Buffy shifted uncomfortably. Two days. Shifted again on the floor of
the Ohana. Two days since she had... Bad Buffy... She almost whimpered.
Had been with Spike at LEAST ten times in varying positions..? Bit her
bottom lip. It HAD been two days. And Spike was just... laying in the
back room... and the door DID have a lock on it...
Spike, for his part, wasn't asleep. They had just gotten off of a particularly bumpy stretch of road that had kept him awake. He sighed and rolled over. He'd always slept better on his side, anyway.
Buffy stood, walked into the room, closed and locked it quietly behind her.
The vampire rolled over at the click of the lock. "Slayer? It's too early for me to drive."
She was pulling off her top. "Good."
His eyes got wide. "Buffy. Luv... Uh. Your pals are right through the wall..." A small grin started in spite of himself.
Started to crawl up the bed towards him. Whispered, "We'll have to be quiet then, hmmm?"
Spike's grin turned feral. "I can if you can, luv."
She fused her mouth to his.
Spike wrapped his arms around her, hands finding and starting to undo the clasp on her bra. He growled softly into her mouth.
She bit down on his bottom lip, helped him out of his shirt, only breaking the kiss for the time it took to tug it over his head.
His hands now found their way to the button of her pants, which he undid skillfully, and rolled on top of her.
The cell phone rang. *Perfect* timing. He pulled it out of his pocket. "WHAT!?"
"P-puppy?"
"Madison. Hey... I'm kind of.. busy.. right no- Now." Buffy was nipping her way down his chest.
"Well, you just, you said to call when I got in and-"
"Yeah. I did. And.. You got in.. okay, then?" Must hurry. End call soon. Focus on Buffy. Who was currently biting across his abs.
"N-no. Actually, I'm-" Whimper. "OW! That HURT! Sorry, Puppy. There was um... an, an accident."
Attention shifted. "What?! You're okay, though. Right?" He pulled back slightly from Buffy, leaning on the headboard and holding up a hand to ask her for a moment. She jerked back, looked at him confusedly. Which was pointless, because his eyes were glazed over, intently focused on the conversation.
"Um... Fine... I just- OWWWCH!" She yelped, almost whimpered. "Sorry, Puppy. The EMT's are checking me over and we're going to the hospital."
"Madison, I-"
"Don't fret, Puppy. I'll be out of there in two days, good as new. But my battery's dying, and I didn't want you to worry when you couldn't get a hold of me and-" muffled scream. "It's BROKEN! HELLO? Don't MOVE IT!" She let out a string of Spanish and Gaelic swear words, jumbled together. She came back on the line, breathing kind of heavily. "So," she said, forcing a smile into her voice, just for him, "I just... didn't want you to worry, ok? So don't."
"Right. Right on that. Madis-"
"I'll be perfect in two days. I promise."
"Madison! You broke BONES! That's not gonna fix itself in two-"
"Two days," she repeated. "Say 'I love you', so I can hang up."
"Madison, are you sure?" He didn't like her hurting. Every part of him wanted to run out, seize the wheel, turn the Ohana around and drive straight back to South Dakota.
"Puppy. Battery dying. Me, fine. C'mon."
He sighed, running a hand over his sleep tousled hair. "I am calling you in two days. TWO days. And you'd better be in bed resting, or else."
"Yeah, yeah."
Small grin and an equally small head shake. "I love you, pet."
The signal was fading. "I love you, too, Pup-" Her battery died.
"Madison!?" He dropped the phone onto the bed with a growl. "Bugger it! Bloody pissin' hell!"
Buffy sighed from where she had been laying, looking disgruntled, tousled, topless, and irritated. "What?"
"Madison got in an accident. She's got to go the hospital, broke at LEAST one bone that I know of. 'Don't worry, Puppy'," he mocked. "Bleeding bint. Needs a good over-the-knee, s'what she needs. S'what I should do next time I see her. Bloody stupid little girl. She better be a'right." The last was said as a threat.
Buffy stood, buttoned her jeans, and fixed her bra and shirt. Walking to the door, her eyes glinting with irritation, she said, "Hope she's ok, Spike. Sleep well."
He sighed. Damn. His *wonderful* luck again. "Slayer. Wait."
She turned, one hand on the knob, eyebrow arched impatiently. "Yes?"
"You don't have to go. I.. we.. Oh damn it. Nevermind." Sighed again.
Shrugged her shoulders. "Exactly. Forget it."
"What do you think is going on here, Slayer? Because I'm confused." He just looked at her. Not really expecting an answer.
She cocked her head to the side. "Well, I was gonna have sex with you. I don't know what you were doing-"
"That's what I thought."
"Well, the best laid plans, yeah?" Unlocked the door.
Couldn't resist. "You could say that. Luv, come on. I'm still here. Why are you leaving?"
Rested her hands on her hips. "She's still here, too. I can feel her. Hogging the bed. I really don't like her."
He cocked his head at her. "Madison's never been in here, luv. But I know what you meant." He leaned back against the headboard. "Let me assure you that she's not hogging the bed."
She slid her hand over the lock, turned it. "Don't ever think about her when I'm around, ok?"
He shook his head, truly not understanding. "Why would I? She's my friend. That'd be like thinking about... Tara or something."
She pulled off her shirt, shimmied out of her jeans. Glared at him in girly pink underwear, complete with lace. "I don't share. At all. I don't want her all, 'Oh, Puppy-ing' you when I'm around."
He chuckled slightly. "It's just a nickname, luv. I've got at least one for each of you, ya know."
She just arched her brow, one bared hip cocked out at an angle, a hand resting on it.
He let out a quiet growl. "Trust me, luv. When we're together, Madison is the furthest thing from my mind."
Small nod. Shifted a bit self-consciously.
He got up slowly, stalking toward her predatorily. "Aren't you getting cold standing there?"
A slow smile curled her lips. "Are you gonna warm me up?"
"What do you think?" Moved with vamp speed, tossing her onto the bed and pouncing on top of her.
========================================================================== =========
The next day, with Giles driving, the Scooby gang was chattering. Not about anything, really. Just.... talking. They were discussing the properties of Wiglam foot, whether that guy who does New Year's is a demon, and about Dr. Phil. Everyone but Spike.
He was busy pacing in the back room. It was getting lon- Boring, being back there all the time. Maybe, just as an experiment, he could go out and just... see what the others were up to. He opened the door quietly, slipped out, and sat in one of the folding chairs that they'd picked up a few days earlier.
Buffy glanced up as he settled himself. Eyes heated, but she nodded. Dawn noticed him, too, scrinched her nose up at him playfully.
He gave Dawn a quick grin, then settled down in his chair to see what was happening.
"I think he made a pact with the devil," Willow told the group.
Xander shook his head. "Wait a minute, are we talking about Dr. Phil or that New Years guy again?"
"New Year's guy. Dr. Phil is a Psych-God."
"Ah. What's his name again?"
"Dick Clark," Spike said quietly.
Tara nodded her agreement. "Yeah. We couldn't remember his name."
"I wonder if the government chryogenically freezes him every year, and start to thaw him for the Thanksgiving parade, and then he's all loose and ready for new year," Dawn enthused.
Spike chuckled. "Personally, I think he's a demon. Or a vampire. But I doubt that." He was directing his speech to Dawn and Buffy, kind of ignoring the others.
