A/N : When I wrote chapter 5, I was really proud and it was my favourite part of the story...now this has taken it's place as my best chapter, in my opinion at least. I'm really hoping you all like this, I'm fairly certain that you will. Big thanx to everyone who reviewed; CeriCherry, SouthernRain, tinkerbell42, SpIkEs AnGeL, DiStUrBeD-GuRl*57, SweetBitter, Moluvsnumber17, Fayen, courntey. You guys are all so nice and it always makes me smiley when I read reviews from you wonderful people :-) Oh, btw, great ideas tinkerbell42, I have my own plan so I won't be stealing your ideas, but they are very good. And Rachel (SpIkEs AnGeL) I guess I should give Spike back to you now, but I don't wanna! lol. Okay, okay I'll hand him over...he was very good for my motivation ;-) Hope you all like this chapter - please review cos I really wanna know what you think!

(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 8 - Dangerous Liaisons

"Will!" Buffy called from her bedroom door and her friends checked her mother wasn't around before hurrying inside, "I really need to talk to you"

"Has something happened?" the red-head frowned as she sat down on the end of her friends bed. Buffy shook her head in a negative response as she opened up the door to her closet.

"No, nothings happened" she said as she pushed her regular blouses and skirts apart, "but something's going to" she grinned, pulling her 'secret' clothes from the back rail and showing them to her friend.

"You're not" was all the housekeepers daughter could gasp, but Buffy was quite adamant.

"Yes, I am" she nodded, "I'm going out again"

"Buffy, you can't!" Willow protested as loud as she dare, which really wasn't very loud at all, "If you get caught you'd be in so much trouble..."

"That's why you have to cover for me" the blonde interrupted, "I'm counting on you Will"

The red-head stated to feel nauseous then. What Buffy was asking her to do was lie, lie to Lady Joyce and probably Xander, maybe even Cordelia or Angel. The very idea of being so deceitful made her feel awful.

"Buffy, I can't lie to people, I get all nervous and stuttery and sweaty and it's really not of the good, especially when people work out why I'm lying and..." the girl began to ramble madly. Buffy put down her clothes and sat beside her worried friend.

"Willow, I know it's a lot of pressure" she said with understanding, as she looked Willow right in the eye, "but I have to see Spike again. I just know he's the one. I spent one night just talking to him and he's all I can think about"

"And Angel?" her friend asked, making Buffy look away.

"I don't know" she said honestly, eyes fixed on her hands that fidgeted in her lap, "I mean he's good looking and really nice and everything but...it's like everything I feel when I kiss Angel, all that he does to me, I get that from Spike and all he has to do is look at me a certain way, y'know what I mean?"

Willow nodded mutely, having no clue at all about the feelings Buffy talked about. She'd never kissed a boy, never had those magical feelings coursing through her, but she knew what it was like when Xander looked at her sometimes and she figured she understood that part at least. If Buffy liked Spike in the same way she liked Xander, boy was the blonde in trouble.

"What exactly do you need me to do?" the red-head asked warily as Buffy stood up once again and held her clothes against herself in front of the mirror.

"Not much really" she said as she put down one skirt and picked up the other, "just cover my phone for me and keep Xander's nose out of my business"

"Cover your phone?" Willow frowned.

"Well, if Angel or Cordelia calls just tell them I'm with the other one or whatever" Buffy shrugged, "And as for Xander, don't tell him anything"

"But if he asks I have to say something" Willow complained, feeling even worse now.

"Make an excuse then change the subject" Buffy sighed, "Just don't let him try to call me at Cordelia's or wherever you tell him I've gone"

Both girls knew Buffy was asking a lot of her friend. Not only to lie but to lie to Xander?! That was some kind of heinous crime to Willow, but she'd do it. She knew that to go to all this trouble meant Buffy really was in love, and she couldn't deny her a little happiness, she was her best friend after all.

