title: Marriage, Sunnydale-Style
author: Heather (heather@hella-good.org)
rating: R
spoilers: none...completely an au/fantasy fic except for things borrowed from the Buffyverse (season 1-7) that are twisted to fit in this universe.
disclaimer: If I actually owned anything, I probably wouldn't be doing this :)
summary: After almost 10 years of dating, Buffy and Spike finally find themselves in the midst of planning a wedding and remembering the long journey that got them there.

a/n: As always, thanks for the reviews at ff.net, CW and SA. It's really nice and I get to do the dance of joy each time someone leaves one. So thanks so much. Also, someone nominated this at the Spuffy Awards which is just too cool for words. Whoever you are, I am flattered that you liked it enough to think to do that.

Okay, this chapter is mega-long. I probably should have broken it up in two parts but I don't like to break the flashbacks up and so I didn't. :) I'm usually not fond of songs in fic but I found myself in a position where I could put it in or not. After debating over it all weekend, removing it and putting it back more times than I can count, I decided to leave it in. I justified it by just having the B/S centric songs here because to me, they were very important to what happens through out the night. So if you don't know some of the other songs, that's a real shame. And of course, I don't own any of the songs. It all belongs to the brilliant people who wrote and sang them. Lastly, I'm kind of a prude when it comes to writing a sex scene. I spent a half an hour alone weighing the pros and cons of typing the word erection so what does that tell you? (And obviously helped because I just typed it again) But I gave it a go. I only hope it's not too crappy. I can read smut until the cows come home but actually writing it? I'll leave that to the others who do it so much better. So be forewarned...there is light smut ahead.

Chapter 22

Flashback

"This sucks," Buffy mumbled before letting her head fall on top of the book on the table.

"It's not that bad, Buffy."

"No, it is that bad. What the hell was I thinking when I picked psychology? I was in a state of flux, grasping onto something. This is doomed."

"It is not doomed," Willow said, laughing slightly. "I think it's great that you have something picked out. It's only the beginning of our sophomore year. Hardly anyone has picked their major yet."

"You have," Buffy sighed.

"Not exactly..."

Buffy's head shot up, her eyes wide in surprise. "Are you trying to tell me that you're as goalless as the rest of the human race?"

"I've been giving a lot of consideration to things. Remember when Snyder let me take over Jenny's classes? I've been thinking of getting back to that. Maybe double major in education and computers."

"You're going to pick two majors? You actually had my hopes up for a minute that you would be cruising down the Gen Y highway with me," Buffy said, smiling a little.

"Well, with your mom back to feeling like her old self, you can totally concentrate on school, right?"

"Yeah, but I feel like school is all I've been doing. School, Mom, Dawn, home...I'm only twenty and I feel like I'm going on forty. I hardly see Spike so we're in this constant state of who knows what. I'm pretty sure my brain is going to explode."

"It's probably pent up sexual tension," Anya threw in.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"You and that going crazy thing that you're doing. No happy sex time."

"You think me not having sex is the cause of my problems?"

"No, Anya didn't mean that," Willow said, quickly.

"Of course it's what I meant. You've been with Spike for months now and I'm guessing that there have been no interlocking activities."

"Not yet," Buffy agreed quietly.

"I, personally, don't know what you're waiting for-"

"Anya," Buffy interrupted. "Not that this is anyone's business but I'm waiting because I seem to jump into sex and then I end up being left all alone and heartbroken. I'm trying to go slow, to see where it all leads."

"I hate to break this to you, but your foreplay was the year and a half you danced around each other. Throw him down and ravage him. You will feel much better," Anya said with a big smile.

"I'm scared that this is coming out of my mouth, but Anya may have a point," Willow said meekly.

"You have got to be kidding me with this," Buffy muttered.

"I'm not saying she's completely right but with everything that's happened in the last six months, things have been high on the stress level. You finally, to the relief of everyone around you, admit your feelings for Spike and now you're just waiting. I'm not entirely sure why."

"So when you met Tara, you just threw her down and ravaged her?" Buffy asked, sarcastically.

"Well, no, but that's a little different. I was falling in love with a woman. Hello? No previous experience with that so I kind of took my time."

"Sorry, Will, I didn't mean it like that. I don't understand where all this sudden interest in my lack of a sex life is coming from. I'm sure Spike's not complaining about it. It's not like we don't do stuff..."

"Have you been naked with him?" Anya asked.

"God, Anya, do you have any inner monologue at all?" Buffy asked, feeling her face burn.

"No," Anya answered quickly. "So have you?"

"Completely? No and I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's wigging me out."

"Well, I hope for your sake that he isn't deformed in some way. What a waste of many orgasms," Anya added, wistfully.

"Why would you say that?"

"Looking at him alone could make a girl have an orgasm. It'd be a shame if it didn't function properly."

"Anya, if you say orgasm one more time, I'll scream," Buffy warned.

"If you would just have sex with him, you could be screaming all the time, I'm sure," Anya pointed out.

"Oh my god," Willow whispered to herself.

"I will die of embarrassment as soon as I say this but I don't need to have sex with him to scream, okay? So leave me alone already."

-----------------------------------

"Hey, Mom," Buffy said as she walked into the gallery.

"Hi, honey. How is everything?" Joyce asked as she embraced her daughter.

"Fine, busy but things are fine. Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, I'll get Tara to cover the front. I can't even begin on what a wonder she is here. Let me go get her from the back." Joyce walked into the storage area and Buffy looked around at the walls. Her eyes lingered on a photograph of a blonde boy and a girl, holding hands and walking down the street. She smiled and reached her hand out to touch the picture.

"Isn't that lovely?" Joyce asked from behind, startling her. "New photographer. It's so simple but there's something sweet and innocent about it."

"Yeah," Buffy said, absently and turned away from the picture. "Hey, Tara."

"Hi," Tara answered, shyly. "Do you want me to stay out here?"

"Yes, at the desk. Just answer the phone or help anyone that should come in. You'll be fine. It's about time I get you out of the back," Joyce said with a smile to reassure her. Tara nodded and walked over to the desk. "Come on, you. We'll go into my office, okay?"

Joyce shut her office door and sat on the small couch beside Buffy. She saw the look of apprehension on her daughter's face and had to hold back the urge to stroke her head like she used to do.

"So, Tara's internship is going well, huh?" Buffy asked, lamely trying to start up the conversation.

"She's really something. Brilliant at art and I have the feeling you didn't come to talk about Tara..."

"I hate when you're all Omniscient Mom."

"It's how the best mom's are," Joyce joked.

"I'm not having sex with Spike yet," Buffy blurted out. She looked at her mother and she saw the look of surprise on her face from her sudden admission. "Is there something wrong with me?"

"Goodness, no. Who told you...Have you been talking to Anya? That girl has quite the liberal view when it comes to sex."

"No, well, sort of. We were studying...or Will and I were studying, Anya was just being Anya and suddenly the conversation turns to Spike and me and the non-naked time we spend together. I tried to explain that I was waiting-"

"Waiting for what?" Joyce asked, interrupting.

"That's exactly what they wanted to know. I keep waking up to empty beds, Mom...I don't think I could handle it if I woke up in Spike's alone."

"Oh, baby," Joyce comforted, leaning over and running her hand along Buffy's head. "I feel certain that Spike is not the get up and go sort."

"They never seem like that and yet..."

"We're talking about a man who has been around for awhile now, has continued to stay around even though things with you didn't exactly work out at first. He didn't run off at the first sign of trouble."

"I know this, Mom. It's just...if things don't work out, I lose my boyfriend and best friend in one swoop."

"Is that why you waited so long to admit what you were feeling?" Joyce asked.

"Who says I felt something prior to this?"

"Buffy, amazing as this is, in the twenty years I have on you, I have learned quite a few things. Are you honestly going to tell me that you didn't like Spike when you first met him?"

"It's not that I didn't...but Angel and I had broken up. I was trying to recover."

"Okay, but Riley hadn't been gone that long-"

"I never felt for Riley what I did for Angel. I think that's fairly obvious."

"Sure, because you were crazy about Spike and he, you." Buffy began to protest and Joyce shook her head. "Buffy, I'm the mom which naturally makes me smarter about these things." She gave Buffy a wry smile. "You want my honest opinion about this?"

"If it's throw him down and ravage him, I already heard it from Anya," Buffy answered softly.

"Then I guess we're done."

"Mom!"

Joyce smiled and said, "Have you talked to him about this?"

"I'm not going to talk to Spike about not having sex with him. That's too weird."

"It's also the mature thing to do. You want answers, go to the source. Otherwise, continue to not do anything about it and watch it become a huge issue that will be unavoidable in no time."

"I can't just say 'so about that sex we're not having...'," Buffy tried to explain, becoming exasperated.

"I'm not saying jump into the conversation right off the bat, but gradually go into it. You two have always been able to talk. This should be no different."

"But it is! This is not the kind of conversation we have. Sure, we can talk until we're blue in the face about any topic. But us, sex, together?" Buffy shook her head, willing herself to block it all out. "It's not possible."

"Then I'd say you're doing the right thing by not sleeping with him. If you can't talk to him about it, you definitely shouldn't be participating in it."

"But-"

"No buts, Buffy. If you're not mature enough to have 'the talk' with your boyfriend, then you're most likely not mature enough to handle everything that comes with it."

"Mom, I've had sex before. It's not like this is new terrain for me."

"True, but like you said, you didn't care nearly as much for Riley as you did Angel and even I understand the Parker situation," Joyce reasoned. "With Angel, you were still a child and I'd rather not get into that discussion now because I still have many issues with that..."

"I think this is going a lot better than the talk after Angel," Buffy said, a smile forming on her mouth.

"Undoubtedly," Joyce sighed. "My advice is to talk to him."

"I'll think about it. Thanks, Mom," Buffy said, giving Joyce a hug.

"Anytime, honey," Joyce said. "And if the talking thing doesn't work out, go with Anya's advice."

"Mom!"

------------------------------

They pulled apart from each other, panting slightly. His mouth still only millimeters from hers and their breath intermingled in the space between them. She continued to glide her hand in a circular motion at the base of his back. His hands were still massaging her scalp, his fingers getting caught in her blonde locks. He kissed her chastely on the lips and rolled to the side, snuggling between the sofa and her. She turned so her body spooned against his and they released a contented sigh.

"That was..." Buffy began, only to trail off.

"Yeah..." Spike mumbled into her ear.

"If it's that nice like this, I can't imagine-"

"What it'll be like when we're not clothed?" Spike asked, interrupting her.

"Um, yeah. About that," she started again.

He kissed the side of her neck and said, "It'll happen when it does, pet. I'm in no rush."

"But it's...Don't you feel like a sixteen year old, making out on the couch, mindlessly groping at each other?"

