Bouzy Rouge was nice, lovely, and high classed, Buffy was almost expecting some dark dank bar where Scottish demons lurked. But then it was Wolfram and Harte, so it wasn't so unsurprising that the place looked pretty high end.

The ceiling was emitting an orangish glow from the citrus-colored glass that looked like a complex turtle shell. There were chandeliers that refracted light from the orange glass gave the room a warm glow. The pristine white cloths on the table had a slightly violet hue. And the chairs were cushioned with soft red fabric and looked immensely comfortable. The waiter courteously led Buffy over to one of the side tables meant for two people. She felt a small pang, wishing some was here to enjoy this with her or talk to her...

After studying the Mediterranean styled room a little longer, Buffy picked up the menu and looked through the dishes.

~~~

Spike contemplated sending a complaint letter to every wine and beer company that actually had the audacity to make those teeny tiny sadistic bottles of alcohol for the airplanes. But as he caught sight of rack of very good vintage wines showcased in the windows of Bouzy Rouge, he figured he'd do it later after a few drinks with the contact. After all, he didn't have to pay a dime for it.

Spike shifted uncomfortably in his slightly damp suit as he entered the restaurant. Angel had been adamant about him not meeting the contact in his intimidating trench coat and black military boots. So now he was dressed in a poncy black suit and blue shirt and silver tie that threatened to choke him to death. Spike subtly stuck a finger into the space between his neck and shirt and tugged a little, hoping to give himself more breathing room.

A waiter came up to Spike and asked him what kind of drink he'd like while waiting. Spike glance through the menu looking for the most expensive wine possible just to spite Angel, "Let's see, a Château Loudenne Médoc."

The waiter nodded, and went off to get the wine. As Spike waited for his drink to come, a mousy looking man sat down next to him.

Then before Spike knew it, the man tapped him on the shoulder, "Sir you dropped something."

Spike glanced downward and saw a napkin and was about to shake his head when he noticed the mousy looking man didn't smell quite human.

'Ah' Spike mentally acknowledged, 'So they're playing it this way.'

The peroxide blonde bent down and picked up the napkin, while giving the small man a stiff grin as he tucked the napkin into his coat pocket. He figured this guy had watched too many bad spy movies. And he was about to comment so when he turned around only to find the small man had disappeared.

'Well... I guess that's it...' Spike thought and gave an eye roll. Angel's contacts were always really pathetic, figured that poofs like Angel got just as poofy contacts. Spike was about to get up, pay for the drink, and leave when his sensitive ears picked up on a familiar female voice.

"Can I get a roast chicken casserole?" the girl inquired.

"would you like desert?"

"I'll think about."

"very good, why don't you hold on to the menu ma'm. And to drink?"

"Coffee. Mocha?"

The waiter nodded and grinned, "I'll be back with your drink soon."

Spike stared, his face slightly slack and his mouth opened just a bit. The girl had her back turned to him, but there was no mistaking the silky golden hair. It was longer now, down to her lower back and tied into a long French braid. Neat but still lovely. And her voice, that resonating warmth that lured men like a siren's song, was unmistakable even on the other side of the restaurant.

"Sir, this way please." The waiter said as he came up to Spike, but spike held up a hand, "Can you seat me at that empty table right behind the young lady?"

The waiter gave spike a knowing smile and nodded as he led him over to the table behind Buffy. Spike took a seat so that he and Buffy were back to back. The vampire thanked the waiter with a mute smile and nod. Spike quietly picked up the menu, and looked through the list, but the entire time his mind was on the girl behind him. He quickly and quietly ordered and then sat there nervously as he fiddled with the tablecloth.

Finally Spike got up the courage to turn around a bit and he leaned forward to whisper in the lady's right ear, "The wotcher sent you to make sure Big Bad didn't pull anything funny huh?"

Buffy's head immediately whipped around, "Spike?!"

Spike gave Buffy a tender smile as he looked at her. She was beautiful with her light natural makeup and paler skin from her long stay in Europe.

"Hey luv." Spike said, but it almost a whisper, like a sigh from his lips.

Buffy ventured for a small hesitant smile back at Spike, "Looks like you found me out."

Spike shrugged.

"Did I blow your cover?" Buffy asked, her petite arm was resting on the soft red chair and she was semi-turned so that she was looking sideways at him.

Spike shook his head, "I already got the information from him. He disappeared pretty quickly though. Perhaps he's been watching too many Trigger Happy sketches..."

Buffy raised a brow. Spike had the strangest hobbies and television interests. He was perhaps the only vampire in existence who had a really bad obsession with Harry Potter and according to Dawn, he had planted himself in front of their computer for nearly a month while she was... dead... and discussed possible clues in the current books that may predict the events in the future books. Not that Dawn didn't also become as equally obsessed once he let her borrow his books.

Buffy glanced over at Spike as he told her one of the really funny pranks Trigger Happy pulled, something about people in giant squirrel costumes. Buffy smiled and gave a light laugh because it seemed appropriate, even though she wasn't really listening.

After that, Spike glanced over at Buffy with a slightly contemplative expression. He was too in tuned with her; he knew whenever she was a little out of it. And he definitely recognized when she was giving him a hollow laugh.

"You look well." Buffy said, trying to distract his studying eyes.