The day past too quickly for Willow and not fast enough for Buffy, one afraid of what might occur tonight, the other looking forward to her freedom once again.

With her secret clothes hidden by the same coat from the night before, Buffy crept from her room and down the stairs, where Willow met her in the foyer.

"Think about this Buffy" the red-head implored in a whisper, "are you sure you wanna do this"

"Crazy as it sounds, Will" Buffy smiled, "I'm more sure of this than I've ever been of anything else"

The two girls hugged each other before the blonde crept out, her brothers car keys in her hand. 'Well, he shouldn't have left them lying around!' she defended herself in her head as she unlocked the vehicle and prayed to God she got to the Bronze in one piece. As a general rule, cars and Buffy were un-mixy things, but how else was she supposed to get where she was going without anyone finding out?

A deep sigh of relief left her lips as she pulled the car up around the corner from the club, the last thing she wanted to do was draw attention. She was trying to fit in as one of the in-crowd and none of them would have convertibles like her brothers. Thankfully both she and the car had neither a bump nor a scrape to show for their journey, and quickly checking her hair and make-up in the rear-view mirror, Buffy climbed from the car and made her way into the Bronze.

Feelings like those from last night hit her again, the rhythm of the music pounding through her body, the atmosphere so energised it made her feel more alive just standing there, then she saw him. Her knees felt like they might buckle inside her skin tight black pants, and the high heeled boots suddenly made walking impossible, despite the fact she'd practised and was coping really well before. Despite the fact she'd left her coat in the car and all that covered the top half of her was a low cut spaghetti strap top, she suddenly felt very hot, especially when the guy she was staring at turned and stared back.

Xander thought it was strange when he went to his sisters room and found she wasn't there. Usually she told him when she was going out and he really needed to talk to someone right now, being alone wasn't doing him any good.

As he came down the main staircase he saw a familiar red-head disappearing around the corner.

"Willow?" he called, hurrying to catch up to the girl, carrying a pile of sheets, down to the laundry room he assumed.

"Hi" she said nervously as she turned and realised who was behind her, before continuing to walk.

"Did Buffy go somewhere?" Xander asked as he followed her "She's not in her room"

"Er" Willow floundered for a second "I think she went to Miss Chase's house"

"Cordelia's?!" Xander all but yelled, stopping suddenly, and Willow inwardly cursed herself "After what she did?!"

"Oh no, not Cordelia" Willow shook her head, desperately trying to think of another excuse but unable to come up with one she just changed the subject hoping her mothers employers son would not notice "erm, I meant to say...what Cordelia did to you was appalling"

"I guess" Xander shrugged somewhat sadly after a moments silence had passed.

"You guess?" Willow frowned a little, causing the young man to sigh.

"You have a minute?" he asked her "I could use someone to talk to"

Willow shook her head, shuffled her feet, and looked anywhere but at the person she was talking to.

"I'm really not supposed to..." she began, hoisting the pile of sheets higher in her arms and turning to walk away. Xander reached a hand out to arm to stop her leaving him alone.

"I won't tell if you won't" he smiled as she turned back to face him "I could use a friend and Buffy's always telling me what a great listener you are"

With a sigh and a smile, Willow nodded in agreement. As she walked alongside Xander down the hallway, she wondered what was going on, as he congratulated himself on remembering that flattery works everytime.

With a half smile on her lips, Buffy strutted up to the bar in a fashion she hoped was sexy and sat down on the stool beside Spike.

"Hello gorgeous" he greeted her with a smile and suddenly vocabulary was an issue for her. A deep breath and she managed to speak.

"Hi Spike" she smiled back, "You forget my name already?" she asked, a little embarrassed by his calling her 'gorgeous' and wishing he could just use her name before she went red as the top she wore.

"I didn't forget" he smirked, guessing why she'd asked as her cheeks went pink, "Just a bit surprised to see you again so soon, Buffy" he told her, that sexy smirk of his never shifting from his face, as he proved he really did remember. How could he ever forget such a girl? It was taking every bit of control he had not to be reduced to a pathetic schoolboy just at the sight of her.

