They walked around for a while without any vamps making an appearance. For
a while, the kitten kept them entertained, but she soon fell asleep. Not
long after, Buffy sighted a grave newly emptied. She took a deep breath.
"Pet, you don't have to do this. You know that I'll--" An unyielding hand in his face was his answer. Spike took offense and quickly found a headstone to sit on. "Hey, fine by me. Just jump in headfirst after being out of the game for so long. See if I care...." But of course he cared. While he tried to act like he wasn't paying attention, he never lost sight of her. He thoughtlessly petted Summer while Buffy searched for the newly risen vamp.
It didn't take her long to find him, hiding behind a crypt. When he jumped out to attack her, the instincts kicked in immediately. It only took a few blows before she was able to get him into position for the stake. As the dust settled, she heard applauding behind her. She rolled her eyes.
"Good show, pet! Much better than I had figured. I guess being out of practice is kind of a non-issue for Slayers. Good to know I don't have to go easy on you....."
She turned to see him smirking. "You know what? I've had enough killing for tonight. I think it's time for the melting."
Spike raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah?"
Buffy nodded, a mischievous smile appearing. "Yup. You're going to buy me some ice cream now."
Spike frowned. "I am?"
She giggled, "Uh huh. Lots of melting going on there. Come on."
Spike clenched his jaw in slight frustration. "But we just started patrolling....." He abandoned the fight when he saw her walking off. She was going to make him work for every little scrap. And he was going to do it, like the whipped vamp he was.
As Buffy enjoyed her banana split(about which Spike struggled not to make lewd jokes) Spike was alternately sucking on his strawberry shake and feeding tiny spoonfuls to Summer. He wasn't going to take her back to his crypt to destroy his things, and animals were not allowed in the ice cream shop, so he had to keep her hidden in his jacket. No one noticed him covertly slipping a spoon inside his jacket every few minutes. Buffy giggled at him.
"What? She likes it!"
"No, that's not it. You. You have a kitty. It's just so cute. Of all the things I never knew about you, this is one of the most surprising. You're a cat lover!"
"I am not! Just because I happened to have taken a liking to *one* little cat doesn't make me a cat lover. Besides, thought *you* didn't like cats."
"Well, most cats, no. But this is a kitty. Everyone loves kitties. Are you going to get her fixed?"
"Fixed?"
"Yeah, ya know, make it so she won't have kittens of her own when she's older."
"Um, hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, you'll have to get her fixed. Or else find her some cocky tomcat with white fur and blue eyes so she can.....ya know, have a good time." She waggled her eyebrows at Spike, making him laugh.
"Ah, she's too little to think about stuff like that."
"Yeah, but before you know it, some stray will be climbing in her bedroom window, making her want to do naughty things....." Buffy frowned when she realized what she said.
"Oh yeah? What kind of naughty things?" Spike had a lascivious twinkle in his eyes.
Buffy blustered a bit. "Well, ya know, naughty things cats do. Like.....eat canaries and.....goldfish and, uh.....get stuck in trees......"
Spike's face fell. "Yeah, real naughty." 'God, she's infuriating! Can't she see I just want to grab her and kiss her like last night?! Of course she does, she's just playing with me. How can I want to smack her as much as I want to kiss her?'
"Uh, Spike?"
Spike snapped out of his thoughts. He saw her pointing at his chest. Apparently Summer had decided she wanted some more shake and climbed out of Spike's coat while he was musing on kissing Buffy. She now had her whole head in the glass, but thankfully none of the patrons noticed.
Spike chuckled as he tried to wipe the strawberry mess off Summer's face. "She's more like you than I thought."
"Oh, how's that?"
"Leaving the comfort of the guy that wants to protect her and barreling head first into trouble."
"I hardly think that one fledgling vampire or a milkshake constitute trouble, Spike. I think maybe said guy is just too overprotective!"
"Well, I think said girls are just too stubborn to know a good thing when they see one!" Spike grumbled a bit.
Buffy smiled. "I think we both know the good thing we have." She reached her hand across the table and caressed his.
He couldn't help but soften as she touched him. He placed Summer securely in his pocket and sighed. "Yeah, you girls sure know how to melt me....."
"Ok, finish up your shake. I need to get home."
"What's the rush, luv?"
"The rush is, I told Giles I wouldn't be late. And I think he's a little worried about me patrolling again. I mean, he's happy, yeah, but ya know...He hopes I'm still up to the task."
"Well, you did fine, what with the one whole vamp you dusted. I still think maybe we should make a quick pass through a cemetery. I mean, you need practice, Slayer. One little fledgling isn't going to cut it."
"I know, but I want to start slow. Don't want to get in over my head too soon. That could be..bad. Slow is good." Buffy flashed him a smile that told him she wasn't just talking about slaying.
Spike grunted and shifted in his seat. "Yeah, for now."
