A/N: Thank-you to everyone for reading and reviewing!!  You guys are wonderful!

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Chapter 9: Inner Demons

Spike was the last person Buffy expected to see when she walked into Frankie's.  She had plans to meet Willow around seven, and then they were going to go to dinner or maybe a movie.  Well, Buffy found herself needing to get away from home before she was supposed to meet Willow.  Her mother was again lecturing her on the indecency of her job.  It may be indecent, but at least it pays well, she thought and sighed.  Since her mom fell sick last year, Buffy'd had to quit school as well as become the parent for A.J and pay the bills.  Stripping seemed to fit in perfectly.  Granted, she was extremely shy and lacked self-esteem, but the job paid well and she worked only nights, leaving days open to take care of A.J, her mom, and the apartment.  When her mom was once again strong enough to work at the gallery, Buffy planned to quit stripping and go back to school  She hadn't counted on the enormous hospital bills or the fact that the insurance wouldn't cover all of it.  Her mom's job wouldn't cover it and Buffy wouldn't even think of leaving until her mom and little brother were taken care of; hence, the continued stripping.  Mom's just mad that I make more money than her.  After hearing about how immoral stripping was for the millionth time, Buffy had to get out.  Frankie's was close by, and Buffy knew most of the people that worked there. 

She spotted the shockingly-white blonde almost immediately after walking in, and had just about collapsed.  Somehow, she made it to a barstool and sat.  When she glanced at him again, Spike was facing away from her.  Then, ever so slowly, his body turned until he was looking right at her.

He looks so sad, she thought, and then inhaled sharply when she saw him get up and walk over to her.  Her eyes widened when he stopped right next to her.  She felt the familiar heat course through her, something that seemed to only happen when Spike was around.  Now is not the time to behave like a teenager, Buffy chided herself.

"Hello again, pet," he said to her in his rough accent.  Her knees suddenly felt weak.  Does he know what he does to me? Buffy idly wondered.

"Hi, Spike," she replied and then winced at her own voice.  She sounded like she had a cold.  Oh yeah, that'll impress him, me with a head cold.

"What brings you to Frankie's, luv?" Spike asked and Buffy nibbled on her lip in a nervous gesture. 

"I've been having kinda a rough day," she told him.  "Why are you here?"  I can't stop thinking about you, that night or that kiss. 

"Drusilla," Spike replied.  The pain behind that single word was overwhelming, and Buffy instinctively reached out and took his hand.  Spike just stared down at their joined hands. 

"Are you going to be ok?" she asked.  She didn't know what possessed her to act like this; Spike was virtually a stranger to her, after all.  Yeah, a stranger with the best-tasting lips ever.  Still, his pain was so evident that it struck a chord in Buffy.  She knew what it was like to have your entire world destroyed by a particular person.  It had happened to her before, years ago. 

"I'll be fine," Spike replied.  He didn't sound too sure of his answer though.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Buffy asked.

It was like floodgates had opened.  Spike couldn't even begin to fathom why he was spilling his guts to the petite pixie who sat across from him, but something felt right about it.  He told her about Drusilla and what she had done to him.  How she had just visited him in his office and dropped the bomb that not only had she been cheating on him, but was now pregnant.  He didn't know who the father was, and didn't know what to do if it was him.  He didn't think he was ready to be a father, especially with someone like Drusilla as a mother.   The words just poured out and Buffy listened intently to him.

That bitch, was the prevailing thought in Buffy's mind.  She didn't know Spike, but he seemed like a nice man.  She couldn't understand why Drusilla would do that to someone she claimed to love.  Buffy felt instant sympathy for Spike, she wanted to do something to comfort him, make him forget about Drusilla. 

"Hey, I'm meeting a friend for a movie, you want to come?"  Buffy asked.  Play it cool, don't seem way too eager.  God, she felt like she'd fallen back into high school. 

Spike thought about it for a minute.  He could go home by himself and more than likely drink more, or he could go out this with intriguing blonde nymph, maybe get to know her better.  Maybe forget about Drusilla, his parents and his ghastly excuse of a life. 

He grinned.  "You're on, luv, where're we going?"

Buffy smiled back at him.  "Meeting my friend Willow for dinner at Al's and then we battle over what movie to watch.  She usually goes for chick flicks and I like action.  After the movie, we either hang out or get a drink, or something."  Yeah, keep it casual. 

"Sounds good, pet, what time are you meeting…Willow is it?" 

Buffy looked at her watch.  "Ummm…actually, about 10 minutes ago."

Spike laughed.  "Well then shall we go?" 

Spike paid their tabs and they left Frankie's.  They walked toward their cars and Buffy offered to drive.  Spike agreed and they got into Buffy's old blue Ford Escort.  The paint was peeling and there were some dings and dents, but it ran good and it was paid for.  Buffy was slightly embarrassed for Spike to see it.  She could tell by the cut and style of his clothes that he had money.  She gave him a sheepish smile as she unlocked his door.  Spike just grinned back at him and went to the driver's side.  She got in and headed toward Al's.  Conversation in the car was nonexistent and Buffy felt awkward. 