"It has its perks," he said softly, his mouth still against her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

"It's a bit...messy, though. For you, mostly. I mean-"

"So I have to change my pants. Believe me when I say, it's worth it." Buffy giggled and he reached over her body, taking her hand in his. "The fact that you're here at all...that you touch me with these hands, kiss me with that mouth...Do you know what you do to me?"

Buffy turned to face him and he placed his hand on her hip. She brought her hand to his face and ran her index finger along his jaw line. He closed his eyes and she smiled slightly, delighting in the feel of his muscles twitching under her finger. She closed the distance between, lightly running her tongue along his lips. He opened his mouth in surprise and she took the opportunity to take his bottom lip into her mouth, nipping at it lightly. Buffy pulled away, only to feel his hand on the back of her head, pushing her towards his mouth. She smiled as they began to kiss again and his hand dipped under her shirt, lightly caressing her side. She broke away, breathing in deeply. She rubbed her head into his hand that cupped it and smiled when he began to lazily work his fingers.

"You do the same to me," she whispered and his eyes opened, a look of surprise passing through them. "So there's this party Cordy's throwing in a couple of weeks."

"The Halloween party? Yeah, got my invite. Surprised the hell out of me."

"Cordy always liked you. I think that's nice that she did that. I figured she assumed that I would be taking you."

"So we're going?"

"It'll be fun. I haven't dressed up since...well, last year but come on," Buffy whined a little. "We're all going, Cordy says the place is great and promises that fun will be had by all. Plus..."

"What?"

"Well, we figured it's all the way in L.A. so we should probably consider staying the night. Cordy says there's a hotel down the street called the Hyperion. We were thinking of getting some rooms..."

"We'd be together? It's not going to be broken up into boy, girl stations?"

"Uh, no," Buffy said, laughing. "If you really believe Anya would let Xander spend a night away from her and the many orgasms she could achieve, you haven't been paying much attention over the last year."

Spike chuckled and nodded his head. "Alone in a hotel room. Can I trust you?"

"Oh! That's rich!" Buffy said, laughing harder. Her laughter tapered off as she thought about being alone with him for the night. "Just because we get a room doesn't mean-"

"I know," he told her, his voice low. "We'll just see how it goes. You may just want to leave."

"Or I may just want to stay."

"Exactly."

"So if you had a choice, you'd want to-"

"Stay," he said with the utmost confidence, looking her straight in the eye.

"I think if all of us are going to the party, we might as well stay. We can make like a weekend of it or something. Could be lots of fun and a nice break which is something I definitely need," Buffy suggested, feeling her excitement about the idea growing.

"What is Caritas, anyway?"

"This guy hired Angel for a case and they all hit it off, apparently. Cordy says the guy is a blast and he owns the bar where the party will be."

"You're not twenty-one yet."

"I know but Cordelia told me that if you have an invite, you're good. But I think I'm supposed to pretend to be of age," Buffy told him, rolling her eyes. "Being twenty stinks. It's like limbo. You're not in the teens anymore and you're not considered a full-fledged adult. Besides, I'm such a light weight. If I have one drink, and that's a big if, it will be enough for me. Drinking, though, is not on the forefront of my mind. It's the idea of getting away, even for a night, that appeals to me."

"Then we'll have the best night we've had in months," Spike promised, kissing the top of her head.

"Um, Cordy told me that Harmony will be there. They've apparently worked things out..."

"I don't care."

"Well, I was just letting you know in case it should get awkward or something," Buffy said, taking a deep breath and quickly adding, "Angel will be there, too."

He moved his head back so he could look at her face. She wasn't looking at him but she knew that he was watching her. She continued to draw circles on his t-shirt with her finger, feeling the need to do something as he laid there, staring at her.

"Will you please speak?" Buffy begged.

"So, I'll finally get to meet the Great Poof," Spike said, unenthusiastically.

"I'd, you know, refrain from calling him that when you do," she said, a slight smile on her lips.

"Do I have to be nice?"

"A little...it won't be that painful, I promise. Besides, he might not even stick around but I thought I should let you know."

"Is it going to be difficult for you?" Spike asked, quietly.

"Not with you there," she answered just as quietly. "Look, it's bound to be weird no matter what. We haven't seen each other since he left and I won't lie and say I wanted him gone because I didn't. I thought...ah, I don't know. I thought a whole bunch of things in regards to Angel and none of it went the way I thought it would."

"You never did tell me what happened."

"Do you really want to talk about this now?" Spike shrugged. "You're not going to get all...you-like, right? You're just going to nod and listen..."

"Sure, luv. You don't have to-"

"No, it's fine. I guess we should do this. If you're going to meet him and whatever..." Buffy snuggled in closer to Spike, took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I met him when I first moved here. We sort of just went around each other...he thought he was too old for me, I thought he didn't like me...normal teen angst stuff. I left for the summer to go see my dad and when I came back, I was nasty to him. I was frustrated, I guess. So depending on my mood, I either ignored him or screamed at him or tried to make him jealous so he would see the light. I even used Xander on one my schemes. Against his knowledge, naturally."

"What did you do to poor Xander?"

"I did a sexy dance with him at the Bronze. Totally used his crush on me against him. I've never apologized for that. I should..." Buffy trailed off, thinking.

"And so..."

"Oh, so it worked, pretty much. Not the best way to snag a guy, I know, but I was only trying to get him to notice me. So there we were, happy couple except I couldn't tell my mom about him. I was only sixteen. I knew she wouldn't be thrilled to learn that my boyfriend could legally buy a drink."

"There's two words for that, you know," Spike said. He was really trying to not say anything but he hadn't realized that Angel had been that much older than her.

"Yeah, I know and don't go saying them," Buffy warned. "Things were good, we're getting along, being all in love and then my birthday comes. It's a known fact that my birthdays are about as much fun as Chinese water torture. But my seventeenth takes the cake. The Gang had a surprise party for me, things were great, he was walking me home and it began to pour so we ran to his apartment. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have gone there but..."

"Buffy, if you don't want to finish-"

"No, it's fine, really," she interrupted. "I appreciate the offer, though. He gave me my gift, which was a Claddagh ring and he told me he loved me and I said it back. And I believed it...and him and so I thought taking the next step was the most logical. I remember he said 'maybe we shouldn't do this' and me being oh so brilliant said 'just kiss me' and so he did. I woke up, he was gone." She inhaled Spike's scent to keep her grounded, to keep the tears from coming. "Needless to say, when I finally caught up with him, he just...he wasn't the man I thought he was."

"How do you mean?"

"He was...different. Cold, mean...he said things that I'll never forget but I still loved him. I still wanted to work it out. It's sick, right? How we do that to ourselves? We torture ourselves with this love thing. Because that's what it was. Torture. And I did it to me. It was months of him trying to get to me, sending me flowers, going to my mom, leaving drawings in my room of me sleeping. It was always something."

"Are you telling me he stalked you?" He was barely hanging onto his rage by a string. He couldn't believe that she expected him to be nice to this guy when they met. There would be no possible way.

"That's how it seemed," Buffy began.

"That's how it sounds, sweets."

"This friend of his, Whistler, came to see me and told me about all this trouble Angel was in. I had no idea what kind of stuff he had gotten into. It seemed to have literally happened over night."

"You've forgiven him for all this? You must have if you went back to him."

"Spike, it wasn't that simple. Things were crazy. He left, I ran away after my mother and I had a huge falling out about him and the way I led my life. Like I said, I still loved him. He was my first everything and I never thought...I never thought I would get over it. Him."

"So he sweet talks you back into his life?"

"No, it wasn't like that. When he came back, he was like he used to be. He never tried to get back together with me. It was just the opposite but, you know, over time we just sort of fell back into it. He wanted forgiveness for what happened and I eventually gave it to him. Willow pointed out that no matter how good it got, those memories would always be with me, would always get in our way. I think he knew that and deep down, I did, too, but I didn't want to remember. I just wanted to forget those months, forget about the monster he became...and we tried, I tried. But he was the one that could never fully forgive himself and he wanted me to have a life he thought he could never give me and he left again and that's when-"

"You met me," Spike finished. Buffy nodded. "What exactly did he get into?"

"The three d's...drugs, drinking, debauchery...what he told me was that he woke up and felt guilty that he let it go so far. He went to Willy's, had a few drinks, some guys he had known from school offered him something better, he took them up on it and he just kept on taking it...So, see, it really wasn't him. It's not really how he is. He got caught up in all that crap and I just happened to be there...Apparently, it wasn't the first time it's happened to him. When he was younger, he got into the same trouble but I guess I just brought that need out in him."

"Piffle," Spike muttered.

"Spike..."

"No, I won't let you feel badly about what happened. Not here, not with me. He led you up the garden path, luv. There's nothing for you to feel guilty over."

"I don't...not anymore. I stopped riding the guilt train a long time ago."

"But..."

"But it still hurt like hell when he left. It was so final. I knew he wouldn't be coming back. Part of me was grateful that he did it and a part of me, the much bigger part, was furious that he could just up and leave with barely a goodbye. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never see him again and then Cordy has to go and work for him...I don't know but I think it will be okay."

"Barrel of laughs, I'm sure," Spike said sarcastically.

"No, what I mean is, it's been long enough. Time heals all wounds or whatever," Buffy said, slowly moving away from the comfort of Spike's arms. She rested her head on the other half of the pillow that he was on and sighed. "Things are much different now. I'm not the same girl and I'm sure he's not the same guy. Regardless if he's moved on, I have."

"Yeah?" Spike asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yeah," Buffy concurred, running her index finger along his lips. She gasped when he opened his mouth and brushed his tongue across it. "A big yeah," she mumbled, feeling the butterflies in her stomach as he continued to nip at her finger.

----------------------------------

Xander opened the door to Spike's apartment with a smile. "Velcome to Spike's Haunted holy crap!" He slammed the door shut, shaking his head.

Willow and Tara looked at each other and Willow rolled her eyes. She lightly knocked on the door and said, "C'mon, Xander, let us in."

"Willow?" he asked from the other side.

"Yeah, of course, it's me. Let us in."

He slowly opened the door, the look of horror still on his face. "What the hell happened to cute, little red-headed, non-vein-y Willow?"

"Didn't Tara do a great job with my make-up? I look scary, huh?"

"That's an understatement," Xander said, looking the now black-haired, black clad, vein-faced girl up and down. He looked at Tara, dressed in a flowing white dress with a long white wig, light make-up and sparkles. "So you're like a hot ying and yang?"

Willow laughed. "No, silly. She's a good witch and I'm an evil, going to destroy the world witch."

"Oh, yeah, obviously."

Anya entered the room and looked at the three of them. "Hmm...interesting," she commented before sitting on the couch.

"Anya, you look amazing," Willow said.

"Yes, I know."

"Why are you so dressed up?" Tara asked.

"I had to. I'm Xander's Bond Girl, Mons Gold. Not only do I get to wear a tight gold dress to drive my Xander crazy but it also infers that I have a mons made of gold and we all know that means-"

"So...where's Buffy?" Xander asked, cutting Anya off.