"Come on!" Buffy got up from her seat and waited impatiently on Spike.
"Alright, alright. Don't rush an old man." Spike threw down a few dollars and followed Buffy out the door.
**
As they reached her front door, Buffy handed Summer back to Spike. She had insisted on holding her and playing with her since they had left the ice cream shop. She had paid little attention to Spike, though he had trouble keeping his eyes off her. It was almost as if she was deliberately trying to avoid conversation. Spike picked up on her vibe and did his best not to push her. She wanted slow, he'd be the epitome of slow. At least until he internally combusted from frustration, need, and desire.
After he had safely stowed Summer back into his pocket, Spike said a little 'good night' and turned to go. Buffy grabbed his arm. He turned to her. She looked nervous.
"I, uh...well I was thinking..." She sighed. It was so hard to talk to him when all she wanted to do was be kissing him. So she did.
She grabbed his head and yanked him down to her, so quickly he almost stumbled over. But he was able to steady himself against her door with his arms. She had her arms wrapped around his neck so tightly, it felt as if he were holding them both up alone. And soon he was. He snaked his arms around her waist and lifted her until her feet were inches off the porch. They kissed this way for a few moments until an uncomfortable 'meow' came from between them. Spike set Buffy down gently and peeked inside his coat. "Sorry, luv. Forgot you were there."
Buffy took that moment to catch her breath. "Ok, you should go."
Spike looked up at her, tilting his head in that way that made her quiver. "Is that so? Now why would I want to do that? Night's just starting to get interesting, way I see it."
"No, you need to go. You have some planning to do."
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "Planning? For what?"
"You need to decide where you're going to take me for our date tomorrow night." Buffy's eyes were a bit downcast, though her voice portrayed confidence.
Spike took a moment for this to sink in before grinning widely. "Oh, right. Our date. Good of you to remind me. Yeah, lots of big plans. So I'll pick you up around...8?"
"What? Oh, no, that's ok. I'll meet you at your crypt. I want to do a little sweep before we go out. Just a short one, I can handle it. But 8 is good."
Spike nodded. "Alright, 8 it is. And I'll figure out something to do with little kitty destruct-o here." He patted his chest for emphasis.
"Ok. Good night, Spike."
"Night, Buffy. Sweet dreams."
"They will be." Buffy gave him a coy smile before going in the house. Spike stood on her porch until he heard the lock click.
He headed home, one thought in his head. 'Your dreams may be sweet, but mine are coming true.'
**
TBC
"Pet, you don't have to do this. You know that I'll--" An unyielding hand in his face was his answer. Spike took offense and quickly found a headstone to sit on. "Hey, fine by me. Just jump in headfirst after being out of the game for so long. See if I care...." But of course he cared. While he tried to act like he wasn't paying attention, he never lost sight of her. He thoughtlessly petted Summer while Buffy searched for the newly risen vamp.
It didn't take her long to find him, hiding behind a crypt. When he jumped out to attack her, the instincts kicked in immediately. It only took a few blows before she was able to get him into position for the stake. As the dust settled, she heard applauding behind her. She rolled her eyes.
"Good show, pet! Much better than I had figured. I guess being out of practice is kind of a non-issue for Slayers. Good to know I don't have to go easy on you....."
She turned to see him smirking. "You know what? I've had enough killing for tonight. I think it's time for the melting."
Spike raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah?"
Buffy nodded, a mischievous smile appearing. "Yup. You're going to buy me some ice cream now."
Spike frowned. "I am?"
She giggled, "Uh huh. Lots of melting going on there. Come on."
Spike clenched his jaw in slight frustration. "But we just started patrolling....." He abandoned the fight when he saw her walking off. She was going to make him work for every little scrap. And he was going to do it, like the whipped vamp he was.
As Buffy enjoyed her banana split(about which Spike struggled not to make lewd jokes) Spike was alternately sucking on his strawberry shake and feeding tiny spoonfuls to Summer. He wasn't going to take her back to his crypt to destroy his things, and animals were not allowed in the ice cream shop, so he had to keep her hidden in his jacket. No one noticed him covertly slipping a spoon inside his jacket every few minutes. Buffy giggled at him.
"What? She likes it!"
"No, that's not it. You. You have a kitty. It's just so cute. Of all the things I never knew about you, this is one of the most surprising. You're a cat lover!"
"I am not! Just because I happened to have taken a liking to *one* little cat doesn't make me a cat lover. Besides, thought *you* didn't like cats."
"Well, most cats, no. But this is a kitty. Everyone loves kitties. Are you going to get her fixed?"
"Fixed?"
"Yeah, ya know, make it so she won't have kittens of her own when she's older."
"Um, hadn't really thought about it."
"Well, you'll have to get her fixed. Or else find her some cocky tomcat with white fur and blue eyes so she can.....ya know, have a good time." She waggled her eyebrows at Spike, making him laugh.