"So, "she started, "your accent, you're from England?" 

Spike grinned.  "Yeah, ducks, my family moved here when I was 5."

"Oh, that's nice.  Are you close with your family?  Do you have any brothers or sisters, or anything?" Buffy asked. 

Spike gave a harsh laugh.  "Not exactly, pet.  "M an only child, thank God for that.  Mum and dad aren't exactly model parents.  Spent most of my childhood getting into trouble."

Buffy's eyes widened.  Even though life had given her some hard blows, she had always had A.J and her mom.  She couldn't imagine growing up like Spike did.  "I'm sorry," she said.

Spike looked over at her, "Not your fault, luv.  I made it through, just look at me today."  He grinned at her. 

"So, what exactly do you do?" she asked him.  For some reason, Spike didn't want to tell her. 

"Waiter at a friend's restaurant."  It just popped out.  He didn't think about all the reasons that lying to her was wrong.  He just didn't want her to think of him as another poor little rich boy with too much time on his hands, working for daddy. 

"I just gotta know, Buffy, why are you working at a strip joint.  I mean, not that it's not a nice place or anything, and there's nothing wrong with stripping, but it just seems to me that you're too nice of a girl to be a stripper."  It all came out in a rush, like he was somewhat embarrassed to be asking her such a personal question. 

"Well, all I can say is that it pays well.  My mom was in the hospital and I had to find a job so I could take care of my brother A.J.  He's still in high school, only a few years younger than me.  My mom got so sick so fast that I didn't have time to finish school.  I just moved home from the dorms and looked for a job at anyplace that would take me.  So, here I am, taking off my clothes for money."  Buffy was somewhat embarrassed by her outburst.  She was usually very reserved, something that drove Willow nuts.  You're never gonna meet a nice guy if you never let them past the ice queen routine.  Buffy usually laughed and just brushed her off.  To her point of view, no one getting close meant no one to break her heart.  But with Spike, it seemed all her carefully reserved rules went out the window.  She'd already kissed the man without knowing his name, acted like a tramp and blabbed out half of her life story.  If Willow knew, she'd probably never let Buffy hear the end of it.  Buffy sighed at the thought, what idea was she going to get from her bringing Spike to their "girls night out"?

Spike heard her sigh and wondered at its source.  He'd felt sympathy for her when she told him about her life.  One thing he'd never had to worry about was money.  This poor girl was taking over not only as a sole caregiver, but as the source of income in the family as well.  By stripping, nonetheless.  A tiny thought crossed his mind, and he pushed it back until it could be properly considered.  He tried to turn his attention back to Buffy and the conversation, but his mind kept wandering back to that night.  That fateful night and that wonderful kiss.  He wondered if Buffy thought about it anymore.  Wondered if he should bring it up or just play it cool like he had been doing.  Acting like it never happened.  Only, he didn't want to pretend that it never happened.  Sod it all. 

Buffy pulled into the parking lot of the diner and turned to talk to Spike. 

"Buffy," he interrupted whatever she'd been saying, "Luv, do you ever think about that night?"

Buffy swallowed.  She'd been debating whether or not to bring up their kiss, and it looks like Spike wanted to hash it out.  "Honestly?  Yeah, I've thought about it.  I-I-I mean, a little, I mean, have you?" she asked desperately, trying to turn the subject away from her. 

Spike pursed his lips thoughtfully.  "Yeah, pet, I have.  I don't know what came over me. I gotta say though, that's been the highlight of my entire week.  What do you suppose that means?"

"I, uh, I'm not sure.  I-I mean, I've never in my life acted so impulsively and I just wanted you to know that I'm, um, sorry."  Buffy stumbled to get the words said. 

"Ah hell, luv, don't be sorry.  If anyone is, it should be me," he said to her.  "Like I said, I just went bleedin' crazy.  I'm sorry."

Buffy half-smiled.  "So, we're both sorry.  That's good, I guess."  Not really, considering I still want to jump your bones. 

Spike looked at her and reached out with a finger and traced her cheek.  "Friends, pet?"

She looked at him and smiled.  "Friends sounds good."

Friends!  You bloody idiot!  You don't want to be just friends with her.  Why did you say that, you stupid git!  Spike got out of the car and walked to the driver side.  He opened the door and offered Buffy his arm.  I'm gonna hafta change her mind about that. 

Buffy grinned and took it as she stepped out.  Friends?  Yeah right, you don't want to be only friends with him.  Why did you say that?  Ohh, stupid bleached wonder, we'll see how long you keep that promise. 

Had either of them seen a reflection of themselves on the way into the diner, they would have been surprised.  Both of their faces sported a wicked grin. 

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A/N: Hehehe, I'm evil.  Please don't hate me and don't worry about it, the game it afoot!  More chapters and quicker (hopefully).  Until next time, my pretties.