Chapter 16: Procrastinating with Spikey
Spike locked his vision onto Buffy as she made her way into the mall. Buffy noticed his intense perusal and took advantage of it by purposely putting more bounce into her step, purposely swaying her hips back and forth, therefore making certain parts of her jiggle in a way that drove Spike mad with want. You'll be the death of me yet, Slayer, he thought as he watched her with longing and desire, while he fumbled around in his pockets for his smokes.
When she finally reached the door, Buffy turned to give Spike a wink before heading off into the extravagant mall to find her sister. Searching every store down the entire length of the hall, Buffy still had not found her wayward sister, and was beginning to reconsider Spike's idea of coming with her. However, she knew that very little would be accomplished with the blonde menace at her side. Lost in her own private reverie, she stared at the map board in front of her, when she was suddenly tackled from the side. Turning into Slayer Mode, she flipped her attacker over and was immediately on top of them with her fist cocked back ready to hit them, when she heard a familiar voice nearly crying in pain and pleading for her not to hit them. Realization dawned on her as her vision cleared and her Buffy senses kicked back in. "OH MY GOD, Dawnie?!?!" she said as she scrambled off her sister. "Are you alright? I didn't hurt you too much did I? Are you ok?" Buffy asked franticly, as she helped her sister up and over to a bench.
"I'll live." Dawn said as she rubbed her now sore arm and ribs. "What was that for anyway?"
"What did you expect?!? You practically tackled me!! And hello! Slayer here!! It's not like I expected you to attack me in the middle of a strange place, I figured you knew better! What were you thinking, anyhow?"
Dawn shrugged, "Just felt like being daring I guess. Besides, took you long enough to come in. Did you have a good time with Spike?" she asked casually, fully aware of her innuendo.
"Nothing happened." Buffy answered quickly. Not that either of us didn't want it to though, she added mentally. "We just talked actually."
"Oh yeah? And what would this talk of yours be about might I ask…" Dawn inquired inquisitively.
"We came to an agreement of sorts over some things concerning us." Buffy told her, hoping it would be enough to satisfy her.
No such luck, Dawn pressed on, "What kind of things and which us?"
"Him and I, us. And it was about our relationship. I don't know why I'm telling you this though, it's not exactly your business."
"Yeah I know, I'm just curious. Spike is the only one of your boyfriends who's ever paid me any amount of respect, beyond the label of Buffy's kid sister. I just look up to him I guess, I want everything to go as smooth as possible this time around."
"That's sweet Dawnie, thank you." Buffy said, drawing her into a warm hug. "I'm glad you at least approve of us. I'm just not sure what Giles' is gonna think in a few days…"
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, we still have shopping goodness to do, lets go!" Dawn told her, getting up from the bench and tugging on her sister's hand. "Oh my god…Buffy you've got to see some of the shops in here! This place is amazing! And I've only been to maybe a quarter of this floor!!!" Dawn continued rambling on about how large all the stores she'd been in so far were and what a vast selection they had, while dragging her sister along behind her.
Buffy was lost in a daze when they reached the end of the corridor and realized Dawn was speaking to her. "Huh?! What?!" she asked, noticing Dawn waving her hand in front of her face.
"I asked which way you wanted to go, left or right?"
"Oh! Neither, actually."
"What?! Why?! I thought we were gonna do some shopping…ya know spend some sister time together?"
"We will…It's just I promised Spike I'd be out after I found you."
"Oh, ok." Dawn said making a move to go into one of the stores nearby. "I'll just be in here when you two come back then…"
"Oh no you don't." Buffy said, taking hold of her arm. "You're coming with this time. You're not getting away with shopping with out me. Besides, the deal was that you come back with me to prove that I did find you and you're ok." she said, as she strode towards the doors she just came in not that long ago, dragging Dawn this time.
"Oww…" Dawn complained as she was being led outside. "Could ya release the death grip please…I think my arm is gonna fall off if you keep pulling on it like that."
"Well, I wouldn't hafta if I could trust that you would just follow me…" Buffy countered.
