even KNOW he was a vampire?? Would ash dirty the pool ever so much?? I mean, really... in the big scheme of things. And THEN, she saw what that *girl* did.
Lifted Spike's hand out of the water, bit gently at the tip of it. Their friendship bond. With, of course, for the Scoobies' benefit, a smoky edge. Being like this with Spike was a little disconcerting, and not right. But everyone else in the dead-silent room was buying it, and she believed that any minute now, Buffy was going to explode all over the walls.
Spike returned the gesture, the motion and ritual relaxing him slightly. He purred for her, hoping that Buffy didn't know enough about vampires to be able to tell a friendship purr from a love purr. Then he got an idea. If he was gauging Buffy's emotional state correctly, he knew what would push the final button. He stopped his nibbling on Madison's finger. Said, truthfully, just changed the context a little. "I love you."
She just gave him a slightly less 'Ice-Queen' smile. "Love you, too," she murmured, knowing her voice would carry across the water.
His words struck Buffy. Hard. In the chest. No. He didn't love THAT. He was.... he was supposed to love HER. He hadn't even introduced her to them yet, and he was making these kinds of declarations in front of every member of the Scooby crew.
Spike felt the daggers that Buffy was glaring into his back, and emotionally flinched. God, this hurt. Looked at Madison for support, knowing that he wanted to just run over to Buffy and tell her what was really going on.
She put one hand on his cheek, keeping her eyes trained on his. Her thumb moved over his cheek a moment, hoped he would realize that she felt for him, but THIS was the way they had chosen, and THIS was the way they would go.
An almost imperceptible nod at the unspoken agreement. He would hold out as long as he could. Licked his lips.
Xander, meanwhile, got up and walked over. "So, Spike... Finally gave up on Buffy, huh?"
The vampire looked up, fire in his eyes for an instant, then it was gone. Shrugged. "Yeah." Looked at Madison, adoration in his eyes, not entirely faked. "It's much better to have someone who loves you back." Took a deep breath. "Madison, this is Xander. Xander, Madison."
Madison looked Xander up and down slowly. One arch of her eyebrow showed his lack of worthiness in her eyes. Returned her gaze to Spike. "What does he do?"
The vampire pretended not to remember. "Uh.. Oh. He works construction. That's his fiance', Anya, over there. She runs the magic shop I told you about, with Giles' help."
Her eyes swept over Anya to rest on the older gentleman, with a hand on the blonde woman's shoulder. Cocked her head to the side. "You didn't mention him dating," slight sniff, "her."
Giles' hand left Buffy's shoulder very quickly, and Buffy slid to the side a bit.
Spike repressed a growl at THAT memory. "He's not. He's like her... dad or something? I dunno. I don't really pay attention to them anymore." Cupped her cheek. "I've been.. busy lately."
She gave a small smile, turned her head into his hand. "Pleasantly, I hope?"
Raised eyebrow. "Oh, I think you know the answer to that, luv."
She smiled again, saying absently as she looked at the others, "Yes... most delightful mornings..." Her eyes seemed to light on Dawn. "You're Dawn?" She was the only person Madison had directly addressed. She knew everyone caught the significance of that.
Dawn nodded, a bit wary. "Yup! That's me!"
Spike grinned. "Come on over, Bit. Someone'd like to meet you."
Dawn made her way slowly over, feeling Buffy's eyes shooting imaginary executionary bullets in her back. Finally, she was beside Spike, but slightly behind him.
Spike sighed almost imperceptibly. This was getting hard. And painful. Now they'd gotten Buffy mad at Dawn. "Bit, this is Madison. Madison, this is Dawn. She's my best friend."
Buffy was poised. One harsh word to her sister, and this whore went down like staked vamp.
But Madison gave Dawn her sweetest smile yet. "Hello, Dawn." Turned her eyes to Spike. "I thought you were exaggerating how beautiful she was."
Spike smiled. "Would I lie to you, pet?"
"I should hope not." She winked at Dawn. "Now it seems he didn't give you nearly enough credit."
Dawn flushed, and ducked her head, knowing her role, playing it. Heck, even slightly enjoying it. She reached over, her hand touching Spike's underwater, squeezed their fingers together.
Spike relaxed a little at Dawn's touch, shot her a grateful look that everyone but her and Madison missed. Then turned back to Madison. "Oh, and over there are Willow and Tara. They're the Wiccas I was tellin' you 'bout."
She seemed to recall him saying they were pretty nice and well-meaning most of the time. Gave a small smile. Half wave.
Willow didn't even look at her, she was focused on that look on Buffy's face, and wondering if she would have to throw a protective field around Madison to keep Buffy from killing her in about two more minutes of this. Tara returned the wave shyly.
Madison turned and leaned her back against Spike's chest, as though she had every right to. "So, Dawn, how old are you?"
"Um... fifteen."
Madison gave her a disbelieving glance. "Well. *I* wouldn't have carded you for cigarettes, that's for sure."
Dawn gave a pleased grin. "Thanks."
Spike cleared his throat. A 'you're pushing it', a-hem.
She gave a small laugh, removing herself from Spike's chest to smile at both him and Dawn. "It seems that Spike doesn't want me telling you that you can smoke." She frowned. "And you can't. You'll get crow's feet by the time you're twenty-five."
Satisfied nod from the vampire. "Listen to Madison, Bit. She knows stuff."
Buffy added sarcastically, "Because she's... what? Eighteen?"
Spike looked at her. "Twenty, Slayer. And no one asked you." HE was shocked at the venom in his tone.
Madison turned a cool stare on the graceless slayer. "Age isn't a hindrance in anything I do. But Spike tells me there's some sort of... age limit on your occupation? I'm not really sure though... it kind of bored me."
Spike was very glad that his expression wasn't visible to anyone but Madison and Dawn, because he winced.
Buffy just stared at this... impudent girl. "You sure can pick 'em, Spike."
He closed his eyes in a long blink, composing himself. Opened them. Looked at Buffy for an instant, then turned a look of pure love to Madison. "Yeah... I know..." He knew he didn't sound as shaky as he felt, but he gave Madison a look that said he was reaching the end of his rope.
Madison addressed Buffy, venom undertones lacing her words, "Yes, he's begun to love women who see *all* that he is, and love him for every piece of it." Slowly wound her eyes over the slayer in disgust. "I think it's a vast improvement."
Spike blinked. Uh oh. Something told him that the launch button had just been hit. "Uh.. Madison..."
She lifted her hand. "No, Puppy." Her compassion, care, and love for him rang in her voice, in those two words.
He bit his lip, but didn't say anything more.
Buffy's eyes glittered. "Would you like to discuss this somewhere else?"
Her voice was low, threatening. "Oh, absolutely."
Madison pulled herself out of the pool with grace and ease, not even stopping to see if Buffy was following. But she was. Had anyone NOT been intently focused on the tension, it would have made a pretty picture. They slammed into the towel room, the door closing behind them firmly.
The door closing snapped Spike out of the scared daze he was in. He began splashing toward the stairs. "Bloody hell! She's gonna kill her!"
Dawn started trailing him. "Who's gonna kill who??"
He got out of the pool and jogged toward the towel room. "I don't KNOW yet!"
