Chapter 5 – Beer and Wings

The Scoobies were having a meeting that didn't include Willow. Buffy, Giles, Xander and Anya were gathered in Xander's basement so as not to alert the witch of what they were up to. They were there to discuss her relationship with Spike and what to do about it.

"So, what are we going to do about it?" Buffy asked. "It's not like we have any real proof except for Willow wandering around in this sudden cloud of happiness."

"Trap them," Anya supplied as she settled closer to Xander.

'"Trap them as in how?" Xander asked.

"Easy, let her baby-sit, give them some time to do whatever they are doing and burst in." Anya explained as if it was the simplest thing in the world and she couldn't figure out why they didn't understand.

"Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Giles chipped in.

Everyone else also agreed and they set up a plan for that night. Willow would be asked to watch Spike while Giles and Xander would wait outside and wait for something to happen. Then when it did they would confront them and give Spike the option of leaving town or being dusted. They felt it was the only way to save Willow from herself. 

As Buffy headed back to the dorm, she wondered briefly if they were doing the right thing. So, far Spike hadn't hurt Willow but she pushed it aside as she forced herself to remember everything that the vampire had done to them in the past.

~~~~~~~~~

This had become what he looked for in his present dismal state of existence. Willow. He had never thought it would be her that would bring love back to his broken heart or light into the darkness of his being. Contentment settled over him as he sat back on the couch with one hand resting on her lower back. As soon as she had unlocked him from the bathroom again it was like they had no choice but to start kissing.

Once they had broken apart in the bathroom they had stopped almost every step down the hallway to kiss and touch. By the time they had landed on the couch in a tangle of limbs and lips he was about ready to scream from wanting her but he had made a promise not to take more than she was ready for. Besides he wanted her to know the depths of his feelings for her first and the plan that he had concocted in the last few days. It was a plan that would make him worthy of her heart and body and he could wait until it was right.

"I brought some beer…"

"Getting a little naughty again? I like you with the cookies and stuff, Will."

Willow turned to stare him down with her green eyes. Her confidence had grown in the last few weeks as she had become more comfortable with him.

"It's for you. Not me. Being with you is all the badness I can handle right now."

She leaned over and kissed him again. It was torture to be so close to him and she planned on taking care of both of their needs later. Giles had said they wouldn't return until after midnight and that gave them almost five hours to be together. There wasn't a need to hurry.

"Sorry, pet."

"No problem," she told him as she pulled four more bottles of the brew from her bag and a couple of cans of soda. Then she reached for the other bag and pulled out a couple of take out boxes. "And I brought wings, too."

"My favorite but you knew that, didn't you?"

She nodded with a shy smile. It felt good to please him as much as he pleased her. They slid down to sit on the floor making it easer for them to eat. Spike glanced around then stood. He brought a couple of candles over and put them on the table. After lighting them he dimmed the rest of the lights.

"May as well be romantic," Spike told her as he sat next to her again.

"Mmm, definitely," Willow agreed as she pulled out paper plates for them to eat off of.

They helped themselves to the wings and French fries she had brought. Both were comfortable in the silence as they began to eat. Almost as if on cue they both laid down their food and turned to each other.

"Spike."

"Willow."

They laughed as they spoke over the other.

"Go ahead, Love. Ladies first," Spike said as he reached for her hand to give her encouragement and support.

"I don't want to wait for us to be together."

Spike knew what she meant but played dumb. "We are together."

She had made up her mind and this determination gave her the courage to sit in his lap. Her hands cupped his face and kissed him so that he had no doubt as to what she meant. Slowly she pulled her sweater over her head and then she waited.

It was too much even for a vampire that had been around the block as much as he had been. To have this girl, so innocent and sweet, be willing to be everything for him made him want to give in to her. His hands went to her waist and kneaded the softness of her skin.

"I wanted to wait until I could prove to her how much you mean to me," he whispered.

"You don't have to prove anything, I already know."

As she began to nibble on his neck he felt his resolve fade away. "I have this plan that will show everyone that I want to change. That I want to be good for you."

"They don't matter. I believe you and that's all that counts."

Somehow he moved them until they were on the couch. Her soft body was beneath his as he still tried to let her know.

"Let me tell you about what I am going to do."

"Later," she told him as she pulled his lips back to hers.

Then everything else was forgotten as they became lost in each other. It wasn't until he heard Giles' voice that he knew anyone else was in the room.

"Get away from her now."

Spike still covering Willow turned to look up at Giles while Willow embarrassed at being caught buried her face in Spike's neck.

"Turn around," Spike commanded.

"I don't think so. Get away from her now." Xander told him.

"Bullocks, she's not completely dressed. Now, turn around like gentlemen and let her get covered." Spike snarled in defense of his girl. His eyes had already taken in the stake that Xander was holding and the crossbow that Giles was holding and knew what was coming. But he would go down with as much fight as he could. For her.

Giles and Xander actually turned around out of respect for Willow. She quickly got dressed again but stayed beside Spike. Her small hand clutched his in fear of what was coming.

"I'm dressed," she said tremulously.

The two men turned around to face them.

"Spike, you have a choice. Leave town or get dusted." Giles said.

"No, Giles. You can't do this. We love each other." Willow protested. Her face crumpled as the pain began to rip through her. This couldn't be happening.

"Willow, it's for your own good. He took advantage of your emotional state and was told to leave you alone."

"She's not a child. And I love her like she said. I have it worked out…" Spike protested.

"No, you don't get it. You don't have a choice." Xander contributed. He knew Willow more than anyone and there was no way she was really in love with this thing. It was only the loneliness of losing Oz that had deluded her.

Giles rubbed his forehead trying to remain focused on what was right. There was no future to being with a vampire especially an unsouled one. If Buffy couldn't make it work with Angel there was no way that Willow could make it with Spike.

"Go, Spike. It's for the best. We care about Willow and she doesn't need you in her life. If you love her then you know it's for the best."

There was no way Spike was going to get out of here with her on his arm. Where would he take her? How would they leave? How could he take care of her? Giles was right for now anyway. Spike turned to her, his hands on her shoulders.

"He's right, Love. The timing isn't so good right now. I love you and always will."

"Please don't leave, Spike. I need you." It was tearing her apart. Why did they always leave saying it was for the best? It wasn't. "We can do it together."

Spike hugged her tight to him. "I love you. I'll be back for you. I promise," he whispered in her ear so the others couldn't hear his pledge.  Then he kissed her softly before he grabbed his stuff and walked out into the night.