"Nah," Buffy told him. "He's got a tan. But demon? I see it. Wonder if the world would collapse if I had to kill him."
Willow giggled. "I wonder what kind of power he has, then? I mean... whoooooo watch the ball drop, I'm so big and bad..."
Xander laughed. "Yeah. What if, if you killed him," he looked at Buffy. "Then the New Year would never come?"
She shuddered in fake horror. "Oh no! One less wretchedly horrible holiday I'd have to endure?? What EVER would I do?"
Spike chuckled. "And, no one would ever get older. That might be a plus."
Xander chuckled. "You would know, Dead-boy Junior."
Buffy nodded her agreement with Xander. "I'm almost getting wrinkles."
Spike cocked his head at her with a half grin. "No."
Made a face. Frowned, and pointed to the lines between her eyebrows. "See??"
Spike chuckled. "I do that too. And my body is twenty-four. Just don't frown."
She shrugged in agreement. Smiled hugely. Started talking like Harmony. "Like! OHHHHH my God! I found these shoes at the mall, and... I TOTALLY had to have them." Grinned. "Perky like that?"
He winced. "Hell no. Less... less... annoying and grating."
Gave her patented, "I'm Buffy, and I'm always fine" smile. "Better?"
He sighed. "Much." Shook his head. "Please, don't ever do that again."
Xander chuckled. "He's been Harmony-ized. Turns all of us off to Clueless sooner or later."
The vampire snorted. "You're telling me."
Dawn glowered. "She was trailer-park in the worst way."
Spike nodded. "No argument here."
Buffy yawned, laid down on the floor where she was seated. "No argument. I'd ALWAYS take Cordelia over her."
Spike nodded. He wondered if any of them knew where Cordelia was then, anyway. Gave a mental shrug. Well, she might not even be where he'd seen her by then. It had been over a year earlier. Decided to comment. "She's in LA, now. I think. Saw her there. With Peaches."
A slow hush fell, Buffy sat up. "How's... she doing?"
He shrugged, not really comfortable with all the attention suddenly being on him. "Uh, she looked fine, I guess. Seems Peaches started himself some sort of detective agency, and Cordelia's his secretary, or something like that. They also had a little Irish guy that I'd never seen before."
Xander gaped at the vampire. "Cordy's *working* with ANGEL!"
Buffy winced. Angel hadn't mentioned when he- after Mom- She swallowed.
Spike bit his lip for an instant, seeing Buffy's wince. "Uh, well. That was over a year ago, really. Back with the Gem of Amara, if you'll remember. I'm passin' on out of date information."
She smiled, a perfectly fine Buffy smile that the Scoobies had bought from day one. "That's still cool. I hope she likes it there." With Angel.
Spike gave her a look that said that he didn't believe her 'I'm fine' bit for one instant. "Yeah."
Xander looked around. Time for subject change. "Ok, new topic. Everyone name your favorite TV show, cartoon, book, whatever."
Buffy gave Xander a half-genuine smile. She loved him. "Mmm... I love Will and Grace."
Xander grinned. "I'm a die hard Survivor fan."
"Dawson's Creek," Dawn chirped.
"Felicity," the Wicca's admitted.
Spike sighed. Contributing is good, right? "Passions. Most of the time."
"Keeping Up Appearances," Giles called from the drivers seat. "British comedy."
Spike snorted.
"Are You Being Served is better," Dawn challenged.
Xander laughed. "I like Mr. Bean."
Spike chuckled. "You would."
Anya said, "I like the show.. with the chanting, and the man with the 'Final Thought'."
Spike cocked his head. "Huh?"
"And... the people. They fight. Smash chairs, and chant. Jerry Jerry..."
Spike laughed. "Jerry Springer! You've got to be kidding!"
She gave a small pout. "Do you know how much work I could get off those people?? All those vengeance commissions??"
Xander patted her shoulder. "Honey, you aren't a vengeance demon anymore, remember?"
"Yes, I know. I'll get old and die like the rest of you."
Spike 'a-hem'ed.
She made a face at him. "Yes, because you're so damn special. You're the only one who won't get wrinkles." She looked at Xander. "Don't go bald."
Spike bit his lip to keep from laughing at that mental image.
Xander shot the vampire a mean look. Then turned to Anya. "Don't worry, honey. That's what Rogain and the HCFM is for."
She smiled approvingly. "Good."
A snort escaped the vampire, followed by a very small laugh. Cleared his throat, composing himself. It wasn't *that* funny. Really.
Buffy looked up, shared an intimate grin with him.
He chuckled quietly. Then, "HCFM?"
Xander sighed. "Hair Club For Men."
Another low chuckle. "Oh."
Dawn gave a giggling snort.
Spike shook his head and got up. He had come to a conclusion. These people needed help. And what did that say for him? Went back in the back room, leaving the door open a bit this time. That was new.
Buffy just smiled softly, went to the kitchenette for a bottle of water.
Xander grinned. "So. Who wants to admit their most embarrassing moment. Most embarrassing gets the last brownie."
Buffy shook her head. "Soooo passing."
Xander shrugged. "Well, that was my idea. Anyone got anything else?"
Buffy grinned. "I'm napping, because someone should stay up with Spike when he drives. Make sure he stays awake. Is that ok?"
Xander cocked his head at her. "So you're going to stay up, to make sure that a *vampire* stays awake at *night*?"
She gave him a look. "He's been SLEEPING at night a lot lately, too. But, I guess that's fine. Winding up wrapped around a telephone pole is ok."
Xander laughed. "Okay, okay. You made your point. Good night/day. Whatever."
She grinned with a small nod, and disappeared into the back room, telling Dawn she was stealing her couch. Her sister smiled and shrugged.
Spike was stretched out on the bed, staring at a stuffed cat on the nightstand.
She came in, shut the door behind her, settled on the couch. "Whatcha got?"
He sat up slightly and looked at her. "Nothin. My cat thing, that's all." Stuck the pen he'd been holding in a drawer.
She shrugged. Laid her head on the arm of the couch. "You came out to play."
Cocked his head at her. "Huh?"
"Nothing. You just... you came out."
He shrugged, slightly defensive. "Yeah. Gets boring in here all the time. That's all."
She gave him a small smile. "Just nice to see you was all."
He grinned. "Really?" Moved to sit on the end of the bed. "Any particular reason?"
She shrugged. "Dawn misses you. Xander has no one to pick on."
Grin faded slightly. "Oh." Went to lay back down. "Funny. I was kind of hoping that other people missed me, too."
She moved to the bed with him, laid against his side. "Really? Who did you want to miss you?"
He put one arm around her. "Namely? You."
One arm slid across his stomach to play at his opposite side. "Hm... I don't like seeing you and not being able to have you."
Half grin. "Hmm. Good news, though. We're findin' a hotel, tomorrow."
She cuddled deeper to his side. Pulled back. "Just a second."
He cocked his head at her. "What?"
She locked the door. Came back to lay down, where she had been. Nuzzled his shoulder. "Mm."
He chuckled. "Oh." Stifled yawn.
She nodded. "Something like that." Slid one leg over his, now laying half on his chest. Just laying. Just cuddling.
"Comfortable, Slayer?"
She picked up one of his hands, laid it on her hip, a few of his fingers slipping under the waistband. "Mm-hmm."
He chuckled quietly. "Me too."