========================================================================== ===============
The women faced off. Madison started. "What the HELL is wrong with you??? Honestly! What the HELL is wrong with you?? HE LOVES YOU! And you- you've got him convinced he's BENEATH you! Did you know he DREAMS about *you*, Buffy?" She spat at the blonde. "Has nightmares about clawing his way out of a grave, and FAILING YOU! What is wrong with you?? He's good, and decent, and KIND, and he'd DIE for you, you STUPID BITCH!"
Buffy broke into her tirade. "Who the HELL are you?? Please. Calling him 'Puppy' like he's your damned dog!"
Madison's voice dropped, and there was violent intent in it. "You treat him like a dog, *I* treat him like a man."
Buffy glared at Madison. "One night with him isn't going to change your life."
The emerald-clad girl nodded in agreement. "Maybe it shouldn't have. But it did. And it changed his life, too. It's too bad I can't say the same for you." She made a disgusted noise. "Do you even know?? Do you know he LOVES to be scritched? Do you even CARE? Do you know that he almost cries when Dawn hurts herself? That he has two great fears?? Being alone, and failing you? Failing *you.* Being beneath *you.*" She gave the Slayer a searing, scathing, disgusted look. "Quite frankly, *Buffy*," her lip curled with the name, "I've never been more convinced that HE'S too good for you to lick his shoes." She scoffed. "Beneath YOU? Wrong way, sweetheart. YOU'RE beneath HIM."
The door slammed open, revealing a seemingly pissed and dripping vampire. "Madison. Stop."
She tossed him a heated look. "Why? To spare her? Because I might have made her pull her head out of her ass long enough to see what she could HAVE but will NEVER deserve? Because she's *kind* to you? Why, Puppy?" Her eyes pleaded with him. She truly didn't understand.
Buffy stepped forward. "You-"
"Because words are more painful than blows, Madison." He grabbed her arm gently. "Come with me, please." Glanced at Buffy, his eyes full of unspoken apology, and pulled Madison from the room.
She tossed a glare at Buffy, a vow in her eyes that she would finish what she had started. But Spike had said please. So she followed him.
Spike gently pulled Madison over by the water heater, unaware that they were being followed. "Madison. You shouldn't have done that. I don't need you defending me."
Her eyes were flooding. "Yes, you do! Someone needs to, Puppy. I can't let her abuse you like that."
Buffy watched them silently. Along with the Ice Queen act, the sensual actions, touches, glances, had been dropped as well. She tilted her head to the side.
Spike sighed, blinking back a couple of tears of his own. "Madison, first I want to thank you. I've never had a friend who'd stand up for me like that. Buffy could have hurt you. And as for her abusing me, she's not. She's just being who she is. And I love her, and it hurts me when someone yells at her like that."
She hugged him, her tears loosed now, tucked her head against his chest. "I'd rather her beat me, than talk to you horribly. A-and, I don't want that to be who she is." She looked up at him, arms still around his waist, nothing sexual, only giving and wanting comfort. "I want her to pet you, and scritch you, and love you." Her bottom lip shook violently. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I never mean to hurt you."
He bit his lip, trying to keep from allowing her tears to trigger his. "It's okay, Madison. It's okay. I'm fine. I just.. I love Buffy. Please don't talk to her like that again, okay?"
She looked up at him, almost petulantly. "Why? I mean... how- how can you love her??"
Buffy's head tilted in the other direction, her lip between her teeth, suddenly anxious. Why did he love her? How did he love her?
Two tears escaped Spike's control, and he didn't seem to notice. "It's simple, really. When I love someone, it's forever. I never stop loving anyone. I can't. I love unconditionally, and it's not always a good thing. I get hurt, and I break, but I recover. It's a gift. And a curse. I've always been like this. To me, love means forever." Deep sigh. "That's why things from so long ago still affect me, Madison. That's why I hate the words 'beneath me' so much. That's why it hurts me to see a porcelain doll. And that's why, no matter what Buffy does to me, I'll never stop loving her."
Madison's eyes gained wisdom with every word he spoke. Became a little less young, a little more wise. Then they slid shut. She opened them again, to look into his. Stood on her toes, carefully kissed each cheek, then pulled him to down rest her forehead on his. "I stand by everything I say. But I hope she doesn't break your heart anymore. I hope she heals you." Small shaky smile. "I hope she makes you happy. I hope you smile more." She turned to walk away, because it hurt too much to try to not cry.
Spike sniffled, and darted forward with vamp speed to hug her from behind, allowing his tears to fall into her already wet hair. "I hope so, too."
She let out one sob. Lifted one hand to his hair, a small pet. "I love you, Puppy."
"I love you too, Madison." He held her close, resting his head on her shoulder.
Buffy wiped violently at her eyes. No tears falling... but it was close. Oh, God. She hurt. She had hurt him. She had hurt herself. Had hurt them. And that girl had faced off with her. Because she... loved Spike. But... she wasn't in love with him. She cared so much, but not because she wanted Spike for herself, because she wanted happiness for Spike. They had been played like fiddles by extremely skilled musicians. She knew now. That she wanted something. Something with Spike. She just had to figure out how to do it.
The boy's brows drew up in confusion and slight fear. "E-E-Excuse me, Miss?"
"How many men have used YOUR elevator to go see their whores, huh?? He's such... oh my God! I KISSED his lying, miserable, STUPID, British mouth!"
"M-m-m-Ju-I-uh.... I'm sorry... What are you talking about??" He was flustered. This woman was crazy and he didn't enjoy being in an enclosed space with her.
She glared at him. Like it was all his fault. That pathetic shithead. HE pushed all the damn little buttons in this thing. Probably took Spike right up there to his... his... UGH! Whatever. "My... um.... well... Spike, he was in-in her room, and... he came out... and... half naked... and..."
"Who... is Spike?"
Who is Spike, indeed. Who WAS he to her?? Not a vampire. Not a lover... Not her... boyfriend... Her bottom lip shook a moment. "I don't KNOW," she told him plaintively.
The boy began to feel bad for the lady, and then it intensified as they reached her floor.
"I thought he was someone who loved me." She stepped off the elevator, defeated but still pissed beyond imagination. She stalked to Giles' door. Pounded. "GILES!"
Inside his room, the Watcher jumped. "Uh, come in?"
She tried the door. "Giiiiles...." She whined. "It's loooocked."
He got up and unlocked and opened it. "Sorry. I thought you were going back to your own room." He sighed. "I don't even know why I paid for you to have your own room, since you seem to be staying with me."
"The Ritz doesn't have a gym, does it??" She was shaking, head to foot. It wasn't all sadness, but it wasn't all anger either.
Giles considered. "No. I think that the pool is all they have." Looked at her. "Buffy, is something wrong?"
She began to pace. "He is such an amoral bastard."
"Who?"
"Spike! He's just... a dick-led piece of shit like the rest of them! Honestly! I got to his room to see if he wanted to work out later, and he's, he's coming out of this WOMAN'S room!" Stopped to glare at Giles. After all. He was a man, too. "HALF NAKED! And then that little slut comes out and gives him his shirt, and socks and shoes, and KISSES him! 'I'll see you tonight, Puppy,'" she simpered, mocking the girl.
Giles looked at her. " 'Puppy'?"