"Uh, she had to get her bag from the car," Willow told him, still distracted by Anya's explanation of her costume.

"Don't forget the treats," Tara told her.

"Yeah, Buffy got us chocolate. She's in a really good mood."

"It must be contagious because I heard Spike singing earlier," Xander told her.

"You think they're..." Willow trailed off, raising her eyebrows.

"No, they're not having sex yet," Anya told them, matter-of-factly. "Ask the same question tomorrow and I think you'll have a different answer. Buffy can be Mons Gold, too!"

"Who's Mons Gold?" Buffy asked as she walked into the apartment. "A little help, please."

Xander grabbed the box of little plastic pumpkins that were filled with candies and put it on the table. "Anya, don't answer that," he said quickly. Turning to Buffy, he said, "You don't want to know."

"I'm betting you're right about that," she said, with a smirk. "Where's Spike? Is he ready?"

"He's still in the bedroom. You should join him. We can wait!" Anya suggested.

"Anya, will you please leave it alone. You'll ruin everything," Buffy said, frowning.

"Were they having a sale on black wigs or something?" Xander asked, looking at Buffy's head.

"Well, blonde doesn't exactly go with the ensemble," Buffy said with a laugh. "I'll be right back..."

"Have fun!" Anya called after her.

She turned around and said, "I'm going to see if he's ready! I'm not going to do...that!" She walked to the bedroom and opened the door. Spike was standing in front of the long mirror, putting the finishing touches on his hair. Oh...my...god. She looked him up and down and unconsciously, licked her lips. He squeezed some more gel into his hands and brought it to his already very spike-y hair.

"I don't think I'm going to be able to run my fingers through that," Buffy joked. He turned around, smirking but as he saw her, it quickly turned to a look of surprise as his mouth went wide and his eyes roved over her body. He walked past her, not saying a word and went into the bathroom to wash his hands. Buffy looked after him, confusion on her face. She walked over to the mirror and looked at herself, shrugging. She heard the door close, saw him walking towards her and felt him press up against her, wrapping his arms around her torso.

"You look...unbelievable," Spike whispered in her ear.

"Really? I wasn't sure...I don't really know what punk girls look like."

"Whatever possessed you to dress like this?" Spike asked, looking in the mirror so he could see her.

"Xander told me that's what you were doing and Cordy had said there's a couples prize and so...Plus, fun. It's come as you aren't night and this is as far from who I am as I could get," Buffy explained.

"This," he said, as he tugged lightly on the black bob-style wig that donned her head, "was a shock."

"I thought the blonde didn't exactly work. Will needed to get a wig and I went with her. I feel kind of like Rose McGowan in The Doom Generation."

"Much hotter." He backed up from her and spun her around, looking at her again. She blushed under his scrutiny and the look in his eyes of absolute desire. His hand entered the cut of fabric across the stomach of her shirt and said, "This I like." He ran his hands down to her hips that were showing just a bit. "This I like". They kept moving down to the skirt. "This is sinfully short." He tugged on the skirt. "I love it." He got on his knees and brought his hands to her legs and moved them up and down her thighs, going under her skirt every other time. "And these are fantastic." He pulled on the red and black fishnet stockings. "You put these holes in them?"

Buffy smiled, embarrassed. "Actually, my fingernail ripped it on my knee and then I thought that works so I put some more in. How about the boots?" She lifted her foot and placed it on his thigh.

"Almost my favorite...but my eyes keep going back to this skirt. Where'd you get these?"

"Xander brought me to an Army surplus store," she told him. "So you like the skirt?"

"I'm having naughty thoughts about this skirt," he said, his voice deep. "It's the plaid and the pleats...very dirty Catholic school girl." He stood slowly, grabbing her leg as he went and wrapped it around his waist. She jumped up a bit, wrapping the other around the other side. "So do you think we're staying tonight? Because I can't promise that I'm going to be able to control myself with you looking like this."

"I'm having the same thoughts," Buffy whispered into his ear. He brought her over to the bed and put her down. He stood in front of her, his arms out, a smug look on his face. Buffy kneeled on the bed, grabbed his arm and brought him closer to her. "This I like, although you could probably poke my eye out," she said as she patted his hair. He chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving her. "This I love." She lightly ran her finger around his eye. "Only you and Ewan McGregor should wear eyeliner. Sexy."

"Yeah?"

"Uh-huh," she said, smiling. "This shirt is yummy. Did you buy it like this or did you put a hundred safety pins in it?"

"Bought it like that," he smirked.

She ran her hands down his arms, lightly massaging the muscles as she went and said, "I can tell you right now that this is my favorite part." She leaned over, kissing his exposed shoulder. He groaned at the contact and she smiled, her mouth still on his skin. "Oops, I got lipstick on you."

"Leave it," he said, grabbing her hand before she wiped it away.

She touched the necklaces that he was wearing and lifted one of his hands. "Love the jewelry."

"Like yours, too, ducks," Spike said, placing his other hand on her wrist, touching the leather cuff.

She removed her hands and slid them down his chest, loving the feel of the safety pins beneath her fingers. They came to rest on his waist. One of her hands gave a little tug to the black belt he was wearing and the other to one of the rings hanging from it. "I can use this to pull you around all night."

"Don't need a ring," Spike barely said.

She smiled again and sat down lower on her legs, putting her hands on his thigh. One of her hands slipped into the tear that was there and lightly massaged his leg. "Not black. Love it. Tight in all the right places but baggy enough to leave a little mystery." Her hands went back to his arms and she sat back up. "But these...I could be rubbing these arms all night, you know."

"Sounds fine to me, pet." He leaned in to kiss her when they both heard loud banging on the door. "Bloody hell. What?"

"Sorry to interrupt what is hopefully turning into a gratifying sexual experience for you both but if we want to be there on time, we need to leave," Anya said through the door.

"You can come in, Anya," Buffy called out.

She opened the door, slowly and popped her head in. "You're still clothed."

"Yeah, what did you expect?" Spike said, a bit more snappish than he meant.

"Well, it's okay. Buffy says that she screams just as loud with her clothes on," Anya announced, brightly.

Spike looked at Buffy, eyebrow raised in amusement. Buffy knew she was sixty shades of red and muttered, "Oh my god."

-------------------------

"Cordy's supposed to be meeting us here," Buffy told the group as they entered the hotel. They all stopped right above the stairs, each with an awed expression on their face.

"This place kicks ass," Willow said, excitedly and running down the stairs, pulling Tara with her.

"I guess we should all check in now, drop off our stuff and find Cordelia," Xander suggested.

After receiving their keys, the three couples made their way to their rooms, deciding to meet back in the lobby in ten minutes. Buffy and Spike arrived at room 203 and Buffy felt her stomach drop. She was far more nervous than she ever thought she would be and it was beginning to grate on her nerves. She tried to literally shake it off but it failed miserably. She looked at Spike, who had opened the door and gave him a weak smile.

"You cold?" Spike asked, reaching out to rub her upper arm.

"No, fine..." She went into the room and looked around, putting the box of treats on a small table against the wall. "Wow, this is unreal."

"Old hotel, better architecture," Spike said, shrugging. He placed their bags on the floor at the foot of the bed. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah!" Buffy answered too quickly to his liking and he gave her the look that told her that he didn't believe that at all. "I'm...I'm nervous."

He walked over to hear, wrapping his arms around her, lifting her up a bit and kissing her lightly on the lips. "Me, too." He let her go and took a step back. "Should we go down?"

"Sure, let me just touch up the make-up. Want to join me?" she asked, laughing.

"Har-har." He watched her sashay into the bathroom. He loved how the skirt barely covered her when she leaned over the sink to look in the mirror. He was suddenly hit with a realization. "Hey, pet, you know you can't bend over in that skirt when we get there."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, turning slightly to see what the problem was. She saw that it had risen up to just below her bottom and she smiled. "You're the one who said it was sinfully short."

"Which is fine...when you're with me."

"Do you want a club? You know, to bat me about the head with and then you can pound on your chest, yelling, 'Mine' to anyone who comes near me."

"You'd be willing to do that?"

"Come on, we're going," Buffy said, shaking her head, grabbing the box of treats and handing them to Spike.

"So you're not going to change?"

"Are you? You think I'm going to enjoy the women that will undoubtedly try to fondle those arms that belong to me?" Buffy asked as she walked out the door.

"Don't you try that reverse psychology on me," Spike said with a smirk as he closed the door.

"Come on," she whined, grabbing his free hand and dragging him down the hall. "You know I have these boots on tonight. Shouldn't piss me off...I could totally kick your ass."

"You promise?" Flashing his tongue as it slid slowly over his lips.

"Stop that little tongue thing," she said, giggling. She stopped before they reached the stairs and turned quickly, grabbing his head and kissing him hard. "You know what it does to me..." She laughed again and ran down the stairs.

"You're going to get it," Spike called, running after her.

"You promise?" Buffy retorted in her best sexy voice. She turned around quickly, smacking into someone. "Oh, god. I'm so sorry." She looked up and her eyes went wide. "Angel..."

"Buffy?"

"Uh, wig..."

"Hey, Buffy!"

She looked to her left and saw Cordelia walking towards her. "Wow, Pat Benatar, how are you tonight?"

"And you're...what are you? Hey, Spike," Cordelia said, warmly.

"Cordelia," Spike acknowledged. He looked at the tall, broad brunette who was staring at him. "Can I help you, mate?"

"Angel," he said, holding out his hand.

"Ah, Angel. Spike." Spike shook his hand and instinctively put his arm around Buffy's waist. Angel looked nonplussed by the movement but Spike had seen the jealous flicker pass through his eyes. He smiled smugly, holding Buffy tighter to him.

"Buffy, your lipstick is a little smudged...and so is yours, Spike," Cordy said, laughing.

"Hey, guys!" Willow said as the other two couples joined them. "Angel? Wow...how are you?"

"Fine, Willow and you?"

"Really great. This is my girlfriend, Tara. And this is the infamous Cordelia and Angel," Willow introduced.

"Nice to meet you," Cordy said, looking Tara up and down, still amazed that Willow had a girlfriend.

"Hi, you, too," Tara said, quietly.

Buffy glanced at Angel who mouthed "Girlfriend?" raising his eyebrows in surprise. Buffy smiled and shrugged. Spike pretended not to notice the little interaction and tried to believe that ignorance was bliss.

"You must by Anya," Cordy said.

"And you must be the girl who dated my Xander before me," Anya guessed, giving Cordelia the once over. "You can't have him back."

"I don't want him back," Cordy replied. "Although I forgot how well he wears a tux."

"Do we hug or-"

"No! You do not hug!" Anya exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Xander's arm, holding him in place.

"I guess not. It's good to see you in any event," Cordy told him with a smile.

"Oh, I got these for you guys. Since we're too old to go trick or treating but we're not too old for chocolate-y goodness," Buffy said, handing out the little plastic pumpkins to everyone. "I even have one for your friend."

"He's at Caritas, getting everything ready but he loves sweets so he'll thank you repeatedly," Cordy said, taking the little pumpkin.

"So what's with the 80's?" Xander asked Cordelia.

"Oh, it's a theme for the night."

"There's a theme?" Willow asked, surprised.

"Um, not in the strictest sense."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked.

"You didn't tell them about Caritas?" Angel asked, amusement in his voice.

"Not entirely..." Cordy said, looking at the floor.

"Someone better tell me what's going on or they're getting a boot up the ass," Buffy threatened.

"It's a surprise. Don't worry, Buffy. You'll love it. It's really fun," Cordy said, trying to appease her friend's curiosity.

"And funny," Angel mumbled.

"You should know, Barry," Cordy quipped.

"Barry?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Don't ask," Angel told her.

"Oh, you'll find out, I'm sure," Cordy said with a wink.

----------------------------

Buffy walked into the bar and decided that there were just enough people there. She thanked Cordelia silently for not going overboard as she tended to do. She grasped onto Spike's hand as they made their way through the bar to the reserved table that Cordelia had set up for the group. Everyone took a seat at first to relax a bit before hitting the dance floor or bar. After about a half-hour of talking about everyone else at the party, the girls got up to dance, leaving the men at the table by themselves, each one of them feeling strange.

"So you're like a detective now," Xander stated, trying to make conversation.

"Yeah, it's good. And you're doing what?" Angel asked.

"Construction. Mine's good, too."

"How about you?" Angel asked Spike.

"I have a job I hate. The American way, right?"

"How long have you been living here?"

"Almost two years," Spike answered, curtly. "I'm going to the bar. Want?"

"Beer," both men answered.

"That was all kinds of fun," Xander muttered under his breath and Angel shot him a look. "Just saying..."

"How long have he and Buffy been dating?"

"A few months. You want more information than that, I suggest you ask Buffy. I learned the hard way that talking about her when she's not present isn't the best of ideas," Xander said. Angel nodded in understanding and they both went back to watching the dance floor.

Spike waited impatiently for one of the bartenders to acknowledge his presence. He was aggravated that he was being blatantly ignored in favor of a girl dressed like a fairy. He felt a hand on his back and turned his head to see Buffy staring up at him, smile on her face.

"You've been over here for a few minutes."

"They're ignoring me. I'm not pretty enough, apparently," Spike explained, waving his hand in the direction of the fairy girl.

"Let me try," Buffy offered. She wiggled between him and the bar and stood on the footrest. She bent slightly over the bar and yelled, "Hey! Can we get some service, you think?" The two bartenders looked over at her, surprise on their faces. "Yeah, one of you, come over here and pour drinks. That'd be great!"

"Buffy..." Spike started.

She turned her head and said, "Shh, I'm handling it." She leaned over more and banged her hand on the bar a couple of times. "Girl with big boots here. Don't want to piss her off..."

"Buffy."

"What, Spike? I'm getting into character. This is fun."

"Luv, your ass is rubbing against me and it's taking a whole lot of willpower on my part not to-"

"Not to what?" she asked, turning her heard to smirk at him.

"What can I get for you?"

"Oh, um...something blue," Buffy answered, cluelessly.

"Blue?"

"Yeah, I like blue drinks but I can never remember the names."

"Blue Hawaiian, okay?" the bartender asked.

"Sure! Spike?"

"Three bottles of Heineken."

"That it?"

"Um, yeah," Buffy said, giving the bartender a big smile. "Thanks!"

"Have you been drinking already?" Spike asked.

"No, but a little flirty never hurt," she said as she turned her body slowly so her back was to the bar and she faced Spike. "Are you having any fun at all?"

"Had a real thrilling conversation with your ex."

"He's not really a talker." She put her hands on the sides of his face and pulled him to her, kissing him lightly. "Thanks for making the effort, though."

"The last thing I want is a pissy Buffy," Spike said with a smile.

"You're so smart, you know that?"

"That's seventeen dollars," the bartender said from behind Buffy.

"Can we start a tab?" Spike asked.

"Sure, just fill this out." He handed Spike a receipt and Spike filled out the appropriate information and gave it back to him.

Buffy picked at the safety pins on Spike's shirt while they waited for the bartender to finish. "I want you to wear this shirt all the time."

"Is it the shirt or the arms?"

"I love these arms but the shirt is just fun," she said as she moved a pin back and forth. "I could spend hours playing with it."

"I've spent hours playing with Xander's," Anya said, suddenly. Buffy and Spike turned to look at her, mouths open, eyes wide in shock. "You have to give it a break every once in a while but you really learn a lot when you concentrate on one specific thing."

"Anya, I was talking about Spike's safety pins."

"Oh, right...I'm talking about Xander's safety pins, too. Wink, wink," Anya said to Buffy confidentially. The blonde couple started laughing, much to Anya's dismay. "What's so funny?"

"You, luv. You're funny," Spike said, shaking his head. He picked up a bottle of beer and handed it to her. "This is for your guy. If you want a drink, order it. We started a tab. We can just divvy up at the end of the night."

"You're very generous," Anya said with a nod.

As they walked away, Spike said, "She keeps surprising, doesn't she?"

"The girl knows no boundaries."

As they arrived at the table, the curtains that cloaked the back of the room opened and a stage with TVs and a couple of microphones were revealed. A man dressed as a green demon, wearing a bright blue suit, stepped onto the stage.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked, taking a seat on Spike's lap.

"That's Lorne," Cordy told her. "He's going to start the festivities."

"What have we been doing for the last forty-five minutes if not being festive?" Willow asked.

"I told you there was a surprise. Now listen," Cordy answered.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!"

"Good evening, Lorne!" the crowd shouted. The group from Sunnydale all looked at each other, excitement and a little fright crossing all their faces.

"In case some of you might not know me, I'm your Host with the Most, Lorne, or tonight Krevlornswath of the Deathwok Clan. Don't look at me, I found it in a book. Don't I look fabulous?"

The crowd went crazy, Cordelia in particular, who was bouncing around in her seat like a kid who had too much sugar.

"You have no idea what you're in for," Angel said to Buffy. She looked at him quickly and looked back at Lorne. She felt Spike tighten his hold around her waist and she smiled at his jealousy, hoping that this was the worst it would get.

"As you know, when you came in, each one of you filled out little slips with your name, your date's name, if you were lucky enough to find one and what your costume was. You were led to believe that it was for the costume contest but no, my pretties. That is not entirely so. My lovely co-host, the formidable Miss Cordelia Chase," more applause erupted and Cordy stood, bowing, "and I knew what this party was really going to be." The crowd continued to hoot and holler as Lorne took a moment to take a sip from his drink.

Willow turned to Buffy and said, "Are they chanting something?"

"I think so..." Buffy said, willing her ears to listen closely. "I've got nothing."

"And if you're at Caritas, that only means one thing!" Lorne yelled.

"Are they saying karaoke?" Xander asked, eyes bulging out.

"No...no way!" Buffy exclaimed, shaking her head.

"That's right, people, it's karaoke time!" Everyone went crazy except for the six people who had never been there before. "So here in this box, we have everyone's names. I will be picking names and deciding who will be singing. If you haven't the slightest clue as to what you would like to sing, we have the fishbowl. In it contains varied musical styles from slow to rock to rap and so on. However, if you pick from the fishbowl, you must sing a song from the category. There is no chance of you getting your cute little ass out of it. Baby, come on up here and finish!"

Cordelia got up from her chair and ran up to the stage. "Hey, guys! When I first came in here and Lorne demanded that we all sing, I was mortified. I'm Cordelia Chase. I do not sing karaoke. Let me tell you, after you sing that first song, you don't want to leave. I mean all that attention and praise aimed at me? I loved it! So Lorne and I thought Halloween, karaoke, funny costumes...add it all up and it's bound to be fun for everyone. Now I know that some of you are shaking your heads, thinking that there is no way in hell you'll be getting up here." She turned to look at her table, she raised an eyebrow and smirked. "You're wrong. Every single person here will get up and sing. Whether it's by yourself, a duet or more, you're doing it. If you don't, we'll know and that's when the real embarrassment happens."

"What about the prizes?" someone in the back yelled.

"Oh, right. There are prizes for the costumes. That wasn't a lie. We figured this would be a really great way to see what everyone chose, as well. I'm not telling you what the prizes are so don't even ask. Lorne and I just wanted to give everyone a happy, hopefully hysterically funny, Halloween. I'm going to go sit and Lorne will start." She went to hand the microphone to Lorne and stopped, putting it back up to her mouth. "And if anyone who happens to be from Sunnydale is thinking of leaving, you are sadly, sadly mistaken."

------------------------------

"That was...really unfortunate for the rest of us," Lorne commented, rubbing his ear absently. "Round of applause for Vlad the Impaler, everyone. So next we have....Anya Christina Emmanuella Jenkins...there's a mouth full."

Anya shot up out of her chair and yelled, "That's me!" and waved her hands in the air. She ran on to the stage and smiled at the crowd.

"Well, Anya, what are you supposed to be?" Lorne asked.

"I am Xander's Bond Girl, Mons Gold."

"Mons...Gold?"

"Yes, it means that I have-"

"Doll, we all know what it means. Have a gander at the book and let us know what you will be gracing us with."

Anya scanned the book quickly and found her song. She looked at Xander and smiled. "This one," she said, pointing in the book.

"Well, this should be interesting, Monnie. Have you done this before?" Lorne asked.

"No, but I am very eager and very willing. I promise to try my hardest," Anya said, a huge smile plastered on her face.

"You certainly are at that. Miss Jenkins will be going the classic rock route with a little ditty from the Stones..."Let's Spend the Night Together"."

The music started and Anya grabbed the microphone in front her, taking it off the stand. She looked at the screen in front of her quickly, making sure she remembered the lyrics. She began to sing, swinging her hips around, arms in their air, and giving it her all. There were catcalls from the audience and encouraging shouts and Anya felt empowered. She made her way down the stairs to Xander. He looked at her, grinning from ear to ear as she sang to him. She straddled his chair, swayed her hips up and down, back and forth. Xander was enthralled watching her as she sat in his lap and continued to move and sing. The song ended and Anya slowly removed herself from him and ran back up on stage.

"Hot damn," Lorne greeted her. The crowd went wild and Anya curtseyed and waved. "I believe you are the first patron of Caritas who successfully sang, and sang well, I might add, and gave your honey a lap dance. Congratulations!"

"Thank you very much," Anya said and quickly got off the stage. She ran over to Xander, made a circle with one hand and put her index finger of her other through the circle a couple of times. Xander looked at her in surprise and then jumped out of his seat and led her away.

"Ew," Cordelia said.