======================================================
Buffy was curled into the passenger's seat, a blanket wrapped around her, staring blearily out the windshield.
Spike glanced over at her. "If you want to get your cot and go to sleep, luv, you can. I'll be fine."
Shook her head stubbornly. "I'm ok. Blood, water, coffee, food?"
"I'm okay, luv. But if you want something, go get it."
She dropped the blanket, and went to get box of cereal, came back, curled in the chair. She was back to beaters and blue shorts. Crunched the Lucky Charms.
He glanced over at her, half grinning. Reached a hand over, stuck it in the cereal box and extracted a handful of cereal. Flicked a couple of pieces into his mouth and chewed slowly.
Buffy was dropping cereal back in the box, carefully going through her handful. Smiled hugely, then reached over, made Spike empty his handful back in the box.
He glanced at her again. "Okay. Explain that?"
She smiled again, for real, and almost shyly, then emptied her handful into his palm. Marshmallows. Every last one.
Well. There was that annoying mushy feeling in his stomach. He smiled at her, and handed half the marshmallows back, every one of the hearts included.
She ducked her head, and chewed thoughtfully.
He turned his eyes back to the road, taking a couple of his marshmallows into his mouth and chewing slowly. "Luv?", he asked after he swallowed.
"Mm?"
"What are we? This... relationship, I mean." Didn't look at her. "Ya know what? Forget I asked that. I hate uncomfortable silences."
She mulled over it. She hated this, this not knowing. "We're... friends. With benefits. The good kinds."
Half nod. "Alright then." Went back to watching the road, eating the last of his marshmallows.
"Right?" She said questioningly. She didn't know. The thought of being with him in a relationship made her quake in terror, but the thought of anyone else doing the same with him, unbidden, Madison rose in her mind, was intolerable.
"I'm willing to be whatever you need me to be, luv. Whatever I did to finally... Whatever happened back at the hotel. I just don't want things to go back to the way they were." Slight sigh.
Confused face scrunch. "... the way we were...?"
"You hating me." Sigh. "Me being... Never mind."
"We're past nevermind-ing, Spike. What?"
"Beneath you."
She turned her head, to look out her window. "I was scared, angry when I said that."
"I know." Kept his eyes on the road. "But you meant it."
She turned her head to look at his profile. "Yeah. I thought I meant it. I thought I was right."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "But?"
"I didn't. I wasn't."
Quiet chuckle. "There's something I never thought I'd hear. The Slayer admitting that she was wrong about something." His tone was bordering on playful.
She smiled, chucked a Lucky Charm at him half-heartedly.
He chuckled. "The Watcher's gonna get you for getting food on the floor."
She made a face at him. "Giles would never get me."
He laughed a little. "No. You're right. He'd prolly blame it on me."
Sniff. "Of course he would." Looked at him. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Was I- how can-" she stopped, bit her lip, and sighed, pouting. She sucked at words. Why didn't she just grunt?? "Why didn't you buy my seduction?"
They were at a stop light, so he swiveled the drivers seat to look at her, a soft smile on his face. "I know you were trying, luv. But that sort of thing doesn't really come naturally to you. You're a... candlelight, romantic dinner, kind of person. Not a seductress. That's one of the things I love about you."
She gave a tiny, but firm pout.
Cocked his head at her. "What did you think it was?"
"What what was?"
"Why I didn't buy it."
She bit her lip, shrugged. "I thought I did something wrong. Didn't move right, or say it right."
He chuckled. "Nope. You're perfect. I just know you too well, that's all."
Looked at him through her lashes. "I looked ridiculous, didn't I?"
"No. You were beautiful. Beyond beautiful. Radiant." Returned his eyes to the road when the light turned green.
Drew her knees up again, curling around the cereal box. "Oh."
Glanced at her. "Did I say something wrong?"
Shook her head, digging in the box. "No?"
"Was that a question?"
Shook her head. Mumbled into the opening of the box, "You just... called me beautiful."
He nodded. "Yeah. And radiant. You are."
Kept rooting through the cereal.
He was confused. "What's wrong?"
Tucked her hair behind her ear, looked up at him. "You really think so, don't you?" It was said in half-wonder.
He cocked his head. "Yes..."
She gave a little grin. "I thought you always said that to get in my pants."
He laughed quietly. "Nope. That was a bonus." Wagged an eyebrow at her.
Rolled her eyes. "Well, that ended YOUR brief period of time in Buffy briefs."
Gave her the pout that Madison had taught him. "Sorry..."
She laughed. "Yeah yeah..."
Chuckled quietly.
=====================================================
Madison was rooting through the fridge when her cell rang. She picked it up off the counter. "Hello?"
"Madison. Are you resting?"
Jerked a moment. "Uhhh... Yeah. Yeah... Just... sitting in bed. Resting."
"Hmm. Don't quite think I believe you, pet." Slight chuckle. "How do you expect to heal if you don't rest?"
Smiled. "Well, walk it off, all that stuff."
Concerned tone. "Is it bad? Are you hurting?"
"Aw. No, Puppy. I told you I'd be fine in two days. I'm fine."
"Humans don't heal that fast, pet. Hell, it takes me a good half a week to heal a broken bone or three."
Shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I'm still fine."
"Not buying." Half snort. "Do you know what you did to me when you said you'd been in an accident? I nearly ran up, commandeered the wheel, turned this bloody thing around and went straight back to South Dakota. Scooby Gang be damned."
She grinned, hopped up to sit on the counter. "Thanks, Puppy. But Madre took care of me. And Will is still catering to my every whim."
Spike chuckled. "Well, good to know someone's helping you." Sigh. "I wish I could be there to help, too. We're in a hotel again. Made it to DC early this morning."
"Yeah? Having fun?"
"Well... I don't think you'll believe my answer to that one."
"You're not?"
"No, I am. Remember the last major conversation we had?"
"Before the accident?"
"Yeah. When you were on the plane."
"Yeah."
"It's happened again. Twice." There was quite a bit of male pride in the vampire's voice.
She shook her head. "Numbers and sounds are irrelevant to me, Puppy. Please, remember this."
He laughed. "Sorry, pet. Sorry."
"Males. All.... Grr... I'm so sexy and primal."
He made a whimpering sound. "Even puppies?"
She melted. "Not my Puppy. So, how's" ('bitchy') "Buffy?"
Sigh. "She's fine. Ooh! Guess what she said!"
"Hmm?"
Took a deep breath. "She said that she was wrong. When she told me that I was beneath her? She said that *she* was *wrong*." There was a bounce in his voice to match the one he'd just preformed on the hotel bed.
A huge smile crossed her face. "Well, maybe she isn't as mentally challenged as I thought."
Snort. "Madison. Play nice. Oh, and she had a request for me to make of you."
Warily, "What?"
"Don't call me 'Puppy' with her around." He laughed. "I have no idea why it bothers her. I like it."
She snorted. "Does it make her uncomfortable, you think?"
Shrug. "I don't know why it would."
"Mmm.... Well, maybe she should just shoo while you're here with me. Cuz what else am I supposed to call you?"
"Spike. William." Made a face. Snorted. "Scratch the second one. Two reasons. One, I don't like the name. And two, I don't want to get mixed up with your brother."
"Spike." She made a face. "Puppy." It made her smile. "Bitch." Made her make a 'What? Bring it!' face.
He laughed. "Ya know what? I'll tell her that I told you, and you do it anyway. That way, she won't be mad at me."
Snorted. "You do that. Honestly. She's a communist. Trying to limit my free speech."
He laughed again, then sighed. "Damn, I miss you, Madison. Buffy's bein' nice to me and all, but it doesn't make up for you."
"As if anything would? Seriously, though, I'm glad she's treating you right. Are you playing nice with the others, too?"
"I participated in an actual conversation yesterday."
He heard her applaud. "Good."
Chuckled. "Not a big thing. I was the only one who could remember Dick Clark's name, and then we were talking about British comedies."
"But you're including yourself. That's important in associating with peers."
He laughed. "Down, Dr. Phil. Sure you haven't graduated yet?"
She laughed, embarrassedly. "Sorry.... Oh! Guess what?"
"What?"
"The student aid, an upperclassman who helps the prof, well, I gave him my number, and we're going out tomorrow. He's so hot."
Low growl rumbled from the other end of the phone. "You tell him, if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, your Puppy'll bite him."
She grinned. "Puppy. He's so... kind. And he's got brown eyes and blonde hair, and... his shoulders..." Small whimper noise.
Another small growl, then a quiet whimper. "But.. You won't get so wrapped up with him that you won't have time for me when I come, right?"
She smiled. "My schedule will be cleared for you, Joseph or no."
Snort. "Joseph. What kind of a name is 'Joseph'?" Jealousy rang in the quiet voice.
"I dunno, William..." Quietly reprimanding. "What kind of name is... Buffy?"
Whimper. "You don't.. never mind."
"I don't, what?"
"I feel stupid asking this."
"Ask anyway. I'll never make fun of you."
Sigh. "I know. You don't.. scritch him, do you?"
Repressed her smile. "No. Only you and Will."
Relieved sigh. "Oh. Okay then."
Madison fidgeted. "So... how's Dawnie?"
"She's fine. We went for ice cream a while ago. Just her and me. It was fun."
"Good." Pout. "I want icecream."
"I'd mail some to you, but it'd melt. I wish you were here, or I was there, or something. I've been lonely lately."
A quiet, "Me, too."
He whimpered softly, and Madison heard the pen she'd given him speaking at the other end of the line.
"Hey."
"Huh?", he said quietly.
"I love you."
Whimper again. "I love you, too."
"I wish you could've seen my car. It got so totaled."
"And all you got was a broken.. what did you break, anyway?"
"Leg," she said without thinking.
"Are you on crutches? You'd better be sitting down, pet. Or better, lying down."
"Yeah... crutches and an air cast. I didn't want plaster. I am sitting down." She swung her legs from her perch on the counter. Kinda sitting anyway.
Quiet sigh. "If I were there, you'd never have to move for anything. I'd take care of everything you needed. Food, water, I'd even go to the bathroom for you, if that was possible."
She gave a small laugh, set about to try to think of a way to explain things to him. Then dismissed it. Deal with it when it came around. "Thank you, Puppy. That's sweet." She paused a moment, took a shot in the dark. "It's not your fault."
Sigh. She could really see through him. Even from a thousand miles away. "I know, in my mind. But my heart says that if I had been there, it wouldn't have happened."
"If you had been there, you could have been dusty. I'm really fine. I swear to you. I am perfectly fine." Sincerity rang in her voice.
"I wish I was there, anyway."
"Me, too. But we'll make do till next month. So... have we moved from... doing Buffy to dating Buffy?"
He sighed. "I don't really know. I think that she *might* actually feel *something* for me. She just is either unable or doesn't want to see it."
"Mmm... What does she want?"
"Me."
She smiled. "Yeah? What kinda tone was that?"
He chuckled. "Unsure, with a side of testosterone."
"Got the testosterone. What does Puppy want?"
"You know that answer."
"Can you reconcile the two?"
"Huh?" He chuckled. "Psycho talk again."
"Psych talk, Poophead. I mean... can you find something that works for her AND you?"
"I think we have. Well, it works for her, and it's better than nothing for me."
"Puppy." It was a seriously disapproving tone.
"What?" He sighed. "I'm happy, really. We were actually cuddling yesterday. That was nice."
"Yeah, cuz that was such a happy tone. If she messes with your head, I'm killing her."
He chuckled. "How would she do that?"
"I don't know, but she seems to be able to do angst and heartbreak well. She better not hone skills on you."
He smiled. "Thank you."
"Welcome. So. You miss me, huh?"
"All the time. Especially when I really want you to scritch me." Ended in a chuckle.
"Good to know I'm useful for something." She swatted at her brother as he walked by.
He chuckled. "It's more than that, and you know it."
Grinned. "I know." Her brother jerked her off the counter, and she stumbled. "Ah! Will!" Smacked the back of his head playfully.
Spike chuckled. "I can let you go, if you need to kill your brother now. But stay off your leg."
She snorted as she scooted back up on her perch. "Nah, I'm good. But you can bite him when you get here." She smirked at her sibling. "He says hello."
The vampire laughed. "Do you know his blood type, per chance?"
"O negative."
"Mmm." Tried to hide a chuckle.
She laughed. "He's looking at me funny, Puppy." In an aside that Spike could hear, she said to Will, "Spike's gonna suck your blood." Heard a muffled argument highlighted with laughter. She came back to the phone.
He chuckled. "I won't, really. Unless you sic me on him."
"Then I'll be sure to." She looked up. "Oh. Mom's back with groceries. I'm gonna help. Call me tonight, yeah?"
He chuckled. "If I'm not busy."
She sighed. "How bout before you get busy? Because calling me after every time? Gonna get WAAAAY creepy."
He laughed. "Okay, okay. Deal. I'll call tonight. I love you, Madison."
"I love you, too."
They hung up at the same moment. Spike sighed. Back to the boredom again. Oh well. Buffy or Dawn were liable to stop by soon. Hmm. Better take a nap.
=======================================================
Dawn dragged behind everyone, but her grating voice filled their ears. "Guuuuuuys... it's laaaaaate, and my feet are BLEEEEEEEEDING, and we've been to every monument in the city. I want my house, and my bed, and my cable, and my friends, and my phone!!"
Giles sighed. She'd been like this since they'd left the Smithsonian that afternoon. "Dawn, would it make you happy to know that we planned on turning back tomorrow?"
Spike, who'd been kicking a rock along the sidewalk, looked up at the prospect. Back meant going through South Dakota again. Meant seeing Madison in person. Definite perk up.
"Yeh-es.... I'm booored. There's NO hot guys, and..." she felt a little teary. "I wanna go home. I mean, it really is safe, isn't it?"
Spike slowed so that he was walking even with Dawn, and put an arm around her shoulders.
Giles sighed. "As safe as a Hellmouth can be."
Buffy glanced back at her, irritation but affection coming off her. "We're going home, ok? It'll be fine."
Spike squeezed Dawn's shoulder gently. "Don't worry, Bit. We'll be home before you know it."
She gave him a pleading look. "Promise?"
He grinned at her. "I swear on my own grave."
She rolled her eyes. "If you even know where it is..."
He chuckled. "Oh, I know. Believe me. It's burned into my bleedin' memory."
She smiled charmingly at him. "Gotcha. My feet hurt. Carry me?"
Without a word, he scooped her into his arms. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Squealed happily.
Buffy rolled her eyes, giving a half smile.
Spike chuckled as the group headed back to the Ohana to go back to the hotel. Tomorrow morning, they were heading home.
Spike, for his part, wasn't asleep. They had just gotten off of a particularly bumpy stretch of road that had kept him awake. He sighed and rolled over. He'd always slept better on his side, anyway.
Buffy stood, walked into the room, closed and locked it quietly behind her.
The vampire rolled over at the click of the lock. "Slayer? It's too early for me to drive."
She was pulling off her top. "Good."
His eyes got wide. "Buffy. Luv... Uh. Your pals are right through the wall..." A small grin started in spite of himself.
Started to crawl up the bed towards him. Whispered, "We'll have to be quiet then, hmmm?"
Spike's grin turned feral. "I can if you can, luv."
She fused her mouth to his.
Spike wrapped his arms around her, hands finding and starting to undo the clasp on her bra. He growled softly into her mouth.
She bit down on his bottom lip, helped him out of his shirt, only breaking the kiss for the time it took to tug it over his head.
His hands now found their way to the button of her pants, which he undid skillfully, and rolled on top of her.
The cell phone rang. *Perfect* timing. He pulled it out of his pocket. "WHAT!?"
"P-puppy?"
"Madison. Hey... I'm kind of.. busy.. right no- Now." Buffy was nipping her way down his chest.
"Well, you just, you said to call when I got in and-"
"Yeah. I did. And.. You got in.. okay, then?" Must hurry. End call soon. Focus on Buffy. Who was currently biting across his abs.
"N-no. Actually, I'm-" Whimper. "OW! That HURT! Sorry, Puppy. There was um... an, an accident."
Attention shifted. "What?! You're okay, though. Right?" He pulled back slightly from Buffy, leaning on the headboard and holding up a hand to ask her for a moment. She jerked back, looked at him confusedly. Which was pointless, because his eyes were glazed over, intently focused on the conversation.
"Um... Fine... I just- OWWWCH!" She yelped, almost whimpered. "Sorry, Puppy. The EMT's are checking me over and we're going to the hospital."
"Madison, I-"
"Don't fret, Puppy. I'll be out of there in two days, good as new. But my battery's dying, and I didn't want you to worry when you couldn't get a hold of me and-" muffled scream. "It's BROKEN! HELLO? Don't MOVE IT!" She let out a string of Spanish and Gaelic swear words, jumbled together. She came back on the line, breathing kind of heavily. "So," she said, forcing a smile into her voice, just for him, "I just... didn't want you to worry, ok? So don't."
"Right. Right on that. Madis-"
"I'll be perfect in two days. I promise."
"Madison! You broke BONES! That's not gonna fix itself in two-"
"Two days," she repeated. "Say 'I love you', so I can hang up."
"Madison, are you sure?" He didn't like her hurting. Every part of him wanted to run out, seize the wheel, turn the Ohana around and drive straight back to South Dakota.
"Puppy. Battery dying. Me, fine. C'mon."
He sighed, running a hand over his sleep tousled hair. "I am calling you in two days. TWO days. And you'd better be in bed resting, or else."
"Yeah, yeah."
Small grin and an equally small head shake. "I love you, pet."
The signal was fading. "I love you, too, Pup-" Her battery died.
"Madison!?" He dropped the phone onto the bed with a growl. "Bugger it! Bloody pissin' hell!"
Buffy sighed from where she had been laying, looking disgruntled, tousled, topless, and irritated. "What?"
"Madison got in an accident. She's got to go the hospital, broke at LEAST one bone that I know of. 'Don't worry, Puppy'," he mocked. "Bleeding bint. Needs a good over-the-knee, s'what she needs. S'what I should do next time I see her. Bloody stupid little girl. She better be a'right." The last was said as a threat.
Buffy stood, buttoned her jeans, and fixed her bra and shirt. Walking to the door, her eyes glinting with irritation, she said, "Hope she's ok, Spike. Sleep well."
He sighed. Damn. His *wonderful* luck again. "Slayer. Wait."
She turned, one hand on the knob, eyebrow arched impatiently. "Yes?"
"You don't have to go. I.. we.. Oh damn it. Nevermind." Sighed again.
Shrugged her shoulders. "Exactly. Forget it."
"What do you think is going on here, Slayer? Because I'm confused." He just looked at her. Not really expecting an answer.
She cocked her head to the side. "Well, I was gonna have sex with you. I don't know what you were doing-"
"That's what I thought."
"Well, the best laid plans, yeah?" Unlocked the door.
Couldn't resist. "You could say that. Luv, come on. I'm still here. Why are you leaving?"
Rested her hands on her hips. "She's still here, too. I can feel her. Hogging the bed. I really don't like her."
He cocked his head at her. "Madison's never been in here, luv. But I know what you meant." He leaned back against the headboard. "Let me assure you that she's not hogging the bed."
She slid her hand over the lock, turned it. "Don't ever think about her when I'm around, ok?"
He shook his head, truly not understanding. "Why would I? She's my friend. That'd be like thinking about... Tara or something."
She pulled off her shirt, shimmied out of her jeans. Glared at him in girly pink underwear, complete with lace. "I don't share. At all. I don't want her all, 'Oh, Puppy-ing' you when I'm around."
He chuckled slightly. "It's just a nickname, luv. I've got at least one for each of you, ya know."
She just arched her brow, one bared hip cocked out at an angle, a hand resting on it.
He let out a quiet growl. "Trust me, luv. When we're together, Madison is the furthest thing from my mind."
Small nod. Shifted a bit self-consciously.
He got up slowly, stalking toward her predatorily. "Aren't you getting cold standing there?"
A slow smile curled her lips. "Are you gonna warm me up?"
"What do you think?" Moved with vamp speed, tossing her onto the bed and pouncing on top of her.
========================================================================== =========
The next day, with Giles driving, the Scooby gang was chattering. Not about anything, really. Just.... talking. They were discussing the properties of Wiglam foot, whether that guy who does New Year's is a demon, and about Dr. Phil. Everyone but Spike.
He was busy pacing in the back room. It was getting lon- Boring, being back there all the time. Maybe, just as an experiment, he could go out and just... see what the others were up to. He opened the door quietly, slipped out, and sat in one of the folding chairs that they'd picked up a few days earlier.
Buffy glanced up as he settled himself. Eyes heated, but she nodded. Dawn noticed him, too, scrinched her nose up at him playfully.
He gave Dawn a quick grin, then settled down in his chair to see what was happening.
"I think he made a pact with the devil," Willow told the group.
Xander shook his head. "Wait a minute, are we talking about Dr. Phil or that New Years guy again?"
"New Year's guy. Dr. Phil is a Psych-God."
"Ah. What's his name again?"
"Dick Clark," Spike said quietly.
Tara nodded her agreement. "Yeah. We couldn't remember his name."
"I wonder if the government chryogenically freezes him every year, and start to thaw him for the Thanksgiving parade, and then he's all loose and ready for new year," Dawn enthused.
Spike chuckled. "Personally, I think he's a demon. Or a vampire. But I doubt that." He was directing his speech to Dawn and Buffy, kind of ignoring the others.
"Nah," Buffy told him. "He's got a tan. But demon? I see it. Wonder if the world would collapse if I had to kill him."
Willow giggled. "I wonder what kind of power he has, then? I mean... whoooooo watch the ball drop, I'm so big and bad..."
Xander laughed. "Yeah. What if, if you killed him," he looked at Buffy. "Then the New Year would never come?"
She shuddered in fake horror. "Oh no! One less wretchedly horrible holiday I'd have to endure?? What EVER would I do?"
Spike chuckled. "And, no one would ever get older. That might be a plus."
Xander chuckled. "You would know, Dead-boy Junior."
Buffy nodded her agreement with Xander. "I'm almost getting wrinkles."
Spike cocked his head at her with a half grin. "No."
Made a face. Frowned, and pointed to the lines between her eyebrows. "See??"
Spike chuckled. "I do that too. And my body is twenty-four. Just don't frown."
She shrugged in agreement. Smiled hugely. Started talking like Harmony. "Like! OHHHHH my God! I found these shoes at the mall, and... I TOTALLY had to have them." Grinned. "Perky like that?"
He winced. "Hell no. Less... less... annoying and grating."
Gave her patented, "I'm Buffy, and I'm always fine" smile. "Better?"
He sighed. "Much." Shook his head. "Please, don't ever do that again."
Xander chuckled. "He's been Harmony-ized. Turns all of us off to Clueless sooner or later."
The vampire snorted. "You're telling me."
Dawn glowered. "She was trailer-park in the worst way."
Spike nodded. "No argument here."
Buffy yawned, laid down on the floor where she was seated. "No argument. I'd ALWAYS take Cordelia over her."
Spike nodded. He wondered if any of them knew where Cordelia was then, anyway. Gave a mental shrug. Well, she might not even be where he'd seen her by then. It had been over a year earlier. Decided to comment. "She's in LA, now. I think. Saw her there. With Peaches."
A slow hush fell, Buffy sat up. "How's... she doing?"
He shrugged, not really comfortable with all the attention suddenly being on him. "Uh, she looked fine, I guess. Seems Peaches started himself some sort of detective agency, and Cordelia's his secretary, or something like that. They also had a little Irish guy that I'd never seen before."
Xander gaped at the vampire. "Cordy's *working* with ANGEL!"
Buffy winced. Angel hadn't mentioned when he- after Mom- She swallowed.
Spike bit his lip for an instant, seeing Buffy's wince. "Uh, well. That was over a year ago, really. Back with the Gem of Amara, if you'll remember. I'm passin' on out of date information."
She smiled, a perfectly fine Buffy smile that the Scoobies had bought from day one. "That's still cool. I hope she likes it there." With Angel.
Spike gave her a look that said that he didn't believe her 'I'm fine' bit for one instant. "Yeah."
Xander looked around. Time for subject change. "Ok, new topic. Everyone name your favorite TV show, cartoon, book, whatever."
Buffy gave Xander a half-genuine smile. She loved him. "Mmm... I love Will and Grace."
Xander grinned. "I'm a die hard Survivor fan."
"Dawson's Creek," Dawn chirped.
"Felicity," the Wicca's admitted.
Spike sighed. Contributing is good, right? "Passions. Most of the time."
"Keeping Up Appearances," Giles called from the drivers seat. "British comedy."
Spike snorted.
"Are You Being Served is better," Dawn challenged.
Xander laughed. "I like Mr. Bean."
Spike chuckled. "You would."
Anya said, "I like the show.. with the chanting, and the man with the 'Final Thought'."
Spike cocked his head. "Huh?"
"And... the people. They fight. Smash chairs, and chant. Jerry Jerry..."
Spike laughed. "Jerry Springer! You've got to be kidding!"
She gave a small pout. "Do you know how much work I could get off those people?? All those vengeance commissions??"
Xander patted her shoulder. "Honey, you aren't a vengeance demon anymore, remember?"
"Yes, I know. I'll get old and die like the rest of you."
Spike 'a-hem'ed.
She made a face at him. "Yes, because you're so damn special. You're the only one who won't get wrinkles." She looked at Xander. "Don't go bald."
Spike bit his lip to keep from laughing at that mental image.
Xander shot the vampire a mean look. Then turned to Anya. "Don't worry, honey. That's what Rogain and the HCFM is for."
She smiled approvingly. "Good."
A snort escaped the vampire, followed by a very small laugh. Cleared his throat, composing himself. It wasn't *that* funny. Really.
Buffy looked up, shared an intimate grin with him.
He chuckled quietly. Then, "HCFM?"
Xander sighed. "Hair Club For Men."
Another low chuckle. "Oh."
Dawn gave a giggling snort.
Spike shook his head and got up. He had come to a conclusion. These people needed help. And what did that say for him? Went back in the back room, leaving the door open a bit this time. That was new.
Buffy just smiled softly, went to the kitchenette for a bottle of water.
Xander grinned. "So. Who wants to admit their most embarrassing moment. Most embarrassing gets the last brownie."
Buffy shook her head. "Soooo passing."
Xander shrugged. "Well, that was my idea. Anyone got anything else?"
Buffy grinned. "I'm napping, because someone should stay up with Spike when he drives. Make sure he stays awake. Is that ok?"
Xander cocked his head at her. "So you're going to stay up, to make sure that a *vampire* stays awake at *night*?"
She gave him a look. "He's been SLEEPING at night a lot lately, too. But, I guess that's fine. Winding up wrapped around a telephone pole is ok."
Xander laughed. "Okay, okay. You made your point. Good night/day. Whatever."
She grinned with a small nod, and disappeared into the back room, telling Dawn she was stealing her couch. Her sister smiled and shrugged.
Spike was stretched out on the bed, staring at a stuffed cat on the nightstand.
She came in, shut the door behind her, settled on the couch. "Whatcha got?"
He sat up slightly and looked at her. "Nothin. My cat thing, that's all." Stuck the pen he'd been holding in a drawer.
She shrugged. Laid her head on the arm of the couch. "You came out to play."
Cocked his head at her. "Huh?"
"Nothing. You just... you came out."
He shrugged, slightly defensive. "Yeah. Gets boring in here all the time. That's all."
She gave him a small smile. "Just nice to see you was all."
He grinned. "Really?" Moved to sit on the end of the bed. "Any particular reason?"
She shrugged. "Dawn misses you. Xander has no one to pick on."
Grin faded slightly. "Oh." Went to lay back down. "Funny. I was kind of hoping that other people missed me, too."
She moved to the bed with him, laid against his side. "Really? Who did you want to miss you?"
He put one arm around her. "Namely? You."
One arm slid across his stomach to play at his opposite side. "Hm... I don't like seeing you and not being able to have you."
Half grin. "Hmm. Good news, though. We're findin' a hotel, tomorrow."
She cuddled deeper to his side. Pulled back. "Just a second."
He cocked his head at her. "What?"
She locked the door. Came back to lay down, where she had been. Nuzzled his shoulder. "Mm."
He chuckled. "Oh." Stifled yawn.
She nodded. "Something like that." Slid one leg over his, now laying half on his chest. Just laying. Just cuddling.
"Comfortable, Slayer?"
She picked up one of his hands, laid it on her hip, a few of his fingers slipping under the waistband. "Mm-hmm."
He chuckled quietly. "Me too."
======================================================
Buffy was curled into the passenger's seat, a blanket wrapped around her, staring blearily out the windshield.
Spike glanced over at her. "If you want to get your cot and go to sleep, luv, you can. I'll be fine."