Spike made a face as he picked at his suit, "The ponce wouldn't let me wear my duster and usual t-shirt, said it'd scare away the contact."

Buffy gave a real laugh this time. Spike did have a tendency to do that.

"But I swear, if this collar gets any tighter, I think it'll decapitate me. It's probably cursed, stupid poof." Spike said as he tugged on his shirt collar again, trying to give himself some breathing room.

Buffy reached over and adjusted his tie a little, "Well, you're finished with meeting your contact, why not loosen up a bit."

Buffy tried to smooth out her voice, but I only came out in an unsuccessful nervous stutter, it was like electricity dancing on her fingertips. She was only touching his tie! But the look in his eyes, the surprise and the flicker of emotion as she reached over was enough for her to lose her sturdy resolve.

Spike gulped and Buffy watched as his Adam's apple bob. Then she felt a sudden urge to touch him, it was perhaps that thought which caused her to quickly jerk away and sit back in her seat with a deep red blush. Spike gracefully stood up and circled around so that he now at across from her at her table. He reached a hand out and covered Buffy's tense unmoving left hand. "Luv, it's okay. Really."

Buffy glanced up a bit through her bangs, Spike quirked a smile, "Your face is matchin' Red's hair. Nothing to be embarrassed about, just relax, it's forgotten."

After a few moments, Buffy allowed a sigh and visibly relaxed. But she still nervously looked at Spike's hand, which was covering hers. The blonde vampire understood that right now was not a good time for her to experience physical contact, so he gave her hand a light pat and sat back in silence.

Thankfully their food arrived in time and the waiters seemed to have known that Spike was going to move over to Buffy's table since he didn't make any sort of detour or look confused as he brought the food over to Spike.

Buffy glanced up a few times and watched Spike eat, "You know, according to the watcher archive -or what's left of them- vampires are supposed to hate human food."

But Spike's answer was wholly unexpected.

"Perhaps I was made wrong." He replied with a smirk, it echoed the lost words that Buffy had felt a few years back. And for some reason the thought that both Spike and her were messed up, was strangely comforting. Buffy laughed softly as she poked at her baked potato slices.

"I don't think I've even met a vampire who's quite like you." Buffy contemplated, "And I mean, I've met a lot of them."

Spike retorted as he pointed his fork at Buffy, "Well, it's not like you ever got to know any of them personally... you know stake first, talk later. If it weren't for special circumstances you wouldn't have ever given me a chance."

Buffy looked a bit abashed, "Well... fine then, you've been around them though. Are all vamps as interesting as you?"

Spike grinned as he took a sip of his expensive red wine, "Not even close."

Buffy made a face, "what about Angel?"

"Like I said, the poof is as dull as a desk lamp."

"Isn't he like your boss now? Why do you still call him that?"

"Buffy, luv. The day I stop calling him poof or ponce or something of that variety is the day he has Wes put me under a bloody microscope and looks for some sort of bodysnatcher. It's what we do. Bird gotta fly, fish gotta swim, I gotta annoy the poof."

Buffy shook her head and she rolled her eyes, but there was a twinkle of amusement.

As dinner drew to an end. Buffy found herself wondering where Spike was staying, she wasn't really implying that she wanted Spike to come stay with her in the cold cottage, but even her own verbal impulses were against her.

"So where are you staying?" Buffy asked as she picked up her jacket and then mentally bashed herself for not keeping her mouth shut. But Spike intercepted her and then helped her put on her black wool waistcoat. She felt another pang as he did so. It was such a... comforting and kind gesture. It seemed that Spike may have also came back a bit more different after he gave his life to destroy the Hellmouth.

As he helped her right arm into the sleeve, he replied, "Not really sure. There's a festival of some sort going on here. I'm crossing my fingers and hopin' that they'll have room for me."

"And if they don't?"

Spike shrugged, "Suit might get a little wet."

Without even thinking, Buffy answered, "Why don't you stay with me?"

Spike paused, holding Buffy's shoulders, so that they were an arm apart, "I... It's alright pet. I didn't mean to sound like you had to put up with me."

Buffy twisted the strap on her purse, "I-it's not really that...I mean, it's a big place... It's lonely. I-I don't know...a little company would be nice."

She could feel herself fraying at the edges, ready to fall apart. It was only the mere thought that she may not see him again that was making her mind go uncharacteristically into depression. She never told anyone and she never would even admit it to herself. But he was probably the only person in the world that she trusted. Because although her friends and Dawn had made amends. The betrayal still happened and Spike was the only one that never turned on her. Not to mention, he was still strong and she felt an invisible pull from him. For a first time since she lost her powers, she felt... safe.

She winced at the nagging pressure behind her eyes that was now giving her a headache.

'I won't fall apart here. It's just Spike.' Buffy instructed herself

But it wasn't just Spike, it was...

"If you insist luv." Spike's soft velvet voice interrupted her jumble of thoughts. Buffy gave a hurried nod, her shoulders were a little hunch over, but a smooth hand touched her lower back and gave a gentle circling rub. Buffy back straightened a little and she looked up at him.

A silent message exchanged between the two of them and Spike leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her brow. Then he whispered, "Don't worry, I'm here."

Buffy took a half-step closer and put her head in the crook of his neck, "I know, thank you."