Letters 12

Willow sat in the library, her eyes on the video player that spun away in front of them. Everyone was watching horrified as the monster ripped the boy to pieces.

"Right there." Xander pointed out as the monster hesitated "See, it's, it's like he just realized he forgot to put money in the meter or something."
Cordelia rolled her eyes at her boyfriend "You know the part that totally weirded me out? That thing had good taste. I mean he chucks Xander and went right for the formal wear."

Willow agreed, that was the odd part. There was Xander and Cordelia right in front of it and then it just turned and attacked some guy in the corner.
"That's right. He left behind his copy of Monsters Wear Daily." He added dryly and Cordelia hit his shoulder
"I'm serious. Look at the outfit that Xander's wearing. Now look at the kid that the monster went after. Very smooth lines, 'til he was shredded."

Buffy stopped Giles before he could rewind the tape "I don't want to see it again." Giles moved closer to her watching the pain in her face "Buffy, I know it's horrible, but if you're going to hunt this creature, you should study it."

Willow wanted to punch Giles, he was being so insensitive and yeah okay he didn't know about Angel but even so. She opened her mouth to say something but Buffy just glanced at her.
"Think I got it."
Willow smiled at her to show her support "She's right. I mean, you've seen one big hairy bringer of death, you've seen 'em all."
Wesley obviously needed to exert his presence back into the room and piped up

"If I'm not mistaken, this is a hellhound."

"Yes. It's particularly vicious. It's sort of a demon foot soldier bred during the Machash Wars. Trained solely to kill. They feed off the brains of their foes." Giles agreed with him. Willow wondered how Giles had so much trivia in his head, if you had too much trivia what could happen? Would your brain explode?
Cordelia put a stop to her musings by having a row with Xander about the mechanics of a VCR.

"What were you doing there?" Oz asked "I thought you had an outfit?"
Xander rolled his eyes "Apparently we don't match; I had to exchange my shirt so we don't clash."

Willow watched Buffy who was staring off into space as the little exchanges took place around them; she could see the anger in Buffy's face as they identified one "Tucker Wells" as the face of the hellhound raiser.

And righteous indignation burnt up as they hacked into his email and learned that he was planning on setting his monsters loose on the Prom.

Giles made sure that the Xander's of the world were caught up "So, we have a threat against the students on their big night, a hellhound trained to attack people in formal wear..."
Cordelia smirked as Xander's expression cleared

"Oh, are we all catching up now?"
"Tucker is planning to attack the prom tonight."
Oz added with his usual dry wit "Once again, the Hellmouth puts the special in special occasion."
Xander just slumped "Why do I even buy tickets for these things, I ask you?"
Willow just shrugged agreeing with him, it was just too bad that none of them could have a perfect high school function without something hell mouthy happening. She looked around and saw the resigned look on everyone's face. Cordