Um…let's see.  Just another plea for reviews.  Oh, and also, if anyone wants to check out another of my stories, (and possibly review J) it would be appreciated.  I suggest More, than a monster, More than a man as I'm going to take So I Can Tell Him I Love Him off the internet so I can do a little rewrite.  Nothing major, I just feel like my writing style has matured and I want the story to reflect that.  Happy Tuesday!

Part 4:


Spike began walking toward the factory where he had been staying. He was smiling slightly, and his step had a bounce in it.

"You haven't even tried." A voice said. Spike turned and came face to face with Mercaptil, the gray skinned demon.

"I'll get the job done." Spike said, eyes darkening.

"Really?" Mercaptil asked. "You'll get the job done by making midnight dates and sharing secrets?"

"You're the one that said to kill her I'd have to love her." Spike protested.

"I was not suggesting that you fell in love. I was merely pointing out that it might be a job hazard." Mercaptil said, his voice raising with each word.

"I'll get the job done." Spike said, softly.

"Tomorrow." Mercaptil said.

"What?" Spike asked.

"She'll come to you at the mansion, she'll place her head in your lap, and you'll kill her." Mercaptil answered, in a voice that left no room for argument.

"Why is it so important to you?" Spike asked. However, Mercaptil had vanished. "Tomorrow." Spike vowed to himself. "She won't even see it coming."

"Angel." Buffy called, opening the door to the small apartment, near the Bronze, where Angel lived.

"Buffy." Angel said, smiling when he saw Buffy entering his apartment. "I haven't seen you recently." Angel said sadly.

"I know." Buffy said, suddenly remembering why she cared so much for Angel, how good he made her feel. "Angel. Lately, I've been having these feelings…" Buffy said, she then trailed off.

"Me too." Angel said. "It's like I can't be without you." Angel continued. A thousand thoughts filtered through Buffy's mind. She contemplated telling Angel how Spike made her feel. However, all she saw was Angel's hurt expression. So instead she smiled up at him.

"Like every second of the day I can only think about one thing." Buffy agreed. However, she wasn't sure exactly which man she was referring to.

"Penny for your thoughts." Willow said, taking a seat next to Buffy on the swings. It was ten o'clock and the two girls were patrolling.

"Just thinking about things." Buffy replied, smiling.

"You've been thinking a lot." Willow said. "You sure you're the slacker I know and love?" Willow teased.

"Yup. These thoughts are one hundred percent non-school related." Buffy agreed. She paused before continuing. "Wills. Have you ever met someone that you can't control yourself around? Like what you do when their near you shouldn't be held responsible for?" Buffy asked.

"Can't say I have." Willow replied.

"Oh." Buffy said, beginning to swing slightly.

"This place is dead." Willow said. "Wanna' check out the Bronze?"

"I should really patrol." Buffy said in mock seriousness.

"Well, what better way to catch vamps than dance with them?" Willow asked with a laugh. Then, she grabbed Buffy's hand and pulled her off the swing. The two began the walk to the Bronze in compatible silence.

When Buffy entered the Bronze it always felt like she was being transformed into a new person. The music took over and Buffy pulled Willow onto the dance floor. After a few moments of dancing Willow spoke.

"Buffy, this completely hot guy is totally checking you out."

"I have Angel." Buffy said, making a vow to herself not to betray Angel again. However, Buffy turned and locked eyes with Spike. Spike smirked and winked at her. Buffy felt herself blush. Then, thinking of Spike's advice to be herself she began dancing once more. Moving her hips in a sensual pattern.

The slayer raised her arms above her head, causing her shirt to rise up. She never broke eye contact with Spike. Then, she winked at him, causing Spike's eyes to grow wider. Willow remained oblivious to the exchange, as her attention was fully focused on Xander, who had just come through the door. Spike winked at Buffy once more before turning and losing himself in the crowd. Buffy sighed, realizing that once more she had lost herself and betrayed Angel. "I'll end it tonight." She vowed silently. Little did she know, Spike was making the same vow.

"Your late." Spike said, when Buffy appeared in the mansion courtyard.

"Just a minute late." Buffy said. She looked down at her watch. "Or thirty minutes…"

"What happened?" Spike asked, coming closer to Buffy, thinking of how he wanted to kill her.

"I had some unscheduled slayage." Buffy said without thinking.

