A/N Thanks all! As always the reviews were greatly appreciated.
Chapter 6Buffy and Spike took the elevator up to their room in silence, both of them digesting the recent meeting with Travers. She kept stealing little glances at Spike when she thought he wasn't looking. Surely he hadn't gone out and bought himself some new clothes because of her earlier stinging comments? Seeing him so smartly dressed was like seeing him for the first time, with new eyes. And the boy scrubbed up good. Maybe a little too good, if that were humanly possible, she thought.
Buffy had been so mad when she had first discovered that they were expected to share a room together. But she was starting to feel glad of the company. Wait! She was actually glad to be spending time with Spike?! It must be homesickness rearing it's ugly head again, she thought to herself.
Buffy laughed out loud at the irony of the situation. Spike looked at her, surprised by her sudden outburst.
"What's tickled your fancy, slayer?" asked Spike.
She quickly stifled her laughter.
"Nothing, I think I might have had too much wine with my dinner, that's all," she lied.
"I'd love to see you when you'd really had a skin full, and I'm not talking about beer either. But we know that won't happen any time soon," he said challengingly.
"I know how to party just like any other regular girl," Buffy replied indignantly.
"Yeah with your loser dweeb friends at the Bronze, that hardly counts does it?" Spike drawled.
"I'm party Buffy, just ask any one," she pouted.
Buffy opened the door to their hotel suite, almost slamming the door in Spike's face, but he caught it.
"Nice try, hit a nerve there, did I?" he asked.
That was just the problem, he was hitting too many nerves, most of them of the sexual variety. She gritted her teeth, they had only been alone for just over a day. And all she could think about were his taunts in the restaurant about giving the bed a test run. Buffy was pretty sure he had only been trying to get a rise out of her. She decided that she'd give Willow a call later. Maybe her friend would have some answers, as to what was wrong with her.
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to shut him out. Naked shower Spike, handsome all dressed in black Spike. Buffy wanted to scream at her traitorous thoughts to cease. Maybe a drink was exactly what she needed after all. It might block out these confusing thoughts that flooded her mind. So he thought she didn't know how to party did he? Buffy looked at him reclining in one of the seats. A smug little smile on his face, almost as if he could sense her inner turmoil.
She had to get out of here. Being alone in this room that suddenly didn't seem so huge anymore, was beginning to be more dangerous than fighting a big bad. Big….Bad… Spike…. Shower…Naked Right that was it! Buffy stood up abruptly from her seat. Almost knocking over the vase of flowers, resting on the coffee table next to her.
"What now?" asked Spike, as she stared at him.
"Out!" she ordered.
He looked momentarily stunned by her demand.
"I'm not going anywhere, this is my room too," he said as he settled further into his chair.
Buffy pulled on her jacket.
"No, you are taking me out, not I'm throwing you out. If I have to spend another moment alone in this room with you I will go mad," she admitted.
"Got cabin fever already love?" he asked, enjoying the idea.
"Don't you think I would go out on my own if I could? As much as I hate saying this, this is your town and I don't feel like getting lost right now," Buffy confessed
Spike smiled at her.
"A case of better the devil you know?" he asked.
"Something like that," she replied as she opened the door and walked out into the corridor.
"Don't be so sure of that gorgeous," he muttered under his breath as he followed her.
· * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They stood outside the hotel, even for a Sunday night, the streets were humming with activity. Buffy looked left and she looked right.
"So where'd you wanna go?" Spike asked her.
"I was hoping you would tell me," she looked at him helplessly.
"Soho," he decided.
"Does it have alcohol?" she asked.
"More bars, clubs and alcohol than you can poke a stick at," he grinned.
Spike was starting to like this Buffy a lot more than the Sunnydale version. Away from her slayer duties, she almost seemed another person. Soho was definitely going to be an education to her. He smiled to himself. There were bars, clubs, and stripper joints of the male and female variety. He was interested to see how she would react.
The doorman of the hotel, walked over to them both.
"Is there a problem sir?" he asked.
"We need a cab," Spike replied.
"Where to?" asked the doorman.
"Soho," Buffy replied.
