Letters 11

The delivery man was polite and courteous and was chuckling to see the eager, childlike look on the pretty girls face as she opened the door.

"Hi!" She squeaked

"Package for a Willow Rosenberg."

"Me!" she jumped and grabbed it out of hands.

"Sign." He handed her the clipboard and she scribbled away without even looking.

Willow slammed the door and raced up the stairs to her room with the box in her hands.

She ripped off the paper and took off the top.

Her breath caught in her throat as she glimpsed the contents and she let it out in a hiss as she picked up the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.

It was a forest green satin ball gown with spaghetti straps and a full corset leading to a billowing full skirt that hung like a bell. Her breath caught in her throat and she noticed a post it stuck to the front of the dress. She grinned as she saw the note- BELLE OF THE BALL.

Red

As promised I finally have time to write you a huge letter. And now I do I don't know where to start.

I'm happy pet, happier than I've been in a long time, I've finally gotten rid of a lot of baggage that was holding me down (and I don't mean the car) and I feel a hell of a lot lighter. I have you to thank for that, everything that you've done for me. I don't know how I'll ever repay you, although I figure the dress might be a start. I can just imagine you in that green setting off your hair and eyes making you look just like a pixie Queen. And here I am again suddenly acting like a bloody ponce. Only around you, love!

It's not selfish for you to want a future and it is what you deserve pet, the Slayer has her sacred duty and that's all well and dandy for her but for you? It's not your gig and you shouldn't have to sacrifice your life to pander to hers. I'm not saying that you should ignore everything supernatural (especially not me) but a girl like you shouldn't have to walk in the darkness.

Back to your letter and what that bitch Slayer put you through, her ass is grass love. I want her dead. And as for my bleeding Sire for letting you get caught. I was soo mad I ripped the head of three demons before I calmed down enough to read the rest of the letter. I hate him, I've always hated him and he's just given me one more reason. The Slayer can take care of herself but you are only human. An exceptional human true but fragile and mortal, he should have protected you and not gone for the brain located in his trousers when he saw his screw toy in trouble. The bitch can take care of herself it's her job to battle the nasties, not yours. If you'd been hurt there is nothing in this world that would stop me from hunting him down and making that wanker pay. And pay and pay.

But you! What the hell were you thinking? You are more precious than some damn pages love, your curiosity is gonna be the death of you- and almost was, enough with the Nancy-drewing and just try to stay safe. For me, if not yourself. I couldn't handle it if you died love, not if I wasn't there to bring you over. Eternity just wouldn't be as fun if you weren't there.

Things around here are still pretty hectic and I've just been called away so I have to go now. I will write soon or call and let you know what's going on.

Until then be safe.

Eternally yours

Spike.

P.S I knew they reinforced that bloody sign!

Willow stared at the signature at the end of the letter, that was the second time he'd signed off with Eternally yours or something similar. Before he'd just finished it with "Spike", she guessed that mean that he was feeling lighter and happier which was great, she just wished it didn't mean that he was happy with Dru. Not that she wished him misery, she was just jealous. From how she had been feeling these past days without hearing from him, she knew that she was in love with him. Properly in love.

It was scary the way she felt, and just now when she read the part about him turning her, she wasn't scared. She was intrigued and happy that she wouldn't have to live without him, in fact he wanted her with him for eternity- which was a good sign.

Maybe he had some sort of feelings towards her other than friendly. Or maybe she was fooling herself; it's possible that he just wanted to preserve his only friend in the world. The thought made her shoulders slump and she pulled the dress out of its box and closer to her. She imagined she could smell his scent on it, but it was probably just her imagination.

"Hello Rosenberg Residence Willow speaking."

"Who died and made you a butler?"

"Spike?" her voice lit up with delight

"Yeah pet, it's me. Your immortal sex god." She could tell he was grinning.

"I though you went by "Spike", dammit now I'll have to change my address book entry."

"Funny pet." He answered dryly "So how's my little witch?"

"Not so good right now."

"What is it?" his response was instantaneous and worry clouded his accent

"Not me!" she assured him "But you just missed Buffy, she was just here. Angel isn't taking her to the prom, in fact as soon as the Mayor's thing is over he's leaving town."

"Oh."

"No, not just oh, he's a…a…."

"Twat?"

"Yes! Whatever that is. He's one. I mean it'd be like Cordelia breaking up with Xander on Valentines Day. Breaking up just before the Prom, the day before the Prom? It sucks, its beyond cruel and god, Spike. Buffy's a mess. It hurts her so bad. She couldn't stop crying and even though we get the reasoning, it's made her…empty."

"Angelus was always a cruel bastard, master of mind games."

"Well it's not funny." Her breath caught

"Red?"

"I'm sorry Spike, its just… I feel for Buffy, just when we all thought that she'd have one night of normality, bang. Angel goes and screws it up, I am so mad at him right now. Madder even than when he tried to kill me."

"You are a strange one pet."

"Don't I know it." she decided to change the topic "How about you?"

"I'm fine love, great even. Things are busy and hectic but are slowly falling into place."

"Yeah, so what have you been up to then?"

Silence held for a few seconds

"Can't say right now red, I will do soon, promise but everything's still dead tense right now."

"Dead tense?"

"No pun intended."

Willow laughed anyway and he joined her, it felt good to laugh with him.

"Well at least tell me how you are?" she asked

"I'm great, everything is good right now. I got the Desoto fixed and upgraded it now plays C. D's not just tapes, wired with terrific stereo system and undented, new leather interior and all, its luxury- fit for my queen."

Willow swallowed "And how is Dru?"

"Fine I guess…what? Hold on a minute Willow." she heard his muffled sounds from the other end, like he was holding his hand over the receiver. After a few more muffled moments his voice came back.

"Sorry love I have to go, some problem in the bleeding works."

"Oh." Her voice was small "But we didn't get to talk much."

"I know pet, I'm sorry." And he did sound it, very sorry. "I have to go."

"Spike!" she said quickly before she could lose her nerve

"Yeah?"

"Tomorrow's the Prom but after that…would you call me or-or write to me before graduation?" she hesitated a second "It's just if Buffy doesn't manage to defeat the mayor, that could be it for us all, and I want to hear from you before…just in case."

"Why's that then?" his voice was cautious

"Because I l-" she didn't know if she should say the words

"Yeah?" he prompted after a moment's silence

"Just promise me." She lost her courage and copped out.

He sighed as if in disappointment, or maybe it was relief.

"I promise you will hear from me before your graduation." Willow smiled softly at the sincerity he portrayed.

"Thank you Spike."

"No problem love, have good party."

"Will do. Night Spike."

"Bye pet."