"I did say I'd come back, didn't I?" she said with a slight frown.

"Yeah, you did" he nodded in response, of course he remembered her saying she'd be back but he hardly dare believe he'd really get to see her again.

"You didn't trust me?" she asked him and he glanced away from, hands playing with the glass on the bar in front of him.

"It's just words luv" he shrugged, finishing off his bourbon and putting the glass back down with a thud, "What does it really mean?"

From the way he'd behaved the day before to now, Buffy couldn't believe she was talking to the same guy. He was so sure of himself one moment and looked so sweet the next. She smiled as he continued to stare at the glass in front of him. Truth was she really didn't know a whole lot about this guy. Could it be he was so insecure and lonely? He had been alone at the bar both nights when she'd come in, but she'd assumed that had been by choice, surely he could have any girl he wanted looking the way he did. His seemingly unsure behaviour gave Buffy more confidence in herself, if he didn't take her words too seriously...

"Actions speak louder, huh?" she asked, and he turned to glance at her then.

"Usually" he agreed, noticing a certain look in her eyes. He barely had time to register what was happening when her lips hit his, softly and just for a moment but it felt like he'd been struck by lightening as electric shot straight through his body.

Spike blinked hard as Buffy pulled away again, going an even darker red as what she'd just done really hit home. Neither was sure whether to look at the other or not, they definitely didn't know what to say, but Spike had to ask...

"What was that for?" he said quietly, eyes fixed on the bar instead of the girl he spoke to, but his gaze shifted to her when she didn't answer. A shrug and a hint of a smile was all he got as a reply, but that was enough.

"Drink?" he offered, picking up his own empty glass and getting the barmans attention. Buffy sighed.

"I thought you'd never ask"

A stranger sight you may never see, the master of the house and the housekeepers daughter, sitting side by side at the top of the steps leading down to the basement, one place they could be sure not to be caught conferring with someone unsuitable.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Willow asked, glad the light was dim and the man beside her could not see if she blushed at being so close to him.

"Honestly, I'm not even sure..." Xander almost laughed at the absurdity of it "I just... have you ever been in love?" he blurted out, and the colour Willow dreaded spread over her face, she felt the heat of it.

"Er, well,..." she began slowly and was very relieved when Xander interrupted.

"See, I went out with Cordy for months" he explained "and I liked her a lot but..." he trailed off and Willow guessed what he meant.

"You didn't love her?" she guessed, already knowing she was probably correct after what Buffy had told her.

"No, I didn't" he admitted "and it's got me all worried" he frowned glancing between Willow and step beneath their feet "I mean, you read stuff and you watch movies and these people talk about feelings when you find that one special person, y'know?" she nodded and he continued "Well, what if you never find that?"

"What if you do and you're too afraid to do anything about it" she mumbled, putting her hand to her mouth when she realised she'd actually voiced her thoughts right in front of him. Thankfully Xander pretended not to hear her, even though he really had. He'd always wondered about Willow. She was always nice to him, but then she was nice to everybody, there was no way she was attracted to him...

"Maybe it's me" Xander sighed "maybe girls just aren't attracted to me"

"Why wouldn't they be attracted to you?" Willow asked too fast, going red as her hair Xander noticed.

"Thanks for the compliment" he smiled, their eyes inadvertently locking as they looked up at the same time, making them both feel something different "So, what about you?" Xander asked her, his gaze never leaving hers "Any special guys in your life?"

"Just one" her voice came out in a whisper "but I'm not..." she shook her head, though she could not tear her eyes away from him "well, I don't think he'd ever go out with me"

"Why not?" his rhetorical question voiced almost as quietly as her own words had been as some kind of unknown force seemed to push the two young people closer together "You're attractive and sweet and kind and...any guy would be lucky to..." his sentence never reached a proper end as his lips became otherwise occupied, and Willow found out what Buffy meant when she talked about those feelings elicited just by a kiss.