Shook her head stubbornly. "I'm ok. Blood, water, coffee, food?"
"I'm okay, luv. But if you want something, go get it."
She dropped the blanket, and went to get box of cereal, came back, curled in the chair. She was back to beaters and blue shorts. Crunched the Lucky Charms.
He glanced over at her, half grinning. Reached a hand over, stuck it in the cereal box and extracted a handful of cereal. Flicked a couple of pieces into his mouth and chewed slowly.
Buffy was dropping cereal back in the box, carefully going through her handful. Smiled hugely, then reached over, made Spike empty his handful back in the box.
He glanced at her again. "Okay. Explain that?"
She smiled again, for real, and almost shyly, then emptied her handful into his palm. Marshmallows. Every last one.
Well. There was that annoying mushy feeling in his stomach. He smiled at her, and handed half the marshmallows back, every one of the hearts included.
She ducked her head, and chewed thoughtfully.
He turned his eyes back to the road, taking a couple of his marshmallows into his mouth and chewing slowly. "Luv?", he asked after he swallowed.
"Mm?"
"What are we? This... relationship, I mean." Didn't look at her. "Ya know what? Forget I asked that. I hate uncomfortable silences."
She mulled over it. She hated this, this not knowing. "We're... friends. With benefits. The good kinds."
Half nod. "Alright then." Went back to watching the road, eating the last of his marshmallows.
"Right?" She said questioningly. She didn't know. The thought of being with him in a relationship made her quake in terror, but the thought of anyone else doing the same with him, unbidden, Madison rose in her mind, was intolerable.
"I'm willing to be whatever you need me to be, luv. Whatever I did to finally... Whatever happened back at the hotel. I just don't want things to go back to the way they were." Slight sigh.
Confused face scrunch. "... the way we were...?"
"You hating me." Sigh. "Me being... Never mind."
"We're past nevermind-ing, Spike. What?"
"Beneath you."
She turned her head, to look out her window. "I was scared, angry when I said that."
"I know." Kept his eyes on the road. "But you meant it."
She turned her head to look at his profile. "Yeah. I thought I meant it. I thought I was right."
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "But?"
"I didn't. I wasn't."
Quiet chuckle. "There's something I never thought I'd hear. The Slayer admitting that she was wrong about something." His tone was bordering on playful.
She smiled, chucked a Lucky Charm at him half-heartedly.
He chuckled. "The Watcher's gonna get you for getting food on the floor."
She made a face at him. "Giles would never get me."
He laughed a little. "No. You're right. He'd prolly blame it on me."
Sniff. "Of course he would." Looked at him. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"Was I- how can-" she stopped, bit her lip, and sighed, pouting. She sucked at words. Why didn't she just grunt?? "Why didn't you buy my seduction?"
They were at a stop light, so he swiveled the drivers seat to look at her, a soft smile on his face. "I know you were trying, luv. But that sort of thing doesn't really come naturally to you. You're a... candlelight, romantic dinner, kind of person. Not a seductress. That's one of the things I love about you."
She gave a tiny, but firm pout.
Cocked his head at her. "What did you think it was?"
"What what was?"
"Why I didn't buy it."
She bit her lip, shrugged. "I thought I did something wrong. Didn't move right, or say it right."
He chuckled. "Nope. You're perfect. I just know you too well, that's all."
Looked at him through her lashes. "I looked ridiculous, didn't I?"
"No. You were beautiful. Beyond beautiful. Radiant." Returned his eyes to the road when the light turned green.
Drew her knees up again, curling around the cereal box. "Oh."
Glanced at her. "Did I say something wrong?"
Shook her head, digging in the box. "No?"
"Was that a question?"
Shook her head. Mumbled into the opening of the box, "You just... called me beautiful."
He nodded. "Yeah. And radiant. You are."
Kept rooting through the cereal.
He was confused. "What's wrong?"
Tucked her hair behind her ear, looked up at him. "You really think so, don't you?" It was said in half-wonder.
He cocked his head. "Yes..."
She gave a little grin. "I thought you always said that to get in my pants."
He laughed quietly. "Nope. That was a bonus." Wagged an eyebrow at her.
Rolled her eyes. "Well, that ended YOUR brief period of time in Buffy briefs."
Gave her the pout that Madison had taught him. "Sorry..."
She laughed. "Yeah yeah..."
Chuckled quietly.
=====================================================
Madison was rooting through the fridge when her cell rang. She picked it up off the counter. "Hello?"
"Madison. Are you resting?"
Jerked a moment. "Uhhh... Yeah. Yeah... Just... sitting in bed. Resting."
"Hmm. Don't quite think I believe you, pet." Slight chuckle. "How do you expect to heal if you don't rest?"
Smiled. "Well, walk it off, all that stuff."
Concerned tone. "Is it bad? Are you hurting?"
"Aw. No, Puppy. I told you I'd be fine in two days. I'm fine."
"Humans don't heal that fast, pet. Hell, it takes me a good half a week to heal a broken bone or three."
Shifted uncomfortably. "Well, I'm still fine."
"Not buying." Half snort. "Do you know what you did to me when you said you'd been in an accident? I nearly ran up, commandeered the wheel, turned this bloody thing around and went straight back to South Dakota. Scooby Gang be damned."
She grinned, hopped up to sit on the counter. "Thanks, Puppy. But Madre took care of me. And Will is still catering to my every whim."
Spike chuckled. "Well, good to know someone's helping you." Sigh. "I wish I could be there to help, too. We're in a hotel again. Made it to DC early this morning."
"Yeah? Having fun?"
"Well... I don't think you'll believe my answer to that one."
"You're not?"
"No, I am. Remember the last major conversation we had?"
"Before the accident?"
"Yeah. When you were on the plane."
"Yeah."
"It's happened again. Twice." There was quite a bit of male pride in the vampire's voice.
She shook her head. "Numbers and sounds are irrelevant to me, Puppy. Please, remember this."
He laughed. "Sorry, pet. Sorry."
"Males. All.... Grr... I'm so sexy and primal."
He made a whimpering sound. "Even puppies?"
She melted. "Not my Puppy. So, how's" ('bitchy') "Buffy?"
Sigh. "She's fine. Ooh! Guess what she said!"
"Hmm?"
Took a deep breath. "She said that she was wrong. When she told me that I was beneath her? She said that *she* was *wrong*." There was a bounce in his voice to match the one he'd just preformed on the hotel bed.
A huge smile crossed her face. "Well, maybe she isn't as mentally challenged as I thought."
Snort. "Madison. Play nice. Oh, and she had a request for me to make of you."
Warily, "What?"
"Don't call me 'Puppy' with her around." He laughed. "I have no idea why it bothers her. I like it."
She snorted. "Does it make her uncomfortable, you think?"
Shrug. "I don't know why it would."
"Mmm.... Well, maybe she should just shoo while you're here with me. Cuz what else am I supposed to call you?"
"Spike. William." Made a face. Snorted. "Scratch the second one. Two reasons. One, I don't like the name. And two, I don't want to get mixed up with your brother."
"Spike." She made a face. "Puppy." It made her smile. "Bitch." Made her make a 'What? Bring it!' face.
He laughed. "Ya know what? I'll tell her that I told you, and you do it anyway. That way, she won't be mad at me."
Snorted. "You do that. Honestly. She's a communist. Trying to limit my free speech."