"EXACTLY!! She MUST know he's not STAYING with her!! I mean... can she possibly FATHOM how many STD's he has to have?? Oh, and she was just soooo pretty. Curves everywhere. Hips and boobs like she's something special. Long flowy TOUSLED black hair, pouty lips. Whore. And SPIKE! He's no better!!! He looked like... like... like he had sex!!! His hair was all... post-sexy... and... and half naked!!!"
Giles sat on the couch. "Buffy, I thought you didn't care about Spike."
She made sputtering noises. "I didn't- don't! I DON'T!!!! But that poor girl. Ya know? I don't want her wondering where she got... ya know... syphilis."
Giles chuckled. "First of all, vampires can not carry or transmit human diseases. And second of all, if you don't care about him, then why are you insulting the girl, and not him?"
"I DID!!! He's... He's an asshole! I mean... Oh yeah.. he LOVES me, can't you tell?? That's why he goes and fu-" She broke off, chose a new word. "Screws some... some... skeazy girl he COULDN'T have met more than twelve hours ago. Piece of shit rat bastard, stupid male!"
Giles sighed. "Okay, then. That still doesn't explain why it's bothering you so much."
She gave him a severely unhappy pouting look that she didn't know brought out the daddy in him. "He's supposed to love me. And... and... and it was... weird for me to just... walk in on that."
Giles gave a deep sigh, got up, and pulled Buffy back down onto the couch with him. "I'm sure there's some explanation. Did you ask him what happened?"
Gave him an incredulous look from her spot by his side. "No. He started to talk to me, and, and I told him to shut up. And I left."
Giles nodded. "Alright then. Do you plan to ignore him from now on?"
She hmmmphed self-righteously. "Yes. Son of a bitch."
"Ah. So. We're getting back on the road day after tomorrow, and you just plan to ignore him all the way to Washington DC? And then all the way back to Sunnydale? And then every single day for the rest of your life after that?" He was making a point.
"Yes..." It was weak, and trailed off at the end, unsure.
Giles nodded, and chuckled. "Well, you can try. I was thinking of asking everyone to come down to the pool later. A little group get together. I suppose we just won't invite him. Of course, Dawn will be upset..." Another point.
She grumbled under her breath.
Giles chuckled again, and leaned back. "Perhaps it's time for you to consider what you want."
"WHAT!?" It squeaked and was extremely high.
He shrugged. "By ignoring Spike, you will make Dawn extremely mad at you. Do you want that?"
She no longer felt like panting like a dog. Phew... "Mmm... well, I, no, of course not. We need each other."
Giles nodded, then got up. "Well. You think about what you want to do. I'm going to go take a shower." He went into the bathroom and shut the door.
She sat on the couch, pouting, counting the ways she'd like to maim Spike AND his little bitch. She sat, after running out of creative ways to kill them both, fidgeting uncomfortably. Giles was right. She had to figure out what she wanted. Spike. She wanted Spike. On his back, naked, under her. She knew that. How could she NOT after that kiss at the club? But.... that didn't explain the hurt. She started to chew her bottom lip. What did she want? Something. And Spike. She arched a brow helplessly at herself. Something... with Spike? A... relationship?
========================================================================== ==========
Spike was pacing back and forth at the foot of Madison's bed. He'd come over just as soon as she'd gotten back from shopping with her uncle. "...and she tells me to shut up, and leaves! God. She must think that I'm... I'm.. What? I can't be cheating on her, cause we aren't even going out. So why's she so upset!?" He sighed and sank down onto the bed, his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. "I'm so bloody confused."
She began to pet his hair. "I'm sorry, Puppy. I'm so sorry. If I'd have known that was her, I'd NEVER have-"
"It's not your fault." He sighed. "I probably just completely screwed up any chance I had. Which was little or none to begin with."
Madison glared. "She thinks we had sex. And she's jealous."
He shook his head. "She wouldn't even let me explain. I'm an idiot. I should have told her about you a long time ago." Laid on his back and closed his eyes. "I might as well just come home with you."
She laid down beside him, cuddled to his side. "If they don't start to appreciate you more, I will."
He sighed. "I can't leave Dawn, though. If it weren't for her, I'd go with you and never look back."
She smiled sadly. "Yes, you would. You'd look back everyday, until it broke you, and eventually, you'd give up on what you'd have built at my house and run back to her."
A sad chuckle. "Scary thing is, you're probably right." Sigh. "I just want... I want.. I don't know."
She reached over, petting his side. "For her to love you. To be able to be in love with anyone else, to make it stop aching, or get very drunk. Which one?"
"Is there an 'all of the above' answer?"
She chuckled. "Sure. Just for you. I wanna pound her."
He slipped an arm around her. "Don't. You don't even really know her." Chuckled. "Besides, she'd tear you apart."
"I know enough to not like her. And I'd at least break her nose before she killed me."
A low growl ran through Spike. "I would NOT let her kill you."
She nuzzled under his chin. "I know."
He sighed. "Bloody hell. Have you ever gotten the feeling that your muscles are attached to your emotions? Like, when you get upset, you get all tensed up, and it hurts a little?"
She nodded. "Oh yeah... Talking to a girl who's experienced finals week." She gave him a smile. "I give a mean massage with my scritching?"
Grin, half nod. "Yeah."
She tugged on his shirt. "C'mon."
He took off his shirt and laid across the bed. "Ya know, I think I'm getting addicted to this."
She laughed and set to work on him, using the knowledge she had gained from her summer working in a body oil massage shop.
Spike sighed, and turned his head to watch her. "I think I'm... a little scared. You know? What if everything I've worked for, everything I've endured for her, what if none of it matters to her anymore? I'll have to start all over with her hating me again."
She smiled at him, moved her hands to start massaging his neck. "I'm telling you, the only person she hates is me. She's a jealous little bitch."
He chuckled. "I want to tell you you're wrong. But I also don't want to lie to you."
She grinned. "We can MAKE her jealous, if you want to. I've got no problem with it, and new clothes to show off anyway."
He laughed and rolled slightly so that he could see her better. "Oh no, she'd never speak to me again, and I'd die of loneliness. After all, after tomorrow, I might never see you... again..." Trailed off, that particular fact just sinking in.
Madison leaned down to hug his back for a moment, then pulled back to keep working the tension out of him. "My father calls that blarney, and my mother foolishness. Of course you will."
"But after we go to DC, we're heading back to Sunnydale. California is a long way from South Dakota."
She smiled at him. "That's what planes and spring break, and summers and Christmas, and your birthday are for."
He chuckled. "I don't even remember when my birthday IS. And planes don't agree with vampires. No sure way to avoid sunlight."
"They're ok for me."
He shook his head. "Oh no, you are not coming to a Hellmouth. I don't want you getting killed. Besides.." He looked a bit embarrassed. "I live in a cemetery. You wouldn't be comfortable there."
She smiled. "Do you live there?"
Nodded. "Yeah. Well, unlive. In a crypt, actually."
She shrugged. "You'd take care of me, and we'd have fun."
He chewed his lower lip for a moment. "God. I really want you to come with us, or me go with you, or something. I'm gonna hate going back to phone calls after this."
"Well, you're gonna pass through South Dakota again, yeah?"
"If I have to tie myself to the wheel, yes."
She ran her thumbs down his spine. "Well then, you'll see me."