Conversation at the Bronze was running short between Buffy and Spike. They'd found so much to say the night before, but there were too many feelings inside the two of them, leaving no room for thoughts of words to say. Still, neither could say they were bored or wishing they were elsewhere, to be in each others company was wonderful, even if it was an uncomfortable kind of wonderful.

"So" Spike began "I haven't seen you in here before, then two nights in a row. You new around here?" he asked Buffy, only glancing at her once the whole time.

"Er, yeah" she decided to say, even though it was a lie, it was only a half-lie since the person she was when she was in this club, with this man, was completely new, even if the real her had lived in Sunnydale all her life "How about you?" she asked him in return.

"Been coming here a while" he said non-committally, and silence overtook them again. Unable to concentrate on a conversation that didn't exist and too afraid to concentrate on what she was feeling right now, Buffy listened more intently to the music that was playing. A female artist was on the stage, could have been anyone as far as Buffy knew, whoever she was she had incredible voice and the song she sang seemed to really hit home as the lyrics reached Buffy's ears.

'I used to think that I could walk away / From anything that anyone could say / Swore that I would never want to stay / Until the day I met you'

Noticing how intently she watched the band on stage and not knowing what else to say to her right now, Spike asked the girl beside him if she wanted to dance. He was pleased when she nodded her head and took his offered hand. They walked out amongst the other couples and he took her in his arms as they began to sway to the slow rhythm of the music.

'You were the one that raised the stakes / But me kissing you was the fatal mistake / Now you've got a hold that I just can't break / You've taken away my heart'

Buffy felt sick as she listened to the lyrics of the music they were dancing too. It was as if the singer knew her and was trying to tell her what an idiot she was. Buffy knew she couldn't continue to see this guy, couldn't have a real relationship with him, so why was she here and why had she kissed him and why were his hands on her waist making her tingle all over?

'If I turn around will the sky fall down/ Will it rumble and crumble and tumble to the ground / If I walk away I could make it right / But I can't leave you baby, cos I need you tonight'

She was so glad her head was on his shoulder so Spike couldn't see her eyes tearing up. She knew she shouldn't have come back, that she should leave now without a backward glance, but she was falling for him so hard, she knew she'd got herself into a very complicated position.

'Now I don't wanna cause no pain, it's true / If I stay here I know it's what I'll do / I need the strength to walk away from you / Cos us two just can't be right'

Buffy felt as if she wanted to scream at the girl on stage 'Okay, I get it, I can't be with this guy and I'm a bitch for lying to him!' but of course she didn't do it.

As if he sensed her discomfort, Spike shifted his body, making her raise her head so he could see her face.

"Something wrong?" he asked, looking right into her eyes. He looked at her with such concern and affection, it would have made Buffy feel worse if not for the fact she was too busy drowning in the blueness of his eyes to notice anything else.

'If I turn around will the sky fall down/ Will it rumble and crumble and tumble to the ground / If I walk away I could make it right / But I can't leave you baby cos I need you tonight'

"It's all wrong" Buffy managed to choke out, a single tear running down her cheek, and it almost broke Spike's heart to see it. He'd known her two days and already the sight of her tears tore him up inside. He didn't understand what her words meant but her pain was evident and his own feelings were overwhelming him. Without a thought in his head but how much he wanted her right at that moment, Spike brought his lips down to meet hers. What began as sweet and gentle soon escalated into passionate and hungry and almost inappropriate, but to Buffy and Spike there was no-one else in the room but them, nothing existed except themselves and deep in the background the final chorus of the song that played.

'If I turn around will the sky fall down/ Will it rumble and crumble and tumble to the ground / If I walk away I could make it right / But I can't leave you baby, cos I need you tonight'

To Be Continued...