Disclaimer: miraculously, I still own nothing!

A/N: Love you all and your lovely reviews. Sorry if this chapter is crap but it's about half past one in the morning and I'm exhausted.

Chapter 7: Meetings and observations

Buffy was strangely calm as she settled into her seat next to Spike at the one and only Starbucks in Sunnydale where Willow and Xander were already waiting. True she was nervous as hell, but since her little discovery earlier that morning; things didn't seem quite so glum anymore. She knew there was still the possibility that they would find her and try to take her back, but she had faith that Spike would be there to look out for her. It was a strange feeling to know that someone was watching her back after years of having no one to count on except for herself, to be treated like a human being as opposed to some ill behaved animal. It was strange but not at all unpleasant. Another pleasant discovery was that not all people were as awful as she'd been led to believe. The people she'd met since she'd arrived in Sunnydale had been nothing but nice. She was still wary of strangers – hence the nervous as hell thing she was going through right now, but she wasn't as terrified as she had been.   

She'd quickly realised that Spike had no recollection of their first meeting, but she didn't really hold it against him. He had gone on to have a relatively normal life and met hundreds of people since that time – he'd probably even met one or two Buffy's along the way. Even she'd begun to question whether the little boy in her dreams had even been real, whether her last good memories were in fact fabrication. So she could hardly blame him for forgetting. It wasn't as if he had needed to cling to that time as she had. Oh she'd tell him eventually, when the time was right…especially if he kept looking at her like that…

Spike glanced towards Buffy with a puzzled smile on his face. She'd been more cheerful this morning that he'd ever seen her and of that fact he was glad, but he was curious as to what had put the smile on her face. The small, ego centred part of his psyche wondered if it had been the sight of him in only his boxers when they had met outside the bathroom, but the more logical part of his brain squashed the thought before it could gather any real presence. She saw him as some kindly benefactor or some sort. Just because he was pretty sure he loved her already didn't mean everyone else dived into these things as quickly as he did. His emotions had always gotten the better of him in the past, no matter how desperately he had tried to hide them. He was determined that this time he wasn't going to pursue a lost cause – after the humiliation that had been Cecily Adams last year he had no intention of putting his heart on the line quite so quickly. If Buffy wanted him he'd wait for her to let him know, not only to protect himself but her as well. He still didn't know what had happened to her, but he had a feeling that his coming onto her wasn't something she needed right now.

What she needed right now was an introduction to the two teens who were looking at them expectantly.

"Willow, Xander." Spike began. "This is Buffy. Buffy this is Willow and Xander."

"Hey." The bubbly red head greeted.

"Hi." Xander contributed.    

Buffy took a deep breath. "Hi." she whispered, barely audible, but enough for the startled teens at the table to stare at her in shock. Buffy felt her cheeks going red. Maybe now hadn't been such a good time to try speaking again. Maybe she'd said it wrong and they were all going to laugh at her. When no one spoke for what felt like an eternity she looked down at the table so no one would see the tears that were burning her eyes. She'd so wanted to make a good impression. Would Spike be angry at her now? Things had been going so well. She looked up suddenly however when she felt Spike's hand take hold of her own to see confusion in his eyes.

"Buffy?" Spike asked softly, not missing the wetness threatening to spill at any second. He hadn't meant to upset her, it had just been such a surprise to hear her speak and in so public a setting. She hadn't uttered a word in the two weeks since she'd told him her name. He was delighted that she seemed to have made some progress; she had just stunned him in to his own silence with her actions. He squeezed her hand gently, trying to reassure her with gestures and expressions that he was happy and not angry as her eyes told him she believed.  "When did you start talking again pet?" He continued when he saw she was regaining her calm.

Buffy opened her mouth again but couldn't make anything come out. She slumped her shoulders in defeat and reached for her notebook. I've been practicing she wrote in her distinctive cursive, But it's still hard. I can't say much. Please don't make me.

"Hey," Spike soothed "its fine. No one's going to force you to do anything you don't want to. I'm just happy you've come this far!"

Really?

"Really." Spike insisted with another squeeze of her hand for emphasis. Their gazes locked at that instant and it was if the rest of the world ceased to exist. There was just a lost, confused girl, and the man who'd silently sworn to help her find her way. Only the pointed coughing coming from the other side of the table reminded them that they weren't actually alone.

"So…um…guys." Xander mumbled when all eyes turned to him. "Coffee? It is what we came here for right?"

"Sure thing Whelp." Spike sighed, the moment broken. "I'll go fetch. The usual?" There were a series of head nods and a request for a decaf latte from Buffy written in her book.

"I'll come and help." Willow announced, following spike from the table leaving Buffy and Xander alone.

"So Buff," Xander began, "how are you? Where you from? What do you look for in a potential boyfriend?"

Buffy smiled. Had it come from anyone else the little speech might have seemed daunting, but Xander had such a disarming manner about him that even she couldn't help but be charmed. Sorry Xander she wrote, but you're not my type!

Xander pouted in mock indignation. He wasn't really upset. Yes Buffy was beyond what he would consider hot, but he knew that Spike would inflict serious bodily harm on him if he so much as looked at her wrong, and she had been a lot nicer in her let down that other girls had been in the past. He mentally shuddered at the memory of when Willow had dumped him when they were five – the girl had been brutal!

"Can't blame a guy for trying!" he muttered with a good natured smile which Buffy gladly returned. "So out of interest," he continued, eager to prove or disprove what he and Willow had been discussing before the blonde pair had arrived "What do you look for in a guy?" Buffy shrugged, but not before Xander noticed her lightning quick glance towards the counter where Spike and Willow were now being served. Xander sighed. Why did Spike get all the hot ones?

"So Spike." Willow began as they waited in line, going for casual.

"Yeah Red?"  Spike asked, scarred eyebrow raised in question.

"You and Buffy?" Willow continued "Anything you should be telling a best friend?"

Spike sighed in exasperation. "Told you Red there's nothing to tell – I'm just helping the girl out is all!"

Willow looked a Spike sceptically but didn't push. She was under no delusions as to Spike's true feelings for Buffy. Even if he hadn't talked about her none stop for the last month, just the few minutes she had seen them together would be enough to confirm her suspicions. Spike had fallen and fallen hard and Willow was worried. Buffy seemed nice enough but there was so much about the girl that nobody knew and Buffy seemed to have no inclination to tell. While none of this seemed to phase Spike in the slightest Willow desperately hoped that whatever Buffy was keeping quiet about wasn't going to come and bite Spike in the ass.

A/N: Not a lot happening but just getting Buffy to meet more of the characters – sorry was a little late updating – had writers block all day! Please let me know what you think. Love you all!!!