"Buffy, I'm not a little kid anymore. I CAN follow the simplest of instructions.....ooh! Check out the hotties." Dawn said as she veered herself away from Buffy.
Buffy rolled her eyes in annoyance and sighed, mumbling more to herself than Dawn, "Point proven!" She then followed Dawn and stood by her menacingly as she flirted with the boys. After a minute or two, the boys finally took note of Buffy's annoyed stance and presence, then said their goodbyes to Dawn, along with Dawn's promise of possibly meeting up later on.
Once they were out of earshot, Dawn turned to Buffy, "That was mean…they were cute and totally flirting with me! You spoiled it!" she complained with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest, giving her sister her best pouty face.
"Oh give it up Dawn….I know this trick, I'm the one who taught it to you, remember?!" Buffy shot back. "You made plans to meet up later anyhow, so what's it matter? Besides that, not even 5 minutes ago weren't you the one complaining about 'sister time'?"
"Well…yeah. But that was before the hot boys!"
"Whatever…let's go now please. Spike is probably pacing as we speak, thinking some weird oogly-booglies got us."
That got a smile out of Dawn and she began walking towards the doors again, this time willingly. As she entered the alcove leading outside, she turned to make sure Buffy was still behind her, she seemed to be lagging behind…"C'mon Buff," she called, "If I walk out there with out you, you know he's gonna freak! I wanna get shopping, maybe we can even convince Spike to come with us!!"
Buffy caught up as they were walking out the double glass doors and heading into the parking lot when she turned to Dawn and said, "I'm not sure if Spike and shopping are very mixy things. Have you noticed his wardrobe?" she added sarcastically.
"Ya got a point…but I'm sure you could convince him to come with us!"
"What about you? You think you couldn't pull it off with him? You know one look at your sad puppy face and he gives in almost immediately!"
"True…" Dawn replied, pondering the implications of Buffy's statement. "But you have more leverage with him than me. I'm like a sister to him, where you are his girlfriend now as well as the love of his life…errr…un-life….which ever…"
"Point taken. But today was supposed to be an us day…just you and me, like old times. Not that I wouldn't like him hanging out with us, but I'm sure he's got stuff to do to before we leave on Monday."
"Well…we're almost up to the jeep now, why don't we ask him?"
"There you two are, was beginning to worry." Spike said, bringing his pacing to a halt in front of the girls.
Buffy and Dawn exchanged amused glances, both snickering at his predictability.
"Oi! What's with the laugh track you two? What's so bleedin' funny out 'ere?" Spike demanded as he looked around and over himself to make sure nothing was out of place.
"I didn't think you were completely serious about him before." Dawn told her sister giggling at the outraged look on the vampire's face.
"I totally wasn't!! It's just so typical of him…and now look!" came the response.
"Again I say, what's so bleedin funny?! Would you two work through the giggle fits already and just tell me!" Spike complained, clearly agitated and apparently becoming more so by the minute.
Buffy took a few deep, calming breaths, and proceeded to explain to him how amusing they found his predictability.
"Oh yeah, 'cause I was really pacin' 'round out here completely bloody terrified you two had been attacked by some big bad monster." Spike replied mockingly, rolling his eyes.
"You know you were Spike." Dawn teased.
"Was not!" he denied quickly.
"You soo totally were too!!"
"Was not!" Spike again denied, this time a pout working it's way over his face.
"Too" Dawn announced egging him on more.
"God! How old are you two?" Buffy interjected before Spike had a chance to respond again.
"You know you were totally worried about us, especially Buffy 'cause you looove her." Dawn crooned. "Anyway, what with the totally loving Buffy an all…you'll come to mall with us - right?"
Spike paused momentarily, actually appearing to consider spending hours on end shopping with the two girls he loved most.
After another pause, Spike rolled his eyes and replied, "Well…as much as I'd love to spend the day watching you giggle twins try on clothes and play with make up, I have other things to do."
"Like what?" Dawn inquired pouting.
"Stuff." Came his cryptic reply.