He laughed again, then sighed. "Damn, I miss you, Madison. Buffy's bein' nice to me and all, but it doesn't make up for you."
"As if anything would? Seriously, though, I'm glad she's treating you right. Are you playing nice with the others, too?"
"I participated in an actual conversation yesterday."
He heard her applaud. "Good."
Chuckled. "Not a big thing. I was the only one who could remember Dick Clark's name, and then we were talking about British comedies."
"But you're including yourself. That's important in associating with peers."
He laughed. "Down, Dr. Phil. Sure you haven't graduated yet?"
She laughed, embarrassedly. "Sorry.... Oh! Guess what?"
"What?"
"The student aid, an upperclassman who helps the prof, well, I gave him my number, and we're going out tomorrow. He's so hot."
Low growl rumbled from the other end of the phone. "You tell him, if he so much as looks at you the wrong way, your Puppy'll bite him."
She grinned. "Puppy. He's so... kind. And he's got brown eyes and blonde hair, and... his shoulders..." Small whimper noise.
Another small growl, then a quiet whimper. "But.. You won't get so wrapped up with him that you won't have time for me when I come, right?"
She smiled. "My schedule will be cleared for you, Joseph or no."
Snort. "Joseph. What kind of a name is 'Joseph'?" Jealousy rang in the quiet voice.
"I dunno, William..." Quietly reprimanding. "What kind of name is... Buffy?"
Whimper. "You don't.. never mind."
"I don't, what?"
"I feel stupid asking this."
"Ask anyway. I'll never make fun of you."
Sigh. "I know. You don't.. scritch him, do you?"
Repressed her smile. "No. Only you and Will."
Relieved sigh. "Oh. Okay then."
Madison fidgeted. "So... how's Dawnie?"
"She's fine. We went for ice cream a while ago. Just her and me. It was fun."
"Good." Pout. "I want icecream."
"I'd mail some to you, but it'd melt. I wish you were here, or I was there, or something. I've been lonely lately."
A quiet, "Me, too."
He whimpered softly, and Madison heard the pen she'd given him speaking at the other end of the line.
"Hey."
"Huh?", he said quietly.
"I love you."
Whimper again. "I love you, too."
"I wish you could've seen my car. It got so totaled."
"And all you got was a broken.. what did you break, anyway?"
"Leg," she said without thinking.
"Are you on crutches? You'd better be sitting down, pet. Or better, lying down."
"Yeah... crutches and an air cast. I didn't want plaster. I am sitting down." She swung her legs from her perch on the counter. Kinda sitting anyway.
Quiet sigh. "If I were there, you'd never have to move for anything. I'd take care of everything you needed. Food, water, I'd even go to the bathroom for you, if that was possible."
She gave a small laugh, set about to try to think of a way to explain things to him. Then dismissed it. Deal with it when it came around. "Thank you, Puppy. That's sweet." She paused a moment, took a shot in the dark. "It's not your fault."
Sigh. She could really see through him. Even from a thousand miles away. "I know, in my mind. But my heart says that if I had been there, it wouldn't have happened."
"If you had been there, you could have been dusty. I'm really fine. I swear to you. I am perfectly fine." Sincerity rang in her voice.
"I wish I was there, anyway."
"Me, too. But we'll make do till next month. So... have we moved from... doing Buffy to dating Buffy?"
He sighed. "I don't really know. I think that she *might* actually feel *something* for me. She just is either unable or doesn't want to see it."
"Mmm... What does she want?"
"Me."
She smiled. "Yeah? What kinda tone was that?"
He chuckled. "Unsure, with a side of testosterone."
"Got the testosterone. What does Puppy want?"
"You know that answer."
"Can you reconcile the two?"
"Huh?" He chuckled. "Psycho talk again."
"Psych talk, Poophead. I mean... can you find something that works for her AND you?"
"I think we have. Well, it works for her, and it's better than nothing for me."
"Puppy." It was a seriously disapproving tone.
"What?" He sighed. "I'm happy, really. We were actually cuddling yesterday. That was nice."
"Yeah, cuz that was such a happy tone. If she messes with your head, I'm killing her."
He chuckled. "How would she do that?"
"I don't know, but she seems to be able to do angst and heartbreak well. She better not hone skills on you."
He smiled. "Thank you."
"Welcome. So. You miss me, huh?"
"All the time. Especially when I really want you to scritch me." Ended in a chuckle.
"Good to know I'm useful for something." She swatted at her brother as he walked by.
He chuckled. "It's more than that, and you know it."
Grinned. "I know." Her brother jerked her off the counter, and she stumbled. "Ah! Will!" Smacked the back of his head playfully.
Spike chuckled. "I can let you go, if you need to kill your brother now. But stay off your leg."
She snorted as she scooted back up on her perch. "Nah, I'm good. But you can bite him when you get here." She smirked at her sibling. "He says hello."
The vampire laughed. "Do you know his blood type, per chance?"
"O negative."
"Mmm." Tried to hide a chuckle.
She laughed. "He's looking at me funny, Puppy." In an aside that Spike could hear, she said to Will, "Spike's gonna suck your blood." Heard a muffled argument highlighted with laughter. She came back to the phone.
He chuckled. "I won't, really. Unless you sic me on him."
"Then I'll be sure to." She looked up. "Oh. Mom's back with groceries. I'm gonna help. Call me tonight, yeah?"
He chuckled. "If I'm not busy."
She sighed. "How bout before you get busy? Because calling me after every time? Gonna get WAAAAY creepy."
He laughed. "Okay, okay. Deal. I'll call tonight. I love you, Madison."
"I love you, too."
They hung up at the same moment. Spike sighed. Back to the boredom again. Oh well. Buffy or Dawn were liable to stop by soon. Hmm. Better take a nap.
=======================================================
Dawn dragged behind everyone, but her grating voice filled their ears. "Guuuuuuys... it's laaaaaate, and my feet are BLEEEEEEEEDING, and we've been to every monument in the city. I want my house, and my bed, and my cable, and my friends, and my phone!!"
Giles sighed. She'd been like this since they'd left the Smithsonian that afternoon. "Dawn, would it make you happy to know that we planned on turning back tomorrow?"
Spike, who'd been kicking a rock along the sidewalk, looked up at the prospect. Back meant going through South Dakota again. Meant seeing Madison in person. Definite perk up.
"Yeh-es.... I'm booored. There's NO hot guys, and..." she felt a little teary. "I wanna go home. I mean, it really is safe, isn't it?"
Spike slowed so that he was walking even with Dawn, and put an arm around her shoulders.
Giles sighed. "As safe as a Hellmouth can be."
Buffy glanced back at her, irritation but affection coming off her. "We're going home, ok? It'll be fine."
Spike squeezed Dawn's shoulder gently. "Don't worry, Bit. We'll be home before you know it."
She gave him a pleading look. "Promise?"
He grinned at her. "I swear on my own grave."
She rolled her eyes. "If you even know where it is..."
He chuckled. "Oh, I know. Believe me. It's burned into my bleedin' memory."
She smiled charmingly at him. "Gotcha. My feet hurt. Carry me?"
Without a word, he scooped her into his arms. She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Squealed happily.
Buffy rolled her eyes, giving a half smile.
Spike chuckled as the group headed back to the Ohana to go back to the hotel. Tomorrow morning, they were heading home.