He shivered a little. "Gave me a chill." Grinned at her. "Yeah. Maybe I can convince the Watcher to let us stay in town for awhile."
She smiled. "You can stay with us while you're there."
His eyes grew wide. "With... you? And your family? In your house?"
Madison thumped the back of his head gently. "No... in an alternate dimension with my evil twin, in the yard with my psycho dog, Beowulf." She then started to scritch him. "Of course with me and my family. Well, I mean... Dad doesn't live with us. It's just me, Madre, and Will, but you're welcome."
He smiled and nuzzled against her. "Thanks. You think your mum'll like me?"
"Of course she will. You didn't eat me." Smiled. "You're sweet, and well-mannered when you want to be. She'll love you."
He grinned. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let that stuff get around. How old is your brother, anyway?"
Groaned. "Sixteen. Biggest pain in my ass since programming the VCR."
He chuckled. "Well. I might just have to have a little man to man talk to him. Or, rather, vampire to teenager."
She laughed. "Only if you do it with your... um.... grr face on."
He chuckled. "Wouldn't want to scare him to death." He leaned against her. "Ya know what?"
"Hmm?"
He rolled on his back and looked up at her. "I love you. Like, really close friend love, ya know?"
She smiled back at him, a warmth filling it. "Thank you. I love you, too."
He sighed. "I wish everyone was like you. Seems to me that in a hundred years, I've only met three people who are like you. And you're one of them."
She blushed, shifted slightly. "That's silly. I'm just a normal girl. Nothing special about me."
He shook his head. "You see past things. See me for who I am, instead of what I am. The only other two people I've known like that are Joyce and Dawn." Couple of hard blinks.
She smiled gently, ran a thumb across one cheekbone. "It seems to me," she said thoughtfully, "That people would have to look past what a great man you are to start to see the demon. Because, when I REALLY looked at you, all I saw was the man."
He bit his lip and rolled over again, sticking his face inbetween his crossed arms. "There you go again. Embarrassing me." Muffled, because it was basically spoken into the comforter.
She pulled one arm loose, and crawled under it, laying by his side. "Yup. It's about to get worse."
He didn't look at her. "How do you figure?"
"Because I'm confessing to you."
Looked at her. "Confessing what?"
She tilted her head, looked at him. "I wish I could feel more than friendship for you. Wish I could fall in love with you, so I could steal you away from her, and make you happy. I really do."
He blinked once, then rolled slightly and wrapped both arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "You do make me happy, Madison. You really do." Half chuckle. "And you can't steal something from someone who doesn't want it in the first place."
She squeezed him back then patted his shoulder. "Oxygen becoming an issue, Puppy," she wheezed.
He released. "Sorry. I forget how strong I am." He left one arm over her, though.
She smiled at him, gave herself a few seconds to recover, and smiled at him again. "She does want you, though. I don't know how deeply, or anything, but... she does want you. And you can bet, if I took you to my bed, and she was POSITIVE of it, she'd be knocking my door down."
He chuckled, then raised an eyebrow. "Technically, we can say that we've slept together." Playfully suggestive grin.
She laughed. Gave him a fake-lewd grin. "And the noises you made all night..."
He laughed. "Oh yeah. Purring is sooooo important to this sort of thing."
"Mmm-hmm... And ya know, Twister. But I have to say. I might have to find a man who can purr."
"You won't. Only vampires purr. And any other vamp would eat you in a heartbeat."
She pouted. "Why? I'm not tasty."
He licked his lips. Moved slowly toward her neck. "You look pretty good to me..." Evil grin.
She laughed, pretended to cower. "No, please, Mr. Big Vampire, sir..."
He snorted, then rolled on his back. "Yeah. Right. I wish I still was scary."
She scoffed. "Hello?? You ARE!"
"Nope. I'm Puppy. Remember? Puppies aren't scary."
"You're Puppy to ME, because you love me. Do you WANNA scare people you love?"
He shook his head. "No." Grinned up at her. "I'm a good puppy. See?" Held his arms up like paws and panted playfully.
She laughed and scritched his hair. "Good, Puppy."
He purred happily.
Then she gave him a sincere look. "You really are terrifying when you want to be. I mean..." She did a respectable British accent. "It'll hurt a lot less if you hold still, ducks..."
He chuckled and swatted at her. "Don't imitate me! That isn't true, anyway. Hurts like hell. Trust me."
She laughed, batted back. "That's what you said!!! No, really?? I thought it would be a pleasant touch, leave me feeling all tingly and warm."
He chuckled. "Well, that's a different kind of bite." Batted at her hands. "Quit it."
Laughed again. "Pervert. You quit!"
"You first!" Snapped at her hand playfully.
She grabbed his hand, started gnawing on his pointer finger.
"Ow!" Didn't jerk back, though. "You've got sharp teeth for a human."
Grinned at him over her gnawing, ferally, went back to chewing.
He laughed and pulled his hand back. "Stop it! You're slobbering all over my hand!" Grinned at her. "How'd you like it if *I* started chewing on *your* hand?"
She looked at him, offended. "Ugh! I do not SLOBBER! I NIBBLE! Fine!" Shoved her hand at him. "Do a better job of nibbling! You couldn't!"
He chuckled. "You're kidding, right?"
Looked down her pert little nose at him. "*I* am the princess of nibbling. I do *not* slobber."
He laughed. "You know, in vampires, nibbling on hands like that can have two meanings. The way you were doing it, is actually sealing a friendship bond." He took her hand, stuck a finger in his mouth, chewed gently. "Ike tiss."
She smiled, but wagged her other finger at his nose. "No slobbering."
"Uh-uh." Kept his gentle chewing going.
Reached her hand up to scratch in his hair. "What's cementing a bond? When you're done doing it."
He released her finger and pushed against her hand. "It means two things. One, we'll now be able to tell when the other one is near. And two, in vampires, it means that we're now part of the same pack. But that's kind of pointless, since I don't have a pack anymore."
She smiled. "Isn't a pack like a family?"
Half nod, so as not to pull away from her hand. "Yeah."
She smiled. "You're part of two packs."
He looked up at her with one half open eye. "I don't follow."
"The Ohana, Dawn's adopted you firmly into that fold. And MY family."
Spike opened the other eye. "Really?"
A gentle turning of the corners of her lips. "Really. You're part of my family, now."
He gave a deep sigh, mixed with purring that had suddenly gotten much louder. He moved around a little and put his head on her leg. "Thank you."
She ran a hand over his hair, over and over. "I hope you can meet my extended family."
He nuzzled her hand. "I hope I can too." Looked up at her. "You've already met Dawn, so you know mine."
"She's one hell of a kid. Ornery. Ready to kill me."
He chuckled. "Runs in that family, apparently."
She gave a satisfied, female smile. "I'd love to just walk up to Buffy, smile and say hello, just to see what she'd say. Before she decked me, anyhow."
Snort. "You mean before she drew her fist back and I grabbed it."
She gave him a surprised look. "Wow. THAT much protection from Bitchy Buffy?"
Nodded. "Yeah. I love Buffy, but I don't want her to hurt you. I wouldn't hurt her. Just hang on as long as I could and tell you to run. Then duck before she decked ME."
