Chapter 4

(The next morning at the magic shop)

"Draco, did you collect any useful information when you and Willow went to analyze the seal?" Asked Giles.

"Well, if you count fixing your problem then yes." Draco answered.

"You already found a protection spell? Are you sure it will be effective?"

"Not entirely but you just give me a ring if there's another apocolypse."

"Very well." Giles paused. "Are you planning to return to England now that you're work is done?"

"Actually I though I might hang around here for a bit if that's alright. I can stay at that lovely Mermaid Inn I saw this morning if there's no room at Xander's."

"Oh you don't have to stay at that horrible place, the waterbeds leak. You can stay with me."

"Thanks but I was actually thinking about Spike's old place if that's alright with him."

"Sure, stay as long as you like." Spike said.

"Alright then. Oh, and mind If I do some redecorating?"

"Go right ahead. Just nothing too foofy, I've got a rep to protect."

"Guess that rules out the Martha Stewart border I was going to suggest." Buffy joked.

"Afraid so. But was actually more thinking along the lines of Ozzy Osbourne meets Jenifer's Convertibles. You know, sleek with a touch of gothy darkness."

"Excellent, go to it."
* * * * *

Draco was busy rearranging furniture and trying to make a mantle out of the stone coffin when he heard a knock on the door.

"Come in!" He shouted.

Buffy walked in. "How's the decorating going?"

"Horribly. This awful stone coffin completely clashes with the rest of the room."

"What do you propose we do about it."

"At the moment, absolutely nothing." Draco said. "Now, tell me why you're really here."

"Um, well I'm not really 100% sure."

"Well I'm just going to assume it's about what I said about not telling you everything about Ginny."

"Partly..and I think also I wanted to know why you're so interested about me and Spike."

Draco sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Because.. I haven't known Spike that long but I can already tell that he's in love with you. I don't know why he pushed you away but that's for you to ask him. I also think you love him too. And you know this. I think you know how you feel."

"I know you're right. It's just, everything's so complicated with Spike. You never know what he's going to do. I don't want to risk our friendship by telling him how I feel again."

"You're wrong."

"What?"

"You're wrong. You don't want to tell him because you're afraid of getting rejected again."

"That too." Buffy said with a slight smile.

"I don't know. I don't know you."

"I've only known you for 4 days and you know more about me than most of my friends.except for-

"Spike."

"Alright I get your point." Buffy sighed. "Why do I always bond with stubborn lonely men?"

"Because you're stubborn and lonely."

"Oh.. right."

* * * * *