"I don't even want to know where they're going," Willow commented.

"Since neither Cordy nor I are in the box, I'm calling Cordy up here to sing us a little something. She has been dying to do this since we started to plan and I can't begrudge her a thing." Cordy made her way up to the stage. "To be brutally honest, Cordelia is about as good as Vlad was-"

"Screw you, Lorne!"

"In your best dreams, honey pot. But Cordelia puts the effort in and makes it entertaining for all of us. So welcome Pat Benatar with her pop hit, 'Love is a Battlefield'."

"Oh no, we have to listen to Cordelia sing...again?" Willow lamented

"Weren't we through enough during that fateful rendition of 'The Greatest Love of All'?" Buffy asked, shuddering.

"Let's not bring up the talent show," Willow sighed.

"You were in a talent show, luv?"

"We were sort of forced into it by Snyder. You know how he is. I had only been there for a few months…so had Giles, actually. And he roped us all in. Cordy sang and our ears bled. Much as they are doing now."

"And what did you do?" Spike asked, not being able to stop himself from running his mouth lightly across her exposed shoulder. He smiled when he felt the goose-bumps form on her skin.

"Me, Willow and Xander performed a scene from Oedipus Rex. Let us never speak of it again," Buffy said, laughing.

"It wasn't so bad," Willow commented.

"Yeah, for you. You ran off the stage."

"Oh, yeah…" Willow remembered. "Well, look at Cordy go. She's even got the moves down and everything."

"She looks like she stepped right out of the video. All she needs to do now is find a whole bunch of hookers and throw a drink in a pimp's face and it will be complete," Buffy said, laughing. She turned her head and looked at Spike, who was still gently kissing her shoulder. "That tickles."

"That's the point."

"You better behave yourself. We're not Xander and Anya, you know."

"And if I don't behave myself?"

"I'm using these boots to kick someone's ass tonight…"

"That'll be the day, pet."

"Buffy Summers!"

"Huh?" Buffy asked, spinning her head around.

"You have to go up there," Tara said, smiling.

"Oh, hell no. I'm not going up there."

"Buffy, don't make me come down there and drag you up here," Cordelia said, a wicked smile on her face.

"I'm not nearly drunk enough for this shit," Buffy said. She held up her index finger to tell Cordy to wait a second and grabbed her drink, guzzling it down.

"Good luck," Spike whispered in her, licking it lightly along the shell.

"Shut up," she grumbled. She got up and made her way to the stage. She gave a short wave to the audience and turned to glare at Cordy. "You're dead."

"It was the luck of the draw, honey. Do you know what you're going to sing?" Cordy asked, sweetly.

"No! I don't want to sing anything. I'll sing the nothing song, sound good?"

"Want the fishbowl?"

"I could pick something horrible…"

"You have to pick something," Cordy said, holding the bowl out to her.

Buffy closed her eyes and put her in hand in the bowl, taking out a slip of paper. Cordelia grabbed it instantly and smiled as she read it.

"Buffy has picked a slow, love ballad which is sort of nice seeing as she's all in loooovvveee," Cordy teased.

"You are not my friend," Buffy snarled.

"Here's a list of the songs. You have one minute or I decide."

Buffy looked down the list and almost had a fit. There was no way she would sing "Wind Beneath My Wings" or "The Power of Love".

"Okay," she said to Cordelia.

"Oh," Cordy replied looking at her selection. "Well, Buffy picked a really great song and just from knowing her in the last five years, very fitting." Buffy stuck her middle finger up at her. "She's really getting into the punk rock thing, apparently. This one is going out to Spike."

"Shut it, Cordelia," Buffy said into the other microphone. She heard the crowd laugh and applaud and she felt compelled to raise her hands in victory. Well, at least that drink is finally kicking in.

"Jeez, sorry…testy Buffy tonight," Cordy said into the mic. She leaned over and whispered to Buffy, "I mean this, good luck. It's fun, trust me. And sorry about the Spike comment." She turned back to the crowd and said, "A song all about love and hope called 'This Year's Love'. Everyone get out your lighters."

"But don't burn the place down," Lorne yelled from his chair on stage.

Buffy looked out over the crowd as Cordy cued the song up. The lights were too bright for her eyes so she closed them and tried to think outside of where she was. It wasn't helping that people were yelling and clapping, despite the fact that she hadn't even begun. They won't be cheering in a minute. Okay, so you're in the shower, singing away…Uh, no because then I'd be naked. Argh. You're in your bedroom, lights are off, listening to the music crank out of the stereo speakers and you're singing along…much better. Spike should be there…let's take that shirt off and bring him over to the bed. Singing away…not noticing the crowd as Spike slowly rubs…Oh! That's what Anya's costume means-

"Buffy?" Cordy asked, interrupting her thoughts. "You're up."

She kept her eyes closed and listened to the beginning chords start. She started to feel a bit more at ease, but the cheering was really bothering her. She couldn't concentrate, couldn't remember the lyrics on her own and she refused to open her eyes to read the lyrics and see everyone watching her.

"Hey, please shut up," she said into the mic. Many people laughed, she heard some name calling but she didn't care. They had quieted down and when she heard David Gray start to sing, she followed right along with him.

This years love had better last
Heaven knows it's high time
And I've been waiting on my own too long
But when you hold me like you do
It feels so right
I start to forget
How my heart gets torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Feeling like you can't go on
Turning circles when time again
It cuts like a knife oh yeah
If you love me got to know for sure
Cos it takes something more this time
Than sweet sweet lies
Before I open up my arms and fall
Losing all control
Every dream inside my soul
And when you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet
This years love had better last
This years love had better last
So whose to worry
If our hearts get torn
When that hurt gets thrown
Don't you know this life goes on
And won't you kiss me
On that midnight street
Sweep me off my feet
Singing ain't this life so sweet
This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last
This years love had better last

The song came to an end and the silence in the room was deafening. Buffy could feel herself begin to feel ill at the discomfort but suddenly the room went wild. She slowly opened her eyes, a smile forming on her lips. She felt Cordelia's arms go around her, pulling her into a tight hug. She heard people yelling "Great job", "Sing it, sister!" and "Good luck, Buffy!" and she felt her eyes start to well up with tears. She put her face on Cordy's shoulder, looking away from the crowd as she willed herself to calm down.

"You alright?" she heard Cordelia ask over the roar of the crowd.

"Yeah…that was just…"

"Liberating, right?"

"Yeah," Buffy said, smiling. She pulled away from Cordy and faced the crowd, nodding her head in thanks.

"I'm weeping like a little schoolgirl," Lorne said into the mic and that set off another cheer. "I say screw the box and we call her lover boy up here." Buffy started to walk off the stage when Lorne grabbed her arm. "Nope, you stay here. Sit on the stool."

"But I sang my song. I…I don't want to sit up here anymore," Buffy argued.

"Too bad, sugar. My bar, my karaoke, my party, my rules." He turned to look the crowd over. "So, where is he? I know Cordelia knows you and I am not above sending her down there to get you up on this stage."

Spike slowly made his way through the crowd, his mind still reeling from the song Buffy chose. All he wanted to do was grab her and hold onto her, reassure her that it would last. He wanted to tell her it was silly to think otherwise. He wasn't like the rest of them. He was the long-haul guy and his only big plan in life was to spend his with her. He reached the stage and smiled at the crowd. He looked over at Buffy, who was staring diligently at the floor and he knew she was embarrassed. He only wished that she wasn't.

"This him?" Lorne asked Cordelia and she nodded. "Buffy has apparently landed herself a nice chunk of a man. What's your name, handsome?"

"Spike."

"How I would love to know where that came from," Lorne said, laughing.

"I bet," Spike retorted.

"We're going to confer for a moment and we'll be right back. Talk amongst yourselves about how gorgeous this couple's children would be and try not to let the envy take you over."

Spike looked at Buffy again, but she was talking to Cordelia. He sighed heavily, stuck his hands in his pockets and began to rock back and forth on the balls of his feet.

"Okay, sweet stuff, pick something," Lorne said, handing him the book.

"Don't need the book."

"A man who knows what he likes. We like that around here," Lorne told him with a wink. "What I want you to do is sing it right to her. Do you have any problems with that?"

"She probably will," Spike answered quietly.

"She's a little red in the face. She'll get over it. Please tell me you can sing because otherwise, it's just going to be embarrassing for everyone."

"I can carry a tune," Spike said, smugly.

"Thank god. Your girlfriend really poured herself into that little performance. Here's to hoping that you follow suit," Lorne said before turning back to the crowd. "It seems Billy Idol here knows exactly what he wants to sing. Which would be what exactly?" Spike whispered in his ear. "Ah, not bucking that grand British tradition…he's picked The Beatles. Here's your microphone, there's your girl and here's your song." Lorne pressed a few buttons on the machine and the music started to play.

Spike walked over to Buffy and got down on his knees in front of her, his back to the crowd. He placed a hand on her knee and she looked down at him, startled. He gave her a small smile before he began to sing.

Something in the way she moves
Attracts me like no other lover
Something in the way she woos me
I don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now
Somewhere in her smile she knows
That I don't need no other lover
Something in her style that shows me
Don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now
You're asking me will my love grow
I don't know, I don't know
You stick around now it may show
I don't know, I don't know
Something in the way she knows
And all I have to do is think of her
Something in the things she shows me
Don't want to leave her now
You know I believe her now

Spike stood slowly when the song ended, his eyes never leaving Buffy's. The crowd was cheering and Buffy began to wonder if they just cheered for every single person that got up there because they never shut up when she wanted them to. She smiled slightly and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. His hand came to her face and his thumb wiped away a single tear that had come loose from her eye.

"Are these two too perfect or what?" they heard Lorne say and they both turned to glare at him. "This is love, kiddies. Take a good look."

Spike twisted his hand a bit so Buffy's was now enveloped by his. He tightened his hold and pulled her gently off the stool. He moved towards the edge of the stage, gave the crowd a wave and descended. He led her to the back of the bar, pressing her body against the wall. His hands went to both sides of her face and he ran his thumbs softly across her mouth. He was surprised to feel that her bottom lip was shaking a bit, as if she were about to cry but trying not to. He leaned down, giving her a soft kiss. He took his mouth away but Buffy put her hand on the back of his head and pushed him back down to her mouth. Her tongue swiped over his top lip and he opened his mouth slowly, touching her tongue with his. His hands moved up her hips and under her shirt, gently kneading the skin as he went. She moaned softly when she felt one his palm's brush over her breast. Her free hand wrapped around his waist and stopped at the small of his back. She pushed him closer to her, feeling him through his clothes. Is that a banana in your pocket... and she smiled into the kiss.

"Not only do we get two great songs, but we also get a free show!"