A few moments later they were headed off together in the cab. Strip joint, here we come Slayer, he grinned.
"Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?" Buffy asked.
"Just glad to be home, never knew how much I'd missed the place," Spike admitted.
Buffy sighed wistfully.
"It must be tough, being so far from family and friends, not that you have any Spike," she replied.
Spike rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Sorry, that was cruel of me," Buffy added.
Spike was more than a little taken aback by her apology. Something he'd never expected to hear directed at him, in a million years.
"Nothing more than I'm used to from you, look why don't we call a truce on our fighting for one night? You can go back to treating me like dirt in the morning. Otherwise this is gonna be a long two weeks," Spike replied.
Buffy regarded him in silence for a moment. Naturally suspicious of the proffered olive branch, she dampened down her doubts and put out a hand in agreement. Spike took her tiny, but lethal hand in his and shook it. The taxi pulled up on the side of the road.
They paid the cabbie, and walked down Moor Street. Spike could see the distant flashing lights of the various 'Gentlemen's clubs' beckoning in the distance. He smiled to himself and then looked down at her face, the almost childlike excitement written on it. He struggled inwardly with himself. The idea of revenge that had once excited Spike now seemed hollow and petty to him.
He growled as he took her hand and pulled her into the first respectable looking pub that they passed. Which happened to be a pub called the "Spice Of Life"
"You know what they say variety is?" she quipped.
"Like I haven't heard that one before. Shame they don't still have the separate bar for women in here," said Spike.
"You're kidding right?" she asked.
"Not at all, it was very common during the Victorian era, haven't been in here since then. Dru wasn't very understanding about that rule either. She er…. ate the landlord," Spike finished awkwardly.
"Save your anecdotes for someone who actually wants to hear them. You have all the money, buy me a drink," Buffy demanded.
"With pleasure, do you think you could handle tequila?" he asked.
"Straight up," Buffy replied.
The truth was, that she had never tried it before in her life, but she wasn't going to appear so naïve in front of Spike if she could help it. Buffy wandered over to a table in the corner, taking in the atmosphere of her surroundings. Spike returned with a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses.
"Who's a naughty girl then?" he asked as he poured her drink.
"What do you mean?" she asked, puzzled.
"I know you're not allowed liquor until your 21. Last time I counted, you hadn't reached your 19th birthday yet," Spike smiled.
"I know you are allowed to drink from the age of 18 here, so bite me," she answered.
"If only," said Spike as he downed his drink in one shot.
Not to be out done, Buffy did the same. As soon as the raw liquor hit the back of her throat, she burst into a fit of coughing, Spike swore softly under his breath before patting her lightly on the back.
Buffy flushed, but quickly poured herself another to hide her embarrassment. Spike followed suit and relaxed back in his chair to study her.
"So what do you think that old git's really after?" asked Spike.
"Travers? I don't know, but it's best not to take him a face value," said Buffy.
"What did he do to you that was so bad?" asked Spike curiously.
"Wanna know much?" she asked.
"Just making conversation that's all," he replied.
Buffy sighed.
"He almost got me killed if you must know. Some sorta initiation test for slayers, but it went a little wrong. Well from my point of view it did any way. He got Giles to inject me with some sort of muscle relaxant, couldn't fight a fly in a paper bag. And the idea was for me to fight and dust some crazed vampire," She told him.
"He should have got me to do the job, I wouldn't have failed," Spike replied.
Spike smiled at her, and poured them both another shot.
"Knew the idea of my almost death would put a smile on your face," said Buffy, as she took the drink.
"Not at all, was just trying to imagine evil Giles, that's all," said Spike.
Buffy almost missed the table as she put down her shot glass. She put a hand to her head, unused to such strong drink; it had already started to go to her head in a big way. She looked up at Spike and giggled.
"What so funny?" he asked.
"Here I am in a strange country getting piss…drunk, my first trip to Europe, and it's with my mortal enemy. That's pretty ironic wouldn't you say?" she asked.
The lights in the pub went down and a man came on the little makeshift stage with a microphone.
"What the bleeding hell is this all about? Can't even get a quiet drink around here these days." Grumbled Spike.