She glared. "You'll let her hit me. Because she will NOT be breaking you up anymore than she already has."
He shook his head. "Nuh-uh. Sorry. I'm not letting her hurt you. Besides, it can't get any worse." He actually stuck his tongue out at her for a moment. "Just cause I love you, doesn't mean that I'll do what you say. You can't make me. I do what I want. If I want Buffy to hit me, she'll hit me. Not you."
Sad, pouty, lip tremble face. "Don't let her hurt you for me."
He closed his eyes. She couldn't get to him if he couldn't see her. "Dawn has a saying. And I quote, 'I don't wanna, I don't hafta, you can't make me'."
She laid her cheek against his, and he could feel the tiny tremors by her mouth.
He twitched away from her. "No cheating. That's cheating. Besides, vampire's can't feel guilt, so it wouldn't work anyway."
She was devious. "Not guilt. Just care."
Quiet whimper. Bit his lip. Looked at her. "Won't matter, anyway. Cause you are not going to go say hi to her."
"Why not?" She gave him her best smile. "We could be buddies."
"Uh-huh. Yeah. And I'm gonna turn into a bat and fly out that window."
She gave him an excited look. "Can you guys really do that??"
He chuckled. "Dracula could. But it was just gypsy stuff. Even a human could do it." Cocked his head. "I've always wanted to do the wolf, though. That might be fun."
She nodded. "Please, Puppy? Let me play? I'll only kill her a couple times..."
He laughed. "You mean *she'd* kill *you*. And no."
Winked at him. "We can give her a double team attack."
He chuckled. "Would not work. She pins me even when we spar. She'd stake me, then kill you."
She snorted. Said quickly, "The hell that bitch would." Seemed a bit surprised at herself. "Ooh! Go me!"
That did it, Spike just lay there, laughing hard, a tear coming from his eye. "God... Determined, aren't you?"
She nodded, grinning. "Yup. Hispanic and Irish... I'm supposed to be passive?"
"'Bout as much as I am." Shook his head, trying to end the sudden laughing fit. "Sorry.."
She shrugged. "No big."
Swallowed a couple of times. Gained control. "No. I don't know what comes over me when I'm with you. I've been laughing more these last few days than in my whole bloody life before this."
Poked at him playfully. "Don't be falling in love with me."
Swatted her hand away with a snort. "Quit it." Gave a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately, my unbeating heart belongs to another. And is currently in use as her doormat."
Mumbled three obsenities in English, two in Spanish, and five in Gaelic. Which set the vampire off again. She gave him a stern look. "Don't laugh at me! I was serious!"
He tried to stop, honest, he did. Just couldn't. "Sorry... sorry..."
Prodded him. "What was so funny??"
He managed to slow down to just uncontrollable chuckling with a snort here and there. "Oh.. just you. So... bleedin' protective of me.. And I'm also.. a little surprised... that you know so many... different.. curse words..." Trailed off into laughter again. "I mean, come on... You called her a.." Repeated two of the Gaelic obscenities. "Tell me that's not funny!"
Her golden skin stained a light pink. She didn't know other people knew those words. "Learned them from my Da."
"I heard 'em from Angelus." He was chewing on his lip to try and curb the laughter.
She laughed. "He's got a ripe mouth on him, then, doesn't he?"
"You have no idea." Cocked an eyebrow at her. "And look who's talking."
She held her head high. "I can talk with any man in Ireland, now, thank you so much."
"And quite a few sailors, I'd wager."
Grinned, batted at him. "What of it? You're just jealous because I can talk to TWO kinds of sailors."
Looked up at her with a chuckle. "Oh? There's more than one kind?"
She rolled her eyes. "I meant Hispanic and Irish."
He chuckled. "Madison, I speak French, Gaelic, Spanish, Romanian, Italian, and a bit of German. English, vampiric, and several demon languages aside." Winked at her. "When you live a long time, you pick up certain things."
She pouted. "Well, you just ruined my day."
He grinned. "How can I make it up to you?"
Bit her lip, batted her eyes at him. "Well..."
"Yes?"
Sweet grin. "Lemme play, Puppy."
Swallowed. "With what, exactly?"
Looked at him through her eyelashes, her green eyes just barely shining through. "Please?"
Sighed. "You mean you want me to introduce you to Buffy, don't you?"
She nodded.
"If you wind up in the hospital, don't blame me, then." Sat up, pulled his shirt on. "I think they all were gonna go swimming around now. I might as well introduce you to everyone."
She squealed, and hopped up from the bed. "Really?"
Defeated sigh. Trudged toward the door. "Yeah..."
"Ooh! You have to wait! I have a new suit!"
His eyes got big. "Wait a minute, you're gonna swim, too?"
She started to root through one of the many bags she had brought up from her shopping excursion. Bless her Uncle Josh's soul for paying for it all. "Well, yeah."
He sat in a chair near the door. "God. Slayer's gonna kill me for this. I just know it." Looked toward her. "Do you have one of those little portable vacuums in there, by any chance?"
She smiled, walked next to him to buss his cheek. "I'll protect you." She walked away with a tissue wrapped package to the bathroom and called out a few minutes later, "Puppy?"
"Yeah?"
She stuck a hand out the door, revealing nothing else. "I need that robe on the chair by the armoire."
He stood, retrieved the item, and gave it to her, dutifully not even glancing through the partially open door.
She ripped it back through the door, slammed it shut and was out thirty seconds later, pulling a pair of emerald green silk thong flip flops on. They matched her eyes perfectly. She smiled at him, bundled to the throat in the hotel robe. "Aren't you swimming?"
He bit his lip again. When the hell had THAT become a habit? "Uh, no. I don't think so."
Gave him a direct pout. "Yes, you are. Go change."
"I don't have swim trunks. I don't swim."
She frowned, looked him over twice, head to toe. Picked up the phone and spoke brusquely to someone for five minutes, and hung up the phone again. "Two minutes. You will have trunks."
He cocked his head at her. "What did you do?"
"Housekeeping. Had them go buy a pair of mediums from the store across the road." Bit her lip nervously for a moment. "Promise me two or three things, Puppy?"
"Ok... What things?"
"Cater to me down there. When we're there. Kind of follow my lead, ok?"
He gave her a suspicious look. "Only if you tell me what we're doing and why."
She sighed. "I won't be jumping your bones in front of them in a passionate display of affection."
Half chuckle. "Figured that. But tell me what you WILL do."
"I'll need you directly behind me, to the side a little bit, with your far hand on my hip. And to take my robe without looking at anyone else when I hand it to you."
"Now for the why."
"Because I need to watch her. And because I'm asking you to."
He sighed. "Okay." There was a knock at the door. "You gonna get that?"
She answered the door, took the package the short brunette handed her, and handed the lady a wad of bills. "Thanks so much," she chirped, closing the door. She handed the package to Spike, ushered him to the bathroom. "Change. Oh. I might hold your hand when we first walk in, too."
He sighed, and looked at the trunks. Dark blue, but not dark enough to be confused with black. Oh, Dawn'll love this. He changed, then walked out of the bathroom, feeling kind of stupid. "Swimming. Why couldn't it be weight-lifting, or something?"
She smiled. "You look great. Two more things, ok?"
Grudging nod. "I look like a pasty, white, dead fish."