They stopped kissing and looked at each other, surprise passing over their features. Buffy hadn't noticed just how tightly she was pressed up against the wall when they had been kissing. She suddenly began to hyperventilate. She knew it was from the embarrassment of the situation, as well as the kissing. She began gasping for breath and Spike pulled his body away, giving her room to breath. He moved his hands out from under her shirt and brought them back to her face. He looked at her questioningly and she took a few deep breaths before nodding that she was okay. They turned slowly to face the crowd of people and they both flipped them off. The crowd began to laugh and holler, a few people returned the gesture. Buffy smiled sweetly before grabbing Spike by his shirt and yanking him towards her mouth. She kissed him quickly, but thoroughly before letting him go.

"Let's get another drink," she said, grabbing his hand and walking them over to the bar.

---------------------------------------------

"Okay, Miss Tara, you're up," Lorne said, before taking his seat.

Tara giggled as "You Make Me Feel like a Natural Woman" began to play and she turned her body towards their table. She held Willow's gaze the entire time she sang and when it was over, she brought her fingers to her mouth and blew Will a kiss.

"You people from Sunnydale should all start a band or something. Except maybe Cordelia and that boy, Xander," Lorne said, as he shook her hand. Tara looked at him strangely when he didn't let it go. "Seeing as the other serenade worked so well for the punked duo who can not keep their hands off each other since…" He looked over at Buffy and Spike, who stopped kissing momentarily to give him a shy smile. "Why don't we have your girlfriend come up here? You will give most of the guys here masturbation material for weeks."

Tara scrunched up her face in disgust. "No," she said, curtly and wrenched her hand from Lorne's. She whacked the microphone into his chest and it reverberated. He quickly had to catch it when she let go of it. He put both mikes down and held is hand up to the crowd and jogged over to Tara before she went down the stairs.

"Doll, I'm sorry. Too many Sea Breezes for this demon. I should never have said that," Lorne apologized. "I think it'd be great to have you two up here in any capacity."

Tara just looked at him with a blank expression on her face. Finally, she looked towards a frightened Willow and waved her hand for her to come up. Willow was about to protest but then stopped; remembering that Cordy had said not singing would be even more embarrassing.

"Hi," she said as cheerfully as she could when she reached the two. "I can't sing. I mean Cordy and Vlad can warble it out way better than me."

"How about a duet then?" Lorne asked hopefully.

The two women looked at each and Tara shrugged, leaving the answer up to Willow. "What do you think, baby? I mean, I'll sing if I can sing with you. I don't want to inflict the populace with my amazing vocal work."

"Sure, why not," Tara agreed, half-heartedly. "I'm not entirely comfortable with this after what he said, though."

"I was joking…sort of. You never know with these people. I mean, you could probably give the girl's some material as well," Lorne tried to cover, only to make it worse.

"Tara, I think we should go for it. Just make a big joke out of it. I remember this Bob Dylan song my dad used to play all the time when he was trying to seduce my mom but of course, that barely ever worked because she's so busy discussing the Mr. Roger's Show or going to conf-"

"Sweetie, you're over explaining again," Tara told her, a soft smile on her lips.

"Oh, sorry. Do you have Dylan?"

"Honey, we have everything under the sun," Lorne said, smiling widely.

"What song is it?" Tara asked, a bit of hesitation in her voice.

"Lay Lady Lay," Willow told her, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

"Oh, brother," Tara muttered.

"How wonderful," Lorne said at the same time. "I'll get that all set up for you." He walked back over to the center of the stage.

"You sure about this? I mean, we can still make a run for it," Willow said.

Tara leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm sure. You'll just have to make up for it later."

"See, that I can do!"

"Oh, I know, honey. I know," Tara smiled, taking Willow's hand and leading her to Lorne.

"The duet is a go and I've promised the girl's that no lesbian catcalls would be made. So don't do it. Just sit back and enjoy…quietly," Lorne warned them before turning to Willow and Tara.

They each grabbed a microphone and smiled at one another as the song started. They both sang in earnest and made everyone laugh when they changed "stay with your man a while" to "stay with your woman a while". When the song ended, Tara grabbed Willow's hand and lifted their hands in the air and bowed. They quickly left the stage and arrived back at the table, only to find all their friends grinning at them.

"What?" Willow whined.

"That was very...interesting," Xander told them, smiling.

"Why didn't you sing that song, Xander?" Anya said, turning to him. "I went up their and sang you a sexy song and I get nothing in return! Instead you sing some hidden meaning song to Buffy."

"Anya, a bit of advice. When it comes to his friendship with Buffy, don't mention it," Cordelia warned.

"But I'm your girlfriend!"

"Anya," Xander began.

"No, I don't want to hear it. Let Buffy give you the tingle-y feeling!" She got up from her seat and stalked angrily across the room.

"Not much has changed," Cordy quipped.

"You know what, Cor? Don't try to help anymore," Xander said, getting out of his seat to find Anya.

"What was that song about anyway?" Angel asked Buffy.

"Uh...I'm not sure," Buffy lied. She knew exactly what the meaning of it was. Xander had known that Angel was leaving that first time and he was supposed to tell Buffy. Instead, he just let her believe that Angel had left without a care in the world. When she found out the truth, it had hurt and fractured their friendship a bit. Seeing the guilt that Xander still felt over it, she decided that enough time had gone by. If she could forgive Angel after everything, she certainly could forgive Xander for lying to her over something that wasn't even in her life anymore.

"Travis is a great band," Spike said just to say something. He was looking at Buffy intently and she looked at him quickly, only to look away a moment later. He squeezed her waist in an effort to comfort her and he felt her relax a little.

"But it doesn't rain on Xander anymore. He has Anya now and as long as he doesn't go off and sleep with a slut, everything should be fine," Cordelia said, bitterly.

"No, but he did lie when he was seventeen," Willow pointed out and quickly clapped her hand over her mouth. She looked at Buffy, seeing that her eyes were as wide as she thought her eyes were. "Oh, Buffy-"

"No worries, Will," Buffy said, quickly with a false smile. "It's all of the past."

------------------

No one asked how Xander got Anya to come back to the table. They were just happy that the bickering had stopped and they were back to acting the way they always did. The party started to clear out, much to the relief of Buffy and Spike. They had barely spent two minutes apart since their little performance and all their friends were all too aware that they wanted to leave. Anya kept looking at them knowingly, occasionally giving Buffy a thumbs up when Spike wasn't looking.

Spike had gone up to the bar to get the tab, leaving Buffy alone. Cordelia grabbed her hand and nudged her toward the stage. Buffy shook head furiously but Cordy only smiled, as she grabbed Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya on her way.

"No one's here except us and a few of Lorne's friends," she said, jerking her thumb in the direction of Lorne and his cohorts. "One last song? Granted, I'm a little tipsy right now and tonight, I'm loving you all, even those I just met. So we're singing." She hit a few buttons and "You've Got a Friend" started. Cordy walked back to the group and looped her arms through Buffy and Willow's and swayed back and forth, singing. Her attitude and enthusiasm was contagious and soon everyone on stage followed suit, singing their little hearts out, laughing the whole time.

"Here."

Spike turned to see Angel standing there with his credit card. "What's that for?"

"Paying the tab."

"We don't need-"

"I want to plus I have some drinks on there-"

"You were drinking?" Spike asked suspiciously.

"Coke...so Buffy told you about that?" Angel asked, casting his eyes down.

"Yeah, she did."

Angel grabbed the tab from Spike's hand and placed it, along with his credit card, back on the bar for the bartender to take. They stood there awkwardly and looked up to the stage when they heard the group singing. Both of them smiled and looked at each other, their smiles disappearing immediately. Both were trying too hard to pretend to hate the other and it was annoying them both.

"Look, I know you probably hate me after what Buffy told you. I wouldn't blame you but I just want to say that it wasn't who I am-"

"She told me that. Honestly, I'm trying not to give you any thought at all," Spike said, puffing up just a bit.

"Alright, understandable." Angel paused, taking a deep breath. "So she's happy, right?"

"I like to think so," Spike told him, not looking away from his eyes.

"Good, I'm glad." A silent truce was made with a nod of their heads.

"Sir?" the bartender asked, holding out the slip for Angel to sign.

Spike looked back at the stage and couldn't help but smile at his girlfriend's evident happiness. When the song ended, there were scattered applause from the party-goers that were still there. He watched her talk to Willow, Cordelia and Tara, all three of them standing in front of the karaoke machine, looking at the screen.

"So you say you hate your job. What are you doing?" Angel asked.

"Helping Xander out. Construction's not exactly my thing," Spike told him, turning to look at him.

"I've been looking to expand my agency. Would you be interested?"

"You're offering me a job?" Spike asked incredulously.

"I'm just trying to help," Angel tried to explain.

"You just met me and you're offering me a job. What are you up to?"

"Nothing. Look, I want Buffy to be happy. It's why I left-"

"She told me that, too," Spike interrupted.

"And so, I'm thinking if you're happy, it would make Buffy happy. The whole cause and effect theory."

"This is none of your business, but Buffy is what makes me happy not some bleeding job."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to step on your toes. I thought that if you had a job you might enjoy..." Angel trailed off, realizing that no explanation would be good enough at this point.

"What is it you do exactly?" Spike asked, curiosity and the hatred for his current job making him do so.

"We're a detective agency. Helping the hopeless. We get all kinds of cases but nothing tawdry. I don't like the divorce or philandering cases. There's plenty of people out there who will chase a cheating husband. It's not the reason why I started it. What do you think?"

"I think you're insane," Spike said, quickly. "Let me think about it."

"Sure. Take as much time as you need." He pulled out a business card and handed it to Spike. "Call that number when you're ready. Cordy will most likely answer if she's not busy filing her nails."

Spike smiled despite his efforts not to. He looked at the card and furrowed his brow. "Is this a butterfly?"

"No, it's an angel. You know Angel," he pointed to himself, "and angel..." He pointed to the card.

"Still looks like a butterfly, mate. Sorry."

"Tonight you're mine completely. You give your love so sweetly."

Spike looked over at the stage to find Buffy standing there, the others milling around. She was looking right at him and singing again. He glanced over at Angel and couldn't begin to figure out what was going on in his head. He's like a stonewall. He looked back to Buffy, taking a few steps away from the bar, going closer to the stage, his eyes never leaving hers as she sang.

Tonight the light of love is in your eyes,
But will you love me tomorrow?
Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment's pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I'm the only one,
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun.
I'd like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of.
So tell me now and I won't ask again.
Will you still love-

Buffy had closed her eyes halfway through the song, not able to handle Spike's penetrating gaze. Before Buffy had the chance to finish the last stanza, she felt Spike grab her by her upper arms and brought her to his mouth. She felt dizzy from the contact and knew it wasn't the remaining alcohol buzzing around in her system. She opened her mouth willingly, not caring that she was on stage for the rest of the bar to see. She wriggled her arms from Spike's grasp, dropping the microphone on the floor and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him in deeper. She heard Lorne yell something about the equipment being expensive and not to throw it around. But she had heard him laughing and didn't want to stop kissing Spike to apologize. He broke away but remained close enough that she could feel his breath on her face.