"Ah, she's too little to think about stuff like that."
"Yeah, but before you know it, some stray will be climbing in her bedroom window, making her want to do naughty things....." Buffy frowned when she realized what she said.
"Oh yeah? What kind of naughty things?" Spike had a lascivious twinkle in his eyes.
Buffy blustered a bit. "Well, ya know, naughty things cats do. Like.....eat canaries and.....goldfish and, uh.....get stuck in trees......"
Spike's face fell. "Yeah, real naughty." 'God, she's infuriating! Can't she see I just want to grab her and kiss her like last night?! Of course she does, she's just playing with me. How can I want to smack her as much as I want to kiss her?'
"Uh, Spike?"
Spike snapped out of his thoughts. He saw her pointing at his chest. Apparently Summer had decided she wanted some more shake and climbed out of Spike's coat while he was musing on kissing Buffy. She now had her whole head in the glass, but thankfully none of the patrons noticed.
Spike chuckled as he tried to wipe the strawberry mess off Summer's face. "She's more like you than I thought."
"Oh, how's that?"
"Leaving the comfort of the guy that wants to protect her and barreling head first into trouble."
"I hardly think that one fledgling vampire or a milkshake constitute trouble, Spike. I think maybe said guy is just too overprotective!"
"Well, I think said girls are just too stubborn to know a good thing when they see one!" Spike grumbled a bit.
Buffy smiled. "I think we both know the good thing we have." She reached her hand across the table and caressed his.
He couldn't help but soften as she touched him. He placed Summer securely in his pocket and sighed. "Yeah, you girls sure know how to melt me....."
"Ok, finish up your shake. I need to get home."
"What's the rush, luv?"
"The rush is, I told Giles I wouldn't be late. And I think he's a little worried about me patrolling again. I mean, he's happy, yeah, but ya know...He hopes I'm still up to the task."
"Well, you did fine, what with the one whole vamp you dusted. I still think maybe we should make a quick pass through a cemetery. I mean, you need practice, Slayer. One little fledgling isn't going to cut it."
"I know, but I want to start slow. Don't want to get in over my head too soon. That could be..bad. Slow is good." Buffy flashed him a smile that told him she wasn't just talking about slaying.
Spike grunted and shifted in his seat. "Yeah, for now."
"Come on!" Buffy got up from her seat and waited impatiently on Spike.
"Alright, alright. Don't rush an old man." Spike threw down a few dollars and followed Buffy out the door.
**
As they reached her front door, Buffy handed Summer back to Spike. She had insisted on holding her and playing with her since they had left the ice cream shop. She had paid little attention to Spike, though he had trouble keeping his eyes off her. It was almost as if she was deliberately trying to avoid conversation. Spike picked up on her vibe and did his best not to push her. She wanted slow, he'd be the epitome of slow. At least until he internally combusted from frustration, need, and desire.
After he had safely stowed Summer back into his pocket, Spike said a little 'good night' and turned to go. Buffy grabbed his arm. He turned to her. She looked nervous.
"I, uh...well I was thinking..." She sighed. It was so hard to talk to him when all she wanted to do was be kissing him. So she did.
She grabbed his head and yanked him down to her, so quickly he almost stumbled over. But he was able to steady himself against her door with his arms. She had her arms wrapped around his neck so tightly, it felt as if he were holding them both up alone. And soon he was. He snaked his arms around her waist and lifted her until her feet were inches off the porch. They kissed this way for a few moments until an uncomfortable 'meow' came from between them. Spike set Buffy down gently and peeked inside his coat. "Sorry, luv. Forgot you were there."
Buffy took that moment to catch her breath. "Ok, you should go."
Spike looked up at her, tilting his head in that way that made her quiver. "Is that so? Now why would I want to do that? Night's just starting to get interesting, way I see it."
"No, you need to go. You have some planning to do."
Spike's eyebrows shot up. "Planning? For what?"
"You need to decide where you're going to take me for our date tomorrow night." Buffy's eyes were a bit downcast, though her voice portrayed confidence.
Spike took a moment for this to sink in before grinning widely. "Oh, right. Our date. Good of you to remind me. Yeah, lots of big plans. So I'll pick you up around...8?"
"What? Oh, no, that's ok. I'll meet you at your crypt. I want to do a little sweep before we go out. Just a short one, I can handle it. But 8 is good."
Spike nodded. "Alright, 8 it is. And I'll figure out something to do with little kitty destruct-o here." He patted his chest for emphasis.
"Ok. Good night, Spike."
"Night, Buffy. Sweet dreams."
"They will be." Buffy gave him a coy smile before going in the house. Spike stood on her porch until he heard the lock click.
He headed home, one thought in his head. 'Your dreams may be sweet, but mine are coming true.'
**
TBC