"You do not. If and when the Bitch looks at you, you cannot look down, or away, or anything. Never turn when you feel her staring at you. Only if your eyes meet, and never look away, or down first."
Cocked his head at her and gave a snort. "You mean act l'm the dominate?"
One sharp nod. "Because you are. And because you've got me running this campaign, and I am a dominate, too."
He sighed. "Okay. But what are we trying to prove? Dawn'll know that you and I aren't.. together. She might blow it."
Madison shook her head. "Dawn is smart. She usually keeps her mouth shut till she thinks she knows what's going on. She'll pick it up, and she's go with it." She grinned. "I think Dawn might even enjoy it a little bit."
Spike nodded and chuckled. "You're probably right." Squared his shoulders. "Okay. Let's go."
"Ehhh... one more thing."
Paused, looked at her. "What?"
She bit her lip. Motioned to the robe. "For this to work, body language is imperative. When I lose this... don't laugh. Don't look shocked. Look like you've seen it and you liked it, and you're comfortable with it, ok? But especially don't laugh."
He cocked his head at her, truly puzzled. "Why would I laugh? You're beautiful, Madison."
She shifted uncomfortably. "Yeah. Gorgeous. Remember that when Buffy's watching you watch me. And I will, too. I'll try to be beautiful for this to work."
He smiled at her. "You won't have to try." Opened the door for her. "After you."
She smiled, lifted her head like a queen and strolled confidently down the hall.
He trotted after her, reminding himself that this would only be an act. Madison must have something in mind that could help him with his Buffy problem, and he would go with it. They got in the elevator.
========================================================================== ==============
Buffy and Dawn were already in the pool, and after finally coaxing a reluctant Giles into the water, were splashing him.
After a moment, Giles had enough, and began splashing back at them. After all, this was a vacation, they were supposed to have fun.
Xander and Anya were lounging in pool chairs, watching the others... and occasionally making out. And Willow and Tara were sitting on the side of the pool, far from the splash fight, with their legs in the water, laughing when Buffy and Dawn managed to push Giles underwater. But all activity stilled when the new couple walked into the humid room.
Their hands tangled together, before they were all the way in, Madison whispered, "Let me lead in the room, kind of use our hands to gently move me forward. Understand?"
He gave an almost imperceptible nod, and his actions showed just how much he did understand.
She gave an almost smile as he gracefully edged her forward, following at an arm's length, hands still together. She slowly let go of his hand as she passed an empty lounging chair, but he was still in line with it. Carelessly untied the sash, let the robe fall off her shoulders, then swept it to one side, the hand Spike had been holding. It was the movement of a woman who knew, unerringly, that she would be attended.
As if it was a movement that he was totally accustomed to, Spike slid the robe off her arm and laid it on the chair. He kept his eyes focused on her, even though he could feel everyone's shocked gazes on him.
Buffy gaped, THAT was the woman. THAT WAS THE WOMAN!!!!! A violence rose in her, as she stared at her. AND SPIKE JUST... SERVED HER!
Dawn looked at them confusedly, and then her brow cleared. Well then. Buffy was gonna shit bricks. And didn't it serve her right? And, man! Madison looked great. And Madison exuded the attitude of someone who ALSO thought they looked great. The bikini was emerald green, the same color of the flip flops and her eyes. The suit was silk, and there were gold threads woven through it. It showed off all her curves to perfection, the bottom riding low on her hips, and her skin, a milky gold not from the sun, but her incredible heritage. Everything blended perfectly, including her jet black hair curling gently, but seductively down her back, and her lips and eyes shone with the lightest sheen of bronze. She was a goddess. She brought one shoulder forward, not even a centimeter forward, a silent beckon for Spike to touch her. As she felt him walking behind her, she scanned everyone's faces in the pool. With the cool detachment of royalty to peasants.
Spike's hands rested on her shoulders, then slid down and back up to her shoulders again. The vampire was looking at her as if she was a goddess and he was her willing worshiper, ready and able to provide for her every need. He then ducked his head behind her neck slightly. To onlookers, it appeared as if he was kissing her neck. In reality, he had needed a second to chew his lip. All the staring was making him nervous.
She rolled her back, the movement un-noticeable except to move his hand to her hip. There. Better.
Buffy's eyes were riveted on Spike.
He felt her staring at him. Felt the jealousy coming off her in waves, and it gave him new strength. He moved to Madison's neck again, and didn't fake the kiss that he planted there. She cocked her hips to the side, serving to slide his hand across her front more. Spike allowed his hand to slide around to her stomach, gently stroking the skin he found there. Planted another kiss on her neck, dutifully resisting the urge to look up and sneer at Buffy.
She spared him a touch, his goddess, one delicate golden hand to the back of his neck, seemingly holding him to her, but really giving him a reassuring scritch. She seemed to be complete with her appraisal of the people in the pool. Lifted one eyebrow in barely-there interest. "That's them?" All breezily casual.
Spike raised his head and gave the pool a quick glance, fighting back a grin when he saw that Giles' mouth was hanging open slightly. Dismissive. "Yeah. Them."
"Mmm..." Disinterest. Bent slowly, Spike still at her back to slip off her shoes. Stayed that way a moment. She regained her posture just as slowly, holding the delicate flip flops, then without looking back, handed them out, as she had with her robe.
Just as gracefully as before, attending to his mistress, the vampire took them and set them on the chair near the robe. He leaned close, made it look like he was nibbling her ear. "What do we do now?"
She turned her head to *almost* nuzzle at his lips. "Follow me, don't touch me again until I've stopped walking. I want this graceful." She started towards the four foot mark. No stairs. Her hips swayed gently with every movement. She finally stopped a foot or so from the ledge.
He came up behind her and did as she had told him, resting a hand on her shoulder, and running the other one down her side and around to her stomach.
She placed her hand over his a moment, caressed his, then let it drop.
Buffy's eyes flared. Damned whore.
Madison's eyes swept everyone again, and she said indolently, "Who are they?"
He waved a hand, pointing at each one in turn. "Giles, Dawn, Xander, Anya, Willow, Tara." Pretended to count off on his hand. "Oh. And Buffy."
A small smirking grin took her full lips. "Buffy?" She said, inclining her head to the blonde.
Buffy tried to stand as tall, and look as graceful as possible for being engaged in a splash fight when her highness had walked in. Tried for an elegant nod.
Madison swept a hand down Spike's cheek, moving his head gently to be beside hers. Gave an amused laugh as her eyes raked Buffy over. "You didn't tell me she was so... small..."
"Play your hand around my bikini top," she murmured, her lips almost not moving with the words.
He did as she asked. "Yeah.. Well.. never came up, luv."
She shrugged one shoulder elegantly, dismissively. "Mm..."
Buffy was almost shaking in anger. Small??? SMALL would be the kinds of BITS they would be finding that bitch's BODY in for WEEKS!
Dawn was truly depressed that she couldn't applaud.
Madison gave Spike a frank look. "I want to swim."
Under different circumstances, Spike might have grinned, then picked her up and tossed her into the pool. But now... "Can I get you anything, pet?"
She looked around. "A few towels, Puppy."
He grinned, but managed to change it into a quick look of desire. And walked off to do as she asked.
Buffy was stopped from moving forward by Giles weighing a hand on her shoulder.