"We're leaving," Spike said, his voice low.

-----------------------------------

"Spiikkke..."

"I'm trying, luv. It's not as easy as it looks, you know. And you keep distracting me."

Buffy stopped kissing his neck and smiled, "You can't do two things at once?" He looked at her, eyes narrowed. "Ooh, the Big Bad look. I'm in trouble now." She ran her tongue up his neck and giggled when he made a growling noise. "Just stick it in it, twist and turn."

"You make it sound so easy and yet the blasted thing just...won't...work," he ground out.

"Do you want me to get off-"

"There's a loaded question."

"I wasn't finished...you so you can do this properly?"

"If I can't do this with you wrapped around my waist, I'm not the man I thought I was," he told her with a chuckle. "Sodding keys. Whatever happened to those new age key cards?"

Buffy's legs released their hold from Spike's waist and she landed on her feet, holding her hand out to him. "Give it me."

"That is the plan..."

"The key, you freak," she said, with a roll of her eyes. He handed it to her. "I'd show you how it's supposed to be done, but I don't think I could hold you up." She turned her back to him and put the key in the door. She opened it and turned to look at him, a smirk on her lips. "Ha!" She ran into the room, jumped on the bed and quickly landed on the other side. He strolled in casually, watching her and stood opposite her. They looked at each other, smiles disappearing. Buffy began to fidget as neither one made a move towards the other.

"I'll, uh...be right back," Buffy said, quickly before hurrying past him into the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and made a face. "You're being silly. You were all yay sex and now you're acting like a blushing virgin. Get over it." She rolled her eyes out of habit and sighed. "Just go out there and show him how much you love him. Except you've never said that to each other and now with the about-to-have sex thing, you're jumping right back into it without knowing...but you do know. No one has ever made it so perfectly clear without ever saying it." She smiled and brought her hands to her head. She removed the bobby pins that were holding her wig in place and took her hair out of the loose bun it had been in. She shook her head and grimaced. "Wow, that's attractive." She looked around for her bag and remembered she hadn't brought it in with her. "Damn, I need a brush. And I need to stop talking to myself in the mirror."

She slowly opened the door to find Spike sitting on the bed, looking at the floor. He looked up at her instantly and he smiled.

"Hi, honey," Buffy said as she grabbed a handful of her hair, "I'm home."

"Buffy..." Spike began.

She walked over to him and stood between his legs. "I'm going to take a shower." He nodded, a frown on his face. She walked over to her bag, picked it up and walked back to the bathroom. She stood in the doorway and turned to look at him. "You coming?"

Buffy was in the bathroom by the time the question registered with Spike. A small smile drifted to his mouth and he walked over to the partially open the door. He knocked lightly and he heard her giggle softly as she told him to come in. He was surprised and a bit disappointed that she was still dressed. She put her things on the ledge of the shower and turned the water on.

"Hi," she said shyly, a blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Is that too hot?"

Spike stuck his hand under the water and shook his head. "You sure you want me to be in here?"

"We're not having sex," she said quickly. He looked at her and she saw the saddened expression on his face. She placed her hand along his jaw line and smiled. "In the shower. I just feel icky and I think I've been too lucky tonight with that hair of yours. I like my eyes."

He laughed softly and watched her hands go to the hem of his shirt. She lifted it up and slowly removed it from his body. She ran her hands down his chest, loving the feel of his skin under her hands.

"This I like..." she said, smirking. He tried to return it but he was too busy and too distracted with watching her hands go to his belt. She undid it and pulled it dramatically, laughing at her own gesture. She was glad that he finally broke out of his trance and smiled.

"Pet, the water will probably get cold..."

"Hey, first time seeing each other. I'm taking my time...besides, cold shower, probably not so bad at this point." She unbuttoned his pants and went to undo the zipper when his hands stopped her.

"You should probably know that there's nothing under there except for me."

"Oh," she breathed out, more wanton that she had meant to be and she felt her skin flush in equal parts desire and embarrassment. She took her hands away and brought them to her shirt and lifted it over her head. She heard Spike sigh before she had it off and she smiled inside the shirt. Once discarded, her hands went under her skirt, pulled down her fishnets and threw them in the trash.

"You're not keeping those?"

"Uh, no. They're ripped to shreds and Halloween has been officially over for two hours."

"But you could always wear them again..." he trailed off as her skirt dropped to the floor. "Red."

"Yup." His hand reached out towards her breast and she swatted his hand away and shook her head. "All in due time."

"Death of me," he muttered. She reached her hands around her back to undo the latch when he said, "Turn. Let me." She obeyed his request and the instant his fingers touched her skin, she shivered. He undid the hooks and slowly brought the straps down her shoulders. Buffy uncrossed her arms and let the bra fall to the floor. She went to turn back around but he put his hands on her hips, stopping her. He hooked his thumb under the material of her underwear and pushed it down her legs. He tried not to think about the small mole he saw on her cheek but his eyes kept going back to it. "Lift," he whispered, his voice not able to get any louder. She lifted one foot then the other and Spike put his hands back to her waist, turning her slowly. His head was level to her stomach and he placed soft kisses along it, making her twitch and giggle. "Why don't you get in there?"

She nodded slowly, her brain not fully comprehending what he said at first. Buffy went into the shower and sighed as her body hit the still very warm water. Thank god for hotels and their constant supply of hot water. She heard his jeans rustling in the background and she smiled. She grabbed her shampoo and lathered it into her hair.

"Something smells good." She jumped a bit, instantly feeling ridiculous for doing so. It wasn't like she didn't know he was there with her. With her eyes closed, she didn't exactly know what Spike was doing but she had the distinct feeling that he was watching her. "Do you mind if I...?"

"No, help yourself." She moved out from under the water and felt his hands on her waist, guiding her past him. "Probably would help if I opened my eyes."

"But then there could be soap issues."

"Exactly," she agreed. How the hell am I carrying on a normal conversation? We're showering together, I should be freaking out. "Are you done? I need to rinse..."

They repeated their movements from before and she washed the soap out of her hair. She finally opened her eyes and looked at him. He had his eyes closed as he scrubbed the gel out of his hair. She took the opportunity to give him the once over. She decided that a wet Spike was a good Spike. She continued her perusal of his body, glancing up quickly to make sure his eyes were still closed.

"Wow," she breathed out.

He opened an eye and saw her looking at him and he smirked. "See something interesting?"

"Uh, what?" Buffy asked, her eyes darting up to look at him. "I wasn't...I mean, I didn't-"

"Do you think I wasn't looking at you before?"

"Oh, I, uh, didn't think about it," Buffy lied. She grabbed her conditioner and squeezed a generous amount into her hands. "Want to rinse?" They moved around each other yet again but this time, Spike moved closer to her than he had before and she felt his erection brush across her stomach. She blushed for what felt like the hundredth time since they had come into the bathroom. She handed him the conditioner after he was done washing the shampoo out and he looked at her funny. "What?"

"Nothing..."

"Tell me."

"Got hit by a sudden case of domesticity."

"Oh." She bit her lip in nervousness and quickly gestured for them to switch positions again.

"Oh is all you have to say?" Spike asked.

"Right now? Yeah..." She ducked her head under the water and she thought he was still talking to her but she didn't want to talk about anything domestic-like. She felt him tug on her hand and she took her head out from under the water, breathing in deeply.

"Trying to drown yourself, kitten?"

"No...I have long hair. Lots of rinsing needs to be done." She moved towards the wall of the shower and he passed by her, not touching her at all this time. She sighed. I've blown it. Me and my stupid issues blew it. Shower, sex, love songs...all okay. Say domesticity and I freak. Nice going, Buffy. High marks.

She grabbed the container of body wash and put some of it on the loofah. She squished it together, making it sudsy and started to wash. She bent down to her legs and glanced up at Spike through her lashes. He was watching her intently, like he was memorizing every movement she made. She stood back up and moved towards him. When he started to go around her, she put her hand on his chest and asked, "Do you want to wash?"

"Sure." He reached out for the sponge, but she jerked her arm back and pushed him against the shower wall. She added more soap and brought it to his chest, slowly working the sponge around. He was having trouble breathing. This was all too much. All this time of waiting just for her, never mind a night like this and he didn't think he could take much more. When her hand moved down to his hips and her forearm brushed against him, he started to shake his head. "Too much," he moaned.

"What?" she asked, looking at him. "Spike, are you okay?" She had stopped washing him the instant she saw the look on his face. "Did...did I do something wrong?"

"No! Oh, god, no, luv. I didn't mean for it seem like that."

"Okay, then if I'm not doing something wrong," she stood up on the balls of her feet, pressing herself against him, "then why do you look like you're about to be ill?" She kissed him gently on the mouth, moved down to his chin and then his neck. Her hand with the loofah started washing his arm, her other hand slid down his chest to his stomach. "Should I stop?"

"No," he whispered. His breath caught in his throat as she wrapped her hand around him and began to slowly stroke him. The soap it that much smoother and he didn't think this was going to end well. "Yes, I mean yes. Stop. Buffy...please..."

"Really?" She tightened her grip just a bit and bit back her own sounds when she looked at his face, his eyes closed, his muscles in his jaw flickering about.

"Christ..." he breathed out. "Pet, you have to-"

"Come for me, Spike," she murmured into his ear. He wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her just a bit, placing his leg in between her own. He moved his head to the side and captured her lips, his tongue plunging into her mouth. She quickly fell into the kiss, almost forgetting what she had been doing at the sensations that both his mouth and leg were giving her. She started to move her hand again, faster this time and Spike moaned into her mouth. She smiled at the sound and knew that she wanted to hear him sound like that for the rest of her life. She moved her mouth away, gulping in air. She looked at him, expecting to see his eyes closed but they were staring right back at her. "Please, Spike..."

He pressed her tighter to him, so tight she barely could maneuver her hand. He caught her mouth again, biting at her lip. "Buffy..." he breathed out. She felt that wonderful tingling sensation in her lower belly as he said her name with such passion. He threw his head back, not caring that he hit it fairly hard on the wall. She smiled against his neck when she felt him jerk in her hand, stroking him until he was soft. They were both breathing heavily, satisfied expressions on both their faces. Buffy put her hand under the water and rinsed it off. She bent down, picked up the sponge from the shower floor and rewashed him. "Tickles..." he mumbled. She couldn't help but smile at how boyish he looked and sounded just then.

"See, that wasn't so ha-" Spike lazily opened his eyes and quirked an eyebrow at her. "I'm not going to finish that misguided pun." She unlatched herself from him and shut the water off. "I couldn't get any cleaner if I tried."

She opened the shower curtain and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her torso. She grabbed another towel and looked at Spike, placing her hand on her hip.

"Are you ever getting out of there?" she asked, smiling. I did that to him. I've made him catatonic. Woo-hoo for me!