"What could be better then spending a day at the mall? Especially this one and when you have such wonderful company!" Dawn whined, her eyes pleading.
"I'm sorry Lil' Bit, maybe another day, I really do have things to do." Spike apologized, meeting Buffy's eyes. The innuendo wasn't lost on her, she rolled her eyes at him, as a flush of red warmed her face, finding herself unable to meet his gaze.
"Like?…" Dawn inquired.
"Well what if I get peckish on the plane over?"
"What? Oh you mean for… ewww yuck. I don't wanna hear about your dinner plans." Dawn complained, then turned back to Buffy. "C'mon we have to go. I'm meeting those boys in like 15 minutes!"
That got Spike's attention. "Boys?!", he asked in an incredulous tone.
"Oh you know the usual - zit faced teenage boys." Buffy explained.
"Hey! At least the boys I like have a pulse." Dawn retorted hotly.
"Tell you what Dawnie, you go I'll catch up in a minute, I'll meet you at that first store on the left when you walk in. Go any further, and there won't be any meeting." Buffy warned.
"Ok, I get it." Dawn replied, sighing heavily as she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Bye Spike, behave." she told him with a quick wink before skipping off towards the mall entrance once again.
Buffy shook her head in exasperation at her over enthusiastic and sometimes way too knowing little sister. Turning her attention back to her boyfriend who was currently leaning up against the Jeep. "So...you're really not coming then?" Buffy asked curiously.
"No, sorry luv. As I said - stuff to do." Spike told her as he pulled her close.
"Like what? What's more important than spending time with your girlfriend and her little sister for the rest of the afternoon?" Buffy pressed in a seductive tone, running her hands down his muscled t-shirt covered chest and began attempting to un-tuck his shirt in order to let her hands roam over his exposed flesh. If it also served to extract his ever important plans out of him, well…so much the better! She thought to herself.
"Ok…" Buffy pouted, hanging her head, purposely forcing some tears to her eyes. "I guess we'll see you back at the house then." she then sniffled purposefully.
"Like bloody hell you will! I will not allow you two to take a bleedin' cab all the way back to the house from here!"
"Then how are we supposed to get home?" she gave him a morose look, sniffling dramatically.
"I'll get a hold of you in a few hours to see how you two are fairing and we'll make plans to meet somewhere 'round in there." he told her motioning to the mall.
"Yeah, but how will you get a hold of us? Neither of us have a cell phone or anything."
That's what you think…he thought, before responding with, "I'll call the mall security before I leave and have you paged." he told her matter-of-factly.
"Fine…" she pouted, "I guess I can deal with out my sweet, wonderful, adorable, sexy, loving boyfriend for the rest of day." Buffy told him, accenting each compliment with a kiss across his face and purposely avoiding his lips, as she let her hands once again wander up under his shirt and over the smooth expanse of his chest.
Spike growled and moaned quietly in response, then finally leaned in and captured her lips in a searing kiss, which left them both breathless when it was over. "Keep that stuff up luv, I won't be leaving."
"Kinda the point, Spikey." Buffy told him coyly, then leaned in to kiss him breathless once again.
Once they broke apart, Spike managed to detangle himself from Buffy and keep her at arms length while he fished out his wallet from his back pocket. Taking out two silver plastic cards, that slightly resembled credit cards, he handed them both to Buffy.
"What's this for?" she asked, frowning slightly.
"First off, luv, don't frown, it's very unbecoming on you. Second, they're gift cards for you and Nibblet. They're for you two to spend however you choose."
"Aww, Spike, you didn't have to. We coulda got some stuff on our own, we're not that broke."
"I know luv. That's why they're called Gift Cards. They're gifts, it's better then giving you two cash, this way the money can't be stolen from you. Only you two can use the cards."
"Wow Spike, I don't know what to say!" Buffy told him sincerely, a look of endearment in her eyes.
"How 'bout 'Thank you and you're the best boyfriend ever. Even more so than Nancy boy Angel." Spike retorted.