As Spike walked past Madison, she ran a hand over his back, her fingers trailed off as he kept walking to get the towels.
In the towel room, he had to pause and breathe for a moment. This was taking a lot out of him. It wasn't easy to act like he liked Madison THAT way. It just didn't come naturally. He shook his head a couple of times, reminding himself that there was a point to this, and grabbed two towels, then headed back out into the pool area. Time to test the dominance thing. He deliberately locked eyes with Buffy, making sure that he only projected a, 'sorry, you missed the boat' expression.
Buffy's eyes were on his, confusion and TONS of pissy female written there.
Oh, he wanted to gloat. Wanted it soooooo badly. But no. Be a good puppy. Play the game. Continued to stare at her. She would look away first, or his eyes would dry out. One or the other.
She shifted suddenly, her eyes jerking to a different side of the room.
YES!! He shot Madison an excited, 'Did you see THAT!?' look that no one but her and Dawn caught. Since everyone had a clear view of her, she only allowed a slow smile to take her face, that the others interpreted as her admiring what was hers. The satisfaction was visible to everyone, but only Spike understood fully what it was REALLY for.
He placed the towels on the chair with Madison's robe and flip-flops, then he sat on the side of the pool, dangling his legs in the water.
"Puppy, I want to swim."
He dropped down into the water, doing his best not to flinch at the temperature difference, and turned around, offering her a hand.
She took one of them, gliding into the water as smoothly as possible. She thanked God that there was no embarrassing splash.
Buffy watched her, mentally agape. What the HELL was going on??? It was like.... like he was... She didn't even know what. But it nauseated her.
Madison gave him a small smile, and ducked to be totally submerged in the water, came back up, her hair already slicked back, but tendrils were getting ready to fall in her face. She hoped she didn't look ridiculous. Gave Spike a hidden apprehensive look.
He smiled at her, and brought one hand up to run through her soaked hair, stroking it out of her face. He leaned forward, resting their foreheads together, knowing that Buffy would recognize the vampiric gesture as one of deep affection. He pulled back, running his fingers through her hair again. "Beautiful..", he whispered, loud enough for the others to hear.
Buffy was gritting her teeth. What the hell was he doing?? Did she even KNOW he was a vampire?? Would ash dirty the pool ever so much?? I mean, really... in the big scheme of things. And THEN, she saw what that *girl* did.
Lifted Spike's hand out of the water, bit gently at the tip of it. Their friendship bond. With, of course, for the Scoobies' benefit, a smoky edge. Being like this with Spike was a little disconcerting, and not right. But everyone else in the dead-silent room was buying it, and she believed that any minute now, Buffy was going to explode all over the walls.
Spike returned the gesture, the motion and ritual relaxing him slightly. He purred for her, hoping that Buffy didn't know enough about vampires to be able to tell a friendship purr from a love purr. Then he got an idea. If he was gauging Buffy's emotional state correctly, he knew what would push the final button. He stopped his nibbling on Madison's finger. Said, truthfully, just changed the context a little. "I love you."
She just gave him a slightly less 'Ice-Queen' smile. "Love you, too," she murmured, knowing her voice would carry across the water.
His words struck Buffy. Hard. In the chest. No. He didn't love THAT. He was.... he was supposed to love HER. He hadn't even introduced her to them yet, and he was making these kinds of declarations in front of every member of the Scooby crew.
Spike felt the daggers that Buffy was glaring into his back, and emotionally flinched. God, this hurt. Looked at Madison for support, knowing that he wanted to just run over to Buffy and tell her what was really going on.
She put one hand on his cheek, keeping her eyes trained on his. Her thumb moved over his cheek a moment, hoped he would realize that she felt for him, but THIS was the way they had chosen, and THIS was the way they would go.
An almost imperceptible nod at the unspoken agreement. He would hold out as long as he could. Licked his lips.
Xander, meanwhile, got up and walked over. "So, Spike... Finally gave up on Buffy, huh?"
The vampire looked up, fire in his eyes for an instant, then it was gone. Shrugged. "Yeah." Looked at Madison, adoration in his eyes, not entirely faked. "It's much better to have someone who loves you back." Took a deep breath. "Madison, this is Xander. Xander, Madison."
Madison looked Xander up and down slowly. One arch of her eyebrow showed his lack of worthiness in her eyes. Returned her gaze to Spike. "What does he do?"
The vampire pretended not to remember. "Uh.. Oh. He works construction. That's his fiance', Anya, over there. She runs the magic shop I told you about, with Giles' help."
Her eyes swept over Anya to rest on the older gentleman, with a hand on the blonde woman's shoulder. Cocked her head to the side. "You didn't mention him dating," slight sniff, "her."
Giles' hand left Buffy's shoulder very quickly, and Buffy slid to the side a bit.
Spike repressed a growl at THAT memory. "He's not. He's like her... dad or something? I dunno. I don't really pay attention to them anymore." Cupped her cheek. "I've been.. busy lately."
She gave a small smile, turned her head into his hand. "Pleasantly, I hope?"
Raised eyebrow. "Oh, I think you know the answer to that, luv."
She smiled again, saying absently as she looked at the others, "Yes... most delightful mornings..." Her eyes seemed to light on Dawn. "You're Dawn?" She was the only person Madison had directly addressed. She knew everyone caught the significance of that.
Dawn nodded, a bit wary. "Yup! That's me!"
Spike grinned. "Come on over, Bit. Someone'd like to meet you."
Dawn made her way slowly over, feeling Buffy's eyes shooting imaginary executionary bullets in her back. Finally, she was beside Spike, but slightly behind him.
Spike sighed almost imperceptibly. This was getting hard. And painful. Now they'd gotten Buffy mad at Dawn. "Bit, this is Madison. Madison, this is Dawn. She's my best friend."
Buffy was poised. One harsh word to her sister, and this whore went down like staked vamp.
But Madison gave Dawn her sweetest smile yet. "Hello, Dawn." Turned her eyes to Spike. "I thought you were exaggerating how beautiful she was."
Spike smiled. "Would I lie to you, pet?"
"I should hope not." She winked at Dawn. "Now it seems he didn't give you nearly enough credit."
Dawn flushed, and ducked her head, knowing her role, playing it. Heck, even slightly enjoying it. She reached over, her hand touching Spike's underwater, squeezed their fingers together.
Spike relaxed a little at Dawn's touch, shot her a grateful look that everyone but her and Madison missed. Then turned back to Madison. "Oh, and over there are Willow and Tara. They're the Wiccas I was tellin' you 'bout."
She seemed to recall him saying they were pretty nice and well-meaning most of the time. Gave a small smile. Half wave.
Willow didn't even look at her, she was focused on that look on Buffy's face, and wondering if she would have to throw a protective field around Madison to keep Buffy from killing her in about two more minutes of this. Tara returned the wave shyly.
Madison turned and leaned her back against Spike's chest, as though she had every right to. "So, Dawn, how old are you?"
"Um... fifteen."
Madison gave her a disbelieving glance. "Well. *I* wouldn't have carded you for cigarettes, that's for sure."
Dawn gave a pleased grin. "Thanks."
Spike cleared his throat. A 'you're pushing it', a-hem.