"I'm tired now," he told her, his eyes still closed.

"But there's a big comfortable bed in there that has to be better than sleeping in the shower."

"Oh, no...get you in the shower, you turn into a vixen. I can't even imagine what you're going to do to me in a bed," he said, smirking.

"Yeah, but think of what you could do to me in that bed..."

At that, his eyes flew open and his head shot up, a wicked twinkle in his eye. "That's a very good point." She giggled as he stepped out the shower and his arms encircled her, lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he placed her on the counter. She unfolded the towel that she had grabbed for him and placed it around his shoulders, moving it back and forth.

"Pretty shoddy drying job you're giving me."

"I wasted all my energy giving you a nicer other kind of job."

"Saucy..." He took the towel and quickly dried himself off and put it around his waist. He lifted her from the counter and she once again wrapped herself around him. "Good thing this door isn't closed." They had a laugh at that but Buffy stopped once she felt Spike's leg come to a stop at the bed. He placed her down and she put her legs on either side of his body. His hand went to her towel and he undid it, letting it fall off her. "You glow..."

She blushed as his eyes roamed over her naked body. "We were just in the shower for like forty-five minutes...bound to happen," she said, hoping to lighten the mood just a little. Now she knew what he had meant in the shower. It was all too much. However, she wouldn't want to have this any other way.

His fingers lightly trailed down her neck, along her collarbone and down her arms. He loved that the slightest touch made her skin raise up. Her hand went to his towel to remove it but he stopped her. "It's your turn."

"But naked is good," she said, pouting. She couldn't believe some of things that she had said thus far. She had never been this way. Not with any of the others and it made her feel that what she and Spike had was that much more special. Through her nervousness and hesitation about sleeping with him, when the time came, he had made her feel so completely comfortable in her own skin that she didn't think there was nothing that she couldn't say or do. It was a very freeing feeling.

"Can't argue that." Her hand continued her actions and soon enough he was standing between her legs as naked as she was. "Even playing field, then."

"Only way to play." She ran her fingernails lightly down his thighs, kissing his stomach as she did so.

"Nah-uh, pet. You time and you're driving me crazy."

"Obviously," she quipped as she looked down. He smiled and shrugged. Spike put his hands on her shoulders and gently moved her down to the bed, hovering above her. He began to kiss her neck, working his way down to her breasts.

"Oh..." Buffy moaned as Spike's lips reached her nipple. His free hand came up her body to gently knead the other. She gasped in a breath when she felt him lightly bite her. "Mmm...a little harder is okay," she whispered.

"Yeah, that it's, luv. Tell me what you like," he murmured against her skin. Her hands went to his hair and she pushed him down her body. He lifted his head, eyebrow raised in amusement. "You want me down here?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"I don't understand that," he said as he kissed her stomach at each word. Her whole body felt hot and not just from the things Spike was doing to her. "Don't be embarrassed, please...not with me. Tell me."

She rolled her eyes back, looking behind her, finding something on the wall to concentrate on. She felt like she could tell him, sure, but she couldn't look at him and tell him. That was way beyond anything she was ready for. She felt him crawl back up her body. Like a panther. He rested his body delicately along hers and one hand touched her chin, moving her head down so she would look at him.

"We can still stop," he offered. Please don't say yes. Please don't say yes.

"We are not stopping but I can't be so free with the directions when I'm not used to it yet. You have to give me time to get there, okay?" she asked, averting her eyes.

"Buffy, look at me," and she did, "You have all the power here. You do whatever you're comfortable with. I didn't mean-"

"I know," she interrupted. She rested her hand in his hair, softly brushing his wet curls back. "You are so lovely. Do you know that?"

"Lovely? That doesn't sound very manly."

"It's the best kind of manly." She leaned up and kissed him. She looked at him shyly and bit her lip. "Will you kiss me?"

"Always."

She took his hand and led it down her body. "Here?"

"Always," he smirked before making his way back down.

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"You sure?"

"Spike, I swear to god, if you don't stop asking that every time you go to do something to me, I'm just going to say no."

"I won't say another word about it," Spike said quickly.

"Good, now come here," she demanded as she grabbed his arm and pulled him over to her.

"Bossy little chit tonight," he muttered, smiling as he nestled between her legs. They both reached out to grab each other, their lips coming together hungrily. Buffy lifted her hips, rubbing against him, which caused him to moan. "Are you-"

"Spike..." Buffy warned.

"Ready?"

"Oh, that's tricky." Her hands reached down and cupped his ass, pushing him towards her. Spike didn't need any more of an answer and positioned himself at her entrance. He slowly entered her, making this first time last. Both were grateful for it but both were thinking they had gone too slow already.

"Okay?" he asked.

"So much better than okay," she said softly. She swiveled her hips a bit and Spike groaned loudly. "You okay?"

He chuckled into her neck and she shivered as his hot breath hit her skin. They began to move together, slowly at first, still establishing their rhythm. She arched her hips again, forcing him deeper and they both sighed. Her legs wrapped around his waist and locked at the ankles. She put them behind his upper thighs, allowing her to be able to push when she wanted, which she soon realized Spike liked a lot.

They looked at each other, both panting out shallow breath. "Perfect," they both said at the same time. They're lips met on instinct, tongues slowly caressing each other. Their bodies started to move in time with their mouths, speeding up more at each kiss.

"Look at me, luv." Buffy shook her head at first but slowly opened her eyes. The complete and utter adoration she found there made her fall into that great orgasmic abyss. He watched her every expression, savoring it, remembering it. He gently kissed her face as she continued to moan below him.

"Oh...god," Buffy breathed out, her body shaking beneath his. She opened her eyes, a smile slowly forming on her lips. She had never felt so completely satisfied in her entire life. The smile is what did it for Spike and he soon followed, which only made Buffy feel warm all over. He kissed her again, so slow it was like torture but neither being able to go any faster and not wanting to. They both were enjoying this special kind of torture. He slowly removed himself from her body and rolled onto his side of the bed.

"Is there a bin over there?" he asked.

"Um, yeah..." She bent over the bed and grabbed the little plastic bucket. "Here you go."

"Thanks, pet." She knew he was removing the condom and she wondered if she should have told him that she'd been on the pill for three years now. She decided that despite the pre and post condom discomfort, it was worth it in the long run. He turned back to her, moving his arm across her stomach and latching on to her waist, dragging her over to him. She laughed softly and he nuzzled his head into her shoulder. His hand moved up to her breast and he slowly ran his hand up and down.

After a few minutes of relaxation and comfortable silence, Buffy asked, "Spike?"

He looked up at her. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing...just touching," he said, a hint of shyness in his voice.

"It's just a nipple, you know. It's no big thing. You're looking at it like it's the Holy Grail."

"It's my Holy Grail," he said as he leaned down to kiss it softly. He moved back up and turned to his side. Buffy did the same and ran her hand up and down his arm. "It's just an arm, Buffy."

She smiled and said, "It's my arm, though."

"Will you marry me?"

Buffy stopped her hand and looked at him, eyes wide. "Is that a normal post-coital question for you?"

"You know that it isn't."

"Spike, we haven't even said-"

"I lo-"

"No," she said quickly, bringing her fingers to his mouth. "Don't do it now."

"What if I want to?"

"I'm asking you not to right now, okay?"

"Am I going to get an explanation?"

Buffy sighed. "It just has to be right. Not when I say that we haven't said it."

"It feels right now, Buffy. Do you know how long I've waited to tell you and now you're telling me I can't?"

"No, I'm not...well, sort of, but it seemed like I was fishing for it and I so wasn't. I just...so you wanna get married?"

"Funny, pet."

"I'm pretty good with the rapid subject changes," she told him with a nod of her head.

"So will you?" Spike asked quietly.

"Someday I will," she smiled gently, placing a tender kiss on his lips. He wrapped his arms around her and turned so he was on his back. One of her legs fell over his, the other pressed tightly against the same leg. She placed her hand on his chest and laid her head right below his shoulder. "Are you comfortable?"

"I'm very comfortable," he told her. "Night, Buffy."

She kissed his shoulder and smiled as she rested her head in the same spot. "Goodnight, Spike."

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Buffy woke up in a flash when she realized Spike was no longer beneath her. Oh, god. Oh, god.

"Buffy? You alright?" Spike asked from behind her, moving his hand over her hip, pressing her body closer to his.

Buffy exhaled when she felt his body behind her and said, "Yeah...fine."

"Bad dream?"

"No...I couldn't... feel you. I thought you were gone," she explained, hesitation in her voice. She settled into his embrace, instantly feeling secure again.

"I'm never leaving," he told her softly.

"I know." She took a deep breath and turned her body to face him. She wrapped her leg over his and snuggled her head into the crevice between his head and shoulder. He heard her sigh happily and fall back into sleep.

"I love you," he whispered, placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

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Buffy woke up as Spike came back into the room, carrying a tray. He smiled at her and came to the bed.

"Sit up, pet."

Buffy pulled the sheet up under her arms and smiled. "What's this?"

"Breakfast in bed. They insisted that they could make it and deliver it but I explained that it was very important that I cook it."

"You made me breakfast in bed? You're the best boyfriend ever. Period. End of story. So what did you make me?"

"Cheese omelet, bacon, toast. There's coffee, orange juice and water coming up in-" there was a knock on the door, "right now."

Spike got off the bed to answer the door and Buffy dove into her food. She couldn't believe how hungry she was and how good it was. Spike had cooked for her a few times before but he certainly made a mean cheese omelet.

"Good?" Spike asked, putting a cup of coffee on the bedside table.

"Delicious. You're not eating?"

"I was hoping to get some of yours."

"Yeah, right," she laughed. "Get your own!" She put a piece of egg on the fork and held it up for him. "So what are we doing today?"

"Everyone else is downstairs eating breakfast in the dining room. I think sight-seeing was mentioned."

"All the sight-seeing I want to do is right here in this room," Buffy said as she took a sip of her coffee. "Mmm...you got me French vanilla."

"Of course. I could always run downstairs and tell them to go on without us. We could meet up with them later on."

"See? You really are the best boyfriend ever!"

He leaned over, kissing her quickly. "I'll be right back."

"No, wait. Maybe we should go..." she said as she put the tray on the floor.

"Are you serious?" Spike didn't bother to hide his disappointment.

"Sure, I mean...last night is kind of a fog. I can't remember if it was good enough to not want to hang out with my friends todaaayyy! Ah, Spike!" she screamed as he jumped on the bed, tackling her backwards.

"That's what I like to hear. You screaming my name."

"Then you have some work to do, pet," Buffy said, smiling.

"You challenging me?"

"You know it," she told him.

"I've never refused a challenge," Spike said, his voice low. He slowly removed the sheet from around her body and sighed upon seeing her naked again. I'm the luckiest bastard in the world he thought before dipping his head down to kiss her stomach.

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