"What?" Spike asked, remembering that he was supposed to be oblivious to vampires.

"Some unscheduled stayage." Buffy said, crossing her fingers and hoping Spike would leave it at that. The gods, however, didn't seem to like her today.

"Stayage?" Spike asked, becoming slightly amused.

"Yeah. Willow, my friend, was all upset. I had to stay with her." Buffy lied.

"At three in the morning?" Spike asked skeptically, raising one eyebrow.

"Yes." Buffy supplied weakly. Spike smiled at her.

"All right then." Spike said.

"Your just going to let me get away?" Buffy asked.

"What?" Spike asked suddenly, thinking Buffy was talking about the fact that he was supposed to be draining the life out of her.

"Your going to let me get away with that excuse?" Buffy asked, tilting her head to the side, exposing her neck.

"What's a woman without her mystery?" Spike asked playfully. Suddenly, Spike felt heat radiating from his necklace. A heat that signaled him to the fact that Mercaptil was approaching. "Probably making sure the job was done." Spike muttered under his breath. Spike turned from Buffy and shifted into game face. He was going to do it. Was going to turn toward her and bit into her beautiful neck.

"I thought about you all day." Buffy said shyly. Just her voice caused Spike to pause, and what she said caused him to slip out of game face.

What's this girl doing to me? Spike asked himself. I'm letting her change me. She's making me soft. Spike couldn't continue these thoughts, however, because he felt Mercaptil growing closer.

"Come with me." Spike commanded gently, not wanting Mercaptil to ruin the night just yet\line
"Where are we going?" Buffy asked as Spike took her hand and led her into the black Desoto he had parked outside the mansion.

"You'll find out when we get there." Spike said, smirking as Buffy rolled her eyes.

Buffy felt like they had been driving for hours. When, in truth, it had only been half an hour. "You know I have to be back in my bedroom before my mom finds I'm out." Buffy said, growing slightly worried that Spike would drive her across California.

"You will be." Spike replied.

"How much further?" Buffy asked after a short pause.

"Mommy, are we there yet?" Spike asked in a high pitched voice, mocking Buffy.

"Shut up." Buffy said, hitting Spike on the arm in a good natured way.

"Close your eyes." Spike commanded.

"What?" Buffy asked, not feeling comfortable with the idea of closing her eyes in the car with a strange man. However, she complied.

"Good. Keep them closed. We're almost there." Spike said.

Buffy felt the car stop. She heard Spike race around the car and open the door for her. Spike took Buffy's hand and pulled her gently out of the car. The petite slayer heard the car door slam once more, and then was led by Spike.

"Open your eyes." Spike commanded. Buffy did so and gasped. She was standing on the beach. The sand stretched for miles, and the moonlight reflected on the ocean, causing the gently rolling waves to seem more magical than anything.

"It's so beautiful." Buffy said, her voice breathy. She looked and Spike and found him taking off his shoes. Buffy did the same and then began running. Spike stared after her. She looked so young and innocent. Like a siren, sent to lore men to their deaths with her beauty and laughter, instead of her song.

"Come on!" Buffy called to Spike, who willingly obliged, running after Buffy. When Spike caught up to Buffy he snaked out a hand and placed it on her stomach. Spike's plan was to bring Buffy in close to him. However, she fell onto the sand in a fit of giggles. Spike fell down next to her and took her hand in his.

"Look." He whispered into Buffy's ear, sending a tingle through her body. Buffy looked upward where Spike was pointing and came face to face with beautiful, clear stars.

"I spend many nights outside." Buffy said. "I've never looked at their beauty like this. I've never…" Buffy trailed off when she felt tears running down her face. Spike looked over at her, concerned.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"This." Buffy replied.

"I don't understand?" Spike said, wiping the tears from Buffy's eyes gently.

"I have a boyfriend. And then you come along. You can't just come into my life and make me question everything. This, with you, is wrong." Buffy said, sitting.

"Buffy, please." Spike said gently. The thought of never seeing her again hurt him more than he knew, and he pushed all thoughts of his duty to kill her away.

"Take me home." Buffy commanded gently. Spike didn't argue. The pair silently walked to the car and Spike drove Buffy home.

Your supposed to get shot with an arrow, but I think it hurts less after that.

Manuel, age 8, on love