"Welcome to the Sunday night karaoke night. Don't be shy, get up here and wow us with your vocal talents. Who's going to start the ball rolling?" asked the man.
Spike smirked at the man and turned back to Buffy.
"At least we know neither us would be stupid enough to give it a go," Said Spike to the empty chair.
He spun round to see Buffy weaving her way unsteadily to the stage. He thought about stopping her for about five seconds, before he decided he didn't feel like getting a punch on the nose.
"Give a hand for the young lady, what's your name love?" asked the man.
"Buffy Summers," she slurred.
"What do you want to sing?" he asked her off mike.
Buffy considered it for a moment, before smiling at the man.
My loneliness is killing me
I must confess I still believe
When I'm not with you I lose my mind
Give me a sign
Hit me baby one more time
Spike looked at her in amazement. Bleeding Britney Spears,
he thought. Almost choking on his drink. Where was a video camera when you
needed one?
Oh baby, baby
The reason I breathe is you
Boy you got me blinded
Oh pretty baby
There's nothing that I wouldn't do
It's not the way I planned it
Show me how you want it to be
Tell me baby 'cause I need to know now, oh because
It was almost as painful to watch as to listen to. He went up on the stage to
recover her dignity. The crowd clapped and cheered at the newest occupant of
the stage.
"Looks like we have the makings of a duet mates," said the landlord.
"Not me," said Spike as he started to remove Buffy from the stage.
The landlord put a hand on Spike's arm to stop him.
"No one gets off the stage without singing it's the rules," he told him.
"Stick the rules!" said Spike.
A couple of burly men stood at the front of the stage their arms folded in a menacing manner. Spike looked at them, inwardly cursing the chip in his head for the millionth time.
"Okay, maybe a couple of verses," he said through gritted teeth.
"That's the spirit," said the man, all smiles again.
The crowd cheered as he passed Spike another mike. Spike looked at Buffy swaggering all over the stage. She looked faintly green about the gills. Time definitely looked of the essence as Spike belted out a couple of chorus's of the Britney song and removed Buffy from the stage.
"I think I need some fresh air," said Buffy.
"I think you need to go to bed," said Spike.
They exited the pub and walked out onto the street, Spike hailed a cab.
"Is that an offer by any chance?" she giggled.
Spike swallowed hard at the imagery of them in vast expanse of the hotel bed. He shook his head in self-derision as he opened the cab door and bundled her inside.
He propped her up against the wall of the cab, but every time they turned a corner, she kept slipping down, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Hit me baby one more time," she slurred and then burst into fits of giggles.
"Buffy!" he groaned as she slipped a hand around his waist and lifted her head. Her warm breath teased at his bare neck.
"Kiss me," she whispered in his ear.
"You're drunk," he stated.
"No I'm not," she protested as she crushed her lips to his.
Spike froze in total shock as she slipped her tongue in his mouth and threw her arms around his neck. After the initial surprise at her onslaught wore off, he returned the kiss in full. Grinding his lips against her own. Buffy made a little cry in her throat as she pulled back, and slumped against the seat of the cab.
"Dammit, you do pick your moments Buffy," he sighed.
And what was wrong with him? Getting all horny and hot with the slayer. At least she was drunk at the time. What was his excuse? The cab pulled up to the entrance of the hotel, Spike looked at her semi- conscious form, She wasn't going anywhere, not in the conventional sense of the word anyway. He paid the driver and picked Buffy up in his arms, receiving a few raised eyebrows as he entered the hotel.
He managed to get her into her room and laid her down on the big bed. Buffy stirred momentarily and she sleepily removed her blouse and jeans and got under the covers. She had stripped down so quick that he hadn't had a chance to look away, and if he was really honest with himself, he hadn't wanted to. Spike turned to leave, he picked up a couple of pillows and a spare comforter that was draped on a nearby chair.
"Stay?" she mumbled.
Spike knew he was going to regret it in the morning, but the bed looked so much more inviting than the sofa in the living room. He sighed and removed his leather duster, along with his black shirt and shoes. He climbed into bed and pulled up the covers.
Buffy flung an arm across his bare chest and fell fast asleep. For Spike, sleep was a little longer in coming.
TBC