~~~~~~~~

Willow came running into the dorm room and straight into Buffy's arms who was waiting for her. Buffy enclosed her in a hug and began to rock them as Willow cried.

"Buffy, why did he leave? He said he loved me."

"I know what he said. But it was Spike." Buffy responded barely able to hide her disgust at her memories of being in his arms.

Willow pulled back, "You knew. You knew what they were going to do."

"Yeah, I knew. We thought it was best."

"How could you? What is it with you all? I'm not a child and I knew what I was doing. He was changing. He wanted to change. He had a plan for us. To prove to all of you that he wanted what was best for me." Willow shouted.

"A plan? Change?" Buffy had honestly thought that Spike would never change. Okay, she had refused to see the changes in him. There was his willingness to help them lately and his encouragement of Willow that showed in the new strength that her friend had developed. Willow was right. She wasn't a child and if she saw the good in someone then it had to be there. "Let's go."

"Where?" Willow stammered as Buffy took her hand and started to pull her toward the door.

"To find him. You're right and we were wrong. So, let's go find the blonde pain in the ass for you."

They searched all night. The crypts in the cemetery, Willy's, Angel's old mansion, even checked with Giles again and they asked every one they could find. But as dawn came over the horizon they had to come to the conclusion that Spike was gone. He had left town just as Giles and the Scoobies had wanted leaving Willow alone again.

TBC