Buffy rolled her eyes, but responded anyway, mimicking his words. "Thank you Spike, you are the best boyfriend ever." She then gave him a quick peck on the lips and hugged him tightly to her.
After a minute or so, they broke apart. "Now get goin' pet, never know where the Nibblet is gonna run off to while you're gone." he told her kissing her on the cheek.
"Ok, but are you sure you don't want to come?"
"I'm positive. Today is your day to spend with her, I have things to do myself today. I'll see you in a few."
"Alright, I'll see you later then. Don't forget to call!!" she scolded him.
"I promise!" he swore. "Now get your cute arse outa here." he told her, playfully swatting her backside.
"Ok, ok…I'm goin'. But…before I go, any requests for me to buy?"
Spike thought for a moment, before a devious and mischievous look came over his face. Buffy held her breath in anticipation, waiting for his answer. "Well, now that depends, doesn't it... are you going to model it for me later?" He drawled seductively, curling his tongue up behind his top teeth.
"Guess you'll have to wait and see won't you?!" she teased, winking playfully at him.
"Spike!!!" Buffy squealed, turning bright red, and playfully shoving him off of her.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"I was trying to be serious here."
Spike scoffed at her, "Serious my arse, Goldilocks! You walked right into that one and you bloody well know it!"
"Fine, fine…I admit defeat…" Buffy sighed, holding up her hands in surrender. Then a look of contemplation crossed her features and suddenly her hands were on her hips. "And since when did you start liking crotch less panties?"
"What can I tell you baby, I've always been bad!" Spike drawled, cocking his head to the side.
"Oh yeah you're really bad Spike…" Buffy teased, "just like a kitten." Well aware of the offense Spike would take at her comment, Buffy leaned in close and meowed softly in his ear, before taking his earlobe between her teeth and giving it a quick nip. Spike's response to her ministrations fueled her own desire, and she pressed herself closer.
With a low growl, he managed to disentangle himself from her once again and held her at arms length before he slammed her on top of the hood and had his wicked way with her.
When she pouted at him for stopping her fun, he gently lifted her chin to look her in the eye. "Now now, pet. We'll have none of that now. Besides…shouldn't be somewhere hovering angrily, right about now?"
She just gave him a confused look in response.
"Nibblet, Dawn, your lil' sister, alone…" He hinted, finding himself taking long, deep, unnecessary breaths to get himself under control.
"She can handle herself a little while longer." Buffy complained.
"You're forgetting one thing, luv."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"She's prolly with that group of horny, zit faced, teenage boys."
"Yeah your right. I really should probably get going." She said sighing in defeat once again.
Spike hugged her close, placed a quick kiss on her cheek and told her, "Buy something pretty, and make sure Nibblet gets something nice too. Must have you two looking wonderful for when we go out in England."
Pulling away she flashed him a quick smile and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Best you get goin' now luv, sure those boys are in serious need of a good scare from big sis about now." he told her, giving her a light shove on her backside in the direction of the door. "See you later, pet, love you."
Buffy smiled brightly at him, "Bye Spike and thank you for the cards" she told him as she headed back into the mall. Spike couldn't help but notice that she was still smiling as she left, almost glowing it seemed.
TBC…
A/N: Whew!! Finally!! I've had this done for a little while, but was having a lot of problems finding a new beta to take over Darryl's spot for when he's too busy, as well as having my 21st surgery this past Friday. So…this chapter's special thanks go to TaniTKD for becoming my new beta, to my best bud Weeza just for being her and of course to Kitty for helping me out on just about anything!!!
Thank you to those of you who are actually still reading this story!! I've been working my butt off on it and hope that I'm not just doing this for my own sanity. Please keep reviewing and letting me know what you think of this! The next chapter should be up soon…depending on how the healing of my arm continues and how often my muses decide to grace me!!
Ps. Stupid FF.net suspended my beta's account for some stupid reason with no warning (AS USUAL!!) Anyway…please visit her site at www.bringonthebloodshed.com and be sure to leave her lots of feedback!!