Foolish Games

By: Saltygoodness

Summary: This story is a new take on the episode 'School Hard'. The parent-teacher night never happened. Spoilers for everything up to the scene in the Bronze. Buffy and Spike never met, and she is currently with Angel.

Pairing: B/S Fluff.

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.

Yeah, more Spuffiness...

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Part Three: Star-Crossed

Spike watched in silence as the slayer brushed her wet mussed hair at her vanity. She looked so beautiful. She wore loose silk pajama pants and a matching shirt that depicted little moons and stars. She was totally unaware of his presence outside her bedroom window, watching from a limb in the tree.

He had been watching her all night, after the sun went down, following her to the Bronze and on patrol around the cemetery. It set his very confused mind at ease to be near her, which he thought, was really quite odd. A vampire being comfortable in the presence of a slayer? Who would have thought? All he could think about was her. He had almost kissed her. He had almost kissed the slayer, wanted to kiss the slayer.

Even while he was with Dru, he thought of her. Hell, just the other night Dru had came on to him and he had pushed her away roughly and some what sadistically, realizing that it wasn't her he craved anymore, but the slayer. That thought alone nagged him to no end.

Dru had been terribly upset, running about the factory, whining about what the moon and stars had spoken to her. When she grabbed one of the minions and took them to her room- their room- either Spike never noticed or his overwhelming thoughts about the slayer prevented him from caring.

He tried to shift his weight on the tree branch, so his nether regions could be more comfortable. As he moved his right leg out from under him, he supported his body with both hands, trying not to make a sound. But it was in vain; his right leg slipped off the side of the branch and he reached out for the nearest thing to grab on to, as not to fall. What he got was a tiny twig jabbed through his hand.

"Owww!" He screamed.

Buffy jumped up from her nightstand when she heard the scream for outside in the tree. She rushed over and threw open her window to peer out into the darkness.

"Spike?" She asked. Then she noticed how he was cradling his other hand to his chest, pulling out the piece of wood. "Oh my God! What happen?"

"I kind of slipped." He replied tugging on the twig until it gave way and came out of his flesh, dripping in blood. "Bloody hell!"

"Shhhh. My mom's asleep. Here, come in, and I'll fix that up." Buffy said holding out a kind hand to him, which he gratefully excepted without even thinking. She pulled him inside.

"I'll be right back." She told him, gesturing towards her bed. "Have a seat until I find the first aid kit." She left the room as he took a seat on the edge of her newly turned down bed. Moments later she returned carrying a small box in her hands and sat down beside him.

"What were you doing outside my window?" She asked him curiously, taking his larger, colder hand in hers and dapping it with a alcohol-drenched cotton ball. He flinched with the alcohol burned his stinging flesh. "Sorry."

"I just happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to pay you a visit." He replied causally. He watched with fascination as she bandaged the rest of his hand with the best of care. He loved the feel of her hand covering his. It soothed his nerves.

"Oh. Okay, all better." She stated proudly after her work was finished.

Spike eyed it thoughtfully. "Thanks."

They locked eyes for the first time since their almost kiss. The heat began to grow quickly as they stared deep into each other's face. Finally Spike looked away, breaking the moment.

"Well, I'd best be going on my way." He said to Buffy, not looking at her. He stood up after a long silent pause.

"Why do you keep doing this?" She questioned, eyeing him as she stood to meet his height. He looked at her baffled.

"What?"

"This." She said pointing back and forth between them. "You keep bailing on me. Why?"

Spike fumbled apprehensively for an answer, but came up without a single just one.

"I-I, well I- it's a little bit more complicated than that." He told her running a hand through his beached locks, slicking them back.

Buffy eyed him suspiciously. "How so?"

"Well, you see, it's....it's just that you wouldn't understand, okay? I bloody don't know how to explain it."

"Well you just damn well better learn here and now." She told him, feeling the anger rise within her. She wanted some answers. She breathed in a deep breath of air and began her argument.

"First you come to me at the Bronze out of nowhere and give me the best time I've have in a very long time; then you learn my name, go all wiggy and bail on me; then you come back a night later and lay out under the stars with me, and walk me home, a-and almost kiss me, and then you bail again; then, then you show up outside my window tonight, and...and why the hell wouldn't you kiss me?"

When Buffy was finished she was completely out of breath and panting heavily. Spike was just starring at her in shock. Finally he found his voice.

"Wh-what?" He asked, his accent becoming thicker with his bewilderment.

Buffy raised to head to met his eyes once more. She took another gulp of air. "Well, Why not? You are single, right? I-I mean you wouldn't be hanging out outside my window, watching me if you weren't, right? Why all the games?!" She looked him in the eye.

Spike just watched as she babbled. She looked so sexy when she was angry, all hot and bothered. She was now burning a hole in the floor with her pacing and, Spike couldn't help but noticed that she had just invited him into her house. She had trusted him enough to do so. It wasn't right, but he wasn't going to deny the fact that he liked it; He liked it a lot.