She gave a small laugh, removing herself from Spike's chest to smile at both him and Dawn. "It seems that Spike doesn't want me telling you that you can smoke." She frowned. "And you can't. You'll get crow's feet by the time you're twenty-five."
Satisfied nod from the vampire. "Listen to Madison, Bit. She knows stuff."
Buffy added sarcastically, "Because she's... what? Eighteen?"
Spike looked at her. "Twenty, Slayer. And no one asked you." HE was shocked at the venom in his tone.
Madison turned a cool stare on the graceless slayer. "Age isn't a hindrance in anything I do. But Spike tells me there's some sort of... age limit on your occupation? I'm not really sure though... it kind of bored me."
Spike was very glad that his expression wasn't visible to anyone but Madison and Dawn, because he winced.
Buffy just stared at this... impudent girl. "You sure can pick 'em, Spike."
He closed his eyes in a long blink, composing himself. Opened them. Looked at Buffy for an instant, then turned a look of pure love to Madison. "Yeah... I know..." He knew he didn't sound as shaky as he felt, but he gave Madison a look that said he was reaching the end of his rope.
Madison addressed Buffy, venom undertones lacing her words, "Yes, he's begun to love women who see *all* that he is, and love him for every piece of it." Slowly wound her eyes over the slayer in disgust. "I think it's a vast improvement."
Spike blinked. Uh oh. Something told him that the launch button had just been hit. "Uh.. Madison..."
She lifted her hand. "No, Puppy." Her compassion, care, and love for him rang in her voice, in those two words.
He bit his lip, but didn't say anything more.
Buffy's eyes glittered. "Would you like to discuss this somewhere else?"
Her voice was low, threatening. "Oh, absolutely."
Madison pulled herself out of the pool with grace and ease, not even stopping to see if Buffy was following. But she was. Had anyone NOT been intently focused on the tension, it would have made a pretty picture. They slammed into the towel room, the door closing behind them firmly.
The door closing snapped Spike out of the scared daze he was in. He began splashing toward the stairs. "Bloody hell! She's gonna kill her!"
Dawn started trailing him. "Who's gonna kill who??"
He got out of the pool and jogged toward the towel room. "I don't KNOW yet!"
========================================================================== ===============
The women faced off. Madison started. "What the HELL is wrong with you??? Honestly! What the HELL is wrong with you?? HE LOVES YOU! And you- you've got him convinced he's BENEATH you! Did you know he DREAMS about *you*, Buffy?" She spat at the blonde. "Has nightmares about clawing his way out of a grave, and FAILING YOU! What is wrong with you?? He's good, and decent, and KIND, and he'd DIE for you, you STUPID BITCH!"
Buffy broke into her tirade. "Who the HELL are you?? Please. Calling him 'Puppy' like he's your damned dog!"
Madison's voice dropped, and there was violent intent in it. "You treat him like a dog, *I* treat him like a man."
Buffy glared at Madison. "One night with him isn't going to change your life."
The emerald-clad girl nodded in agreement. "Maybe it shouldn't have. But it did. And it changed his life, too. It's too bad I can't say the same for you." She made a disgusted noise. "Do you even know?? Do you know he LOVES to be scritched? Do you even CARE? Do you know that he almost cries when Dawn hurts herself? That he has two great fears?? Being alone, and failing you? Failing *you.* Being beneath *you.*" She gave the Slayer a searing, scathing, disgusted look. "Quite frankly, *Buffy*," her lip curled with the name, "I've never been more convinced that HE'S too good for you to lick his shoes." She scoffed. "Beneath YOU? Wrong way, sweetheart. YOU'RE beneath HIM."
The door slammed open, revealing a seemingly pissed and dripping vampire. "Madison. Stop."
She tossed him a heated look. "Why? To spare her? Because I might have made her pull her head out of her ass long enough to see what she could HAVE but will NEVER deserve? Because she's *kind* to you? Why, Puppy?" Her eyes pleaded with him. She truly didn't understand.
Buffy stepped forward. "You-"
"Because words are more painful than blows, Madison." He grabbed her arm gently. "Come with me, please." Glanced at Buffy, his eyes full of unspoken apology, and pulled Madison from the room.
She tossed a glare at Buffy, a vow in her eyes that she would finish what she had started. But Spike had said please. So she followed him.
Spike gently pulled Madison over by the water heater, unaware that they were being followed. "Madison. You shouldn't have done that. I don't need you defending me."
Her eyes were flooding. "Yes, you do! Someone needs to, Puppy. I can't let her abuse you like that."
Buffy watched them silently. Along with the Ice Queen act, the sensual actions, touches, glances, had been dropped as well. She tilted her head to the side.
Spike sighed, blinking back a couple of tears of his own. "Madison, first I want to thank you. I've never had a friend who'd stand up for me like that. Buffy could have hurt you. And as for her abusing me, she's not. She's just being who she is. And I love her, and it hurts me when someone yells at her like that."
She hugged him, her tears loosed now, tucked her head against his chest. "I'd rather her beat me, than talk to you horribly. A-and, I don't want that to be who she is." She looked up at him, arms still around his waist, nothing sexual, only giving and wanting comfort. "I want her to pet you, and scritch you, and love you." Her bottom lip shook violently. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I never mean to hurt you."
He bit his lip, trying to keep from allowing her tears to trigger his. "It's okay, Madison. It's okay. I'm fine. I just.. I love Buffy. Please don't talk to her like that again, okay?"
She looked up at him, almost petulantly. "Why? I mean... how- how can you love her??"
Buffy's head tilted in the other direction, her lip between her teeth, suddenly anxious. Why did he love her? How did he love her?
Two tears escaped Spike's control, and he didn't seem to notice. "It's simple, really. When I love someone, it's forever. I never stop loving anyone. I can't. I love unconditionally, and it's not always a good thing. I get hurt, and I break, but I recover. It's a gift. And a curse. I've always been like this. To me, love means forever." Deep sigh. "That's why things from so long ago still affect me, Madison. That's why I hate the words 'beneath me' so much. That's why it hurts me to see a porcelain doll. And that's why, no matter what Buffy does to me, I'll never stop loving her."
Madison's eyes gained wisdom with every word he spoke. Became a little less young, a little more wise. Then they slid shut. She opened them again, to look into his. Stood on her toes, carefully kissed each cheek, then pulled him to down rest her forehead on his. "I stand by everything I say. But I hope she doesn't break your heart anymore. I hope she heals you." Small shaky smile. "I hope she makes you happy. I hope you smile more." She turned to walk away, because it hurt too much to try to not cry.
Spike sniffled, and darted forward with vamp speed to hug her from behind, allowing his tears to fall into her already wet hair. "I hope so, too."
She let out one sob. Lifted one hand to his hair, a small pet. "I love you, Puppy."
"I love you too, Madison." He held her close, resting his head on her shoulder.
Buffy wiped violently at her eyes. No tears falling... but it was close. Oh, God. She hurt. She had hurt him. She had hurt herself. Had hurt them. And that girl had faced off with her. Because she... loved Spike. But... she wasn't in love with him. She cared so much, but not because she wanted Spike for herself, because she wanted happiness for Spike. They had been played like fiddles by extremely skilled musicians. She knew now. That she wanted something. Something with Spike. She just had to figure out how to do it.