He remembered the way it felt to hold her warm body in his arms. He remembered lying out, watching the stars with her by his side. He remembered almost kissing her, and how he had wanted to since the first time he saw her.

Buffy continued. "I mean, maybe there's something wrong with me. O-or maybe you're just not interested. Is that it? 'Cause if so you a-"

She was cut off as Spike rushed towards her so fast she never saw him coming and crashed his lips down upon hers, effectively shutting her up. She felt his tongue run gently over her lips and held her breath. She responded with equal passion, opening her mouth to let him taste her.

After an eternity, he pulled away, allowing her fragile body to pant for air for an entirely different reason this time. All the pain Spike felt from his hand suddenly vanished.

Buffy raised wide, surprise-filled eyes to his. Oh my God! He just kissed me. He finally kissed me. She watched as his face clouded with emotion. She identified some easily: want, confusion, and lust. But she also saw one that couldn't be identified, but it looked to her something like...love? No, it can't be. She thought.

Bloody Hell, Spike. You just kissed the slayer. And it was the best damn kiss your have had in over one hundred years, mate. Spike's thoughts intermingled as her gazed down upon the slayer, surprise reflecting his own sparkling blue orbs. Patiently, he waited for her to make the first move. Finally, she did.

"Do it again." She whispered, only loud enough for his heart to hear. Spike grinned boyishly, and did as she asked without a second thought. He leaned into her again and this time he kissed her harder, wrapping his arms around her and letting his body mold to hers. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer deepening the kiss. They fell back onto the bed, never breaking the kiss.

He was in complete and utter heaven. Never had he felt this good since before he had been turned. The feel of her body crushed beneath his was almost too much to bare. He wanted her so badly he was hurting. All the feelings he had been denying for so long went into the kiss. He kissed her harder, his tongue exploring her mouth passionately. They were lost in each other and neither wanted to be found.

Buffy felt Spike's hand as it slid under to pajama top to cup her breast, and kissed him hungrily. A moan escaped her throat, which only furthered his excitement. His lips broke free from hers and he kissed his way down her neck. She closed her eyes tightly and felt herself shutter at the feel of his cool lips and tongue trailing down her flushed skin. She grabbed his hair and pulled him back up to meet her mouth.

Spike pulled away and gazed into her desired filled eyes. He wanted her. God he wanted her so bad and he knew she could probably feel to what extent at that very moment. The bulge in his pants was beginning to ache.

Buffy was filled with that same sensation of- what she was sure of now- contentment. She felt content in his arms. And then she knew what exactly she felt for him at that moment. It hit her dead on like a freight train speeding out of control. She felt love, and she felt loved back. Which is completely impossible, Buffy. You just met the guy a few days ago. It can't be love yet...could it? Her inner monologue was interrupted when she felt the heated breaths from the man above her on her flushed cheeks. The warm sensation made her skin feel all tingly and sent chills down her spine. She snapped out of her daze and concentrated on his icy blue orbs that had darkened over with lust.

"Make love to me, Spike." She breathed, twisting her fingers gently in the ends of his hair.

What? Spike just stared at her in complete astonishment. For a moment he considered actually doing it, but then it hit him too. What ever it was behind that kiss, it was big. Bigger than lust, bigger than want, bigger than a one night stand with some cute chit he would occasionally pick up at bars. And as much as he hated to admit it, he was terrified. He was scared of falling in love again.

He rolled off of her then, standing up and straightening out his duster. "I can't"

He couldn't bring himself to look her in the eyes, so he concentrated on a spot on her floor. He heard her shift in the bed and then rise to her feet.

"What? Why?" She asked, her voice filled with hurt at his words.

"I can't. I have to go." He replied to the floor. He made a move towards the window when he felt her hand on his arm, and stopped in his tracks.

"It's me isn't it?" She said, blinking back tears, sniffling.

Spike turned around to find her in tears, wiping roughly at her eyes. He was by her side in an instant, wrapping his arms around her and whispering soothing words into her ears. He rubbed her back with one hand, while the other tangled in her honey blonde hair, still wet from earlier.

"No, it's bloody not. Don't even say that." He whispered hastily.

She slowly pulled away from him and looked up into his eyes almost shyly. "Then why don't you want me?"

Spike almost lost it when he saw her. The pain in the slayer's gaze hurt him somewhere deep inside. He tried to reign in his emotions, but it is next to impossible to not feel his dead heart swell with love, and pain.

"Oh baby, I've always wanted you." He told her, boring a hole in her with his intense gaze. "Since the first time I saw you."

Buffy relaxed somewhat, but still the pang of hurt was evident. She shut her eyes tightly, when he leaned in for another passionate kiss. When he pulled away, she watched as he descended from her and stepped out through the open window. He smiled one last wary smile at her and jumped to the ground. A single tear rolled down her cheek as he walked into the night.

A/N: Thanks so much for the great reviews. You guys sure know how to make a girl feel better. Lots of hugs and chocolate-covered *naked* Spikes go out to everyone! Please, more reviews! I hope you all like this chappy. The next one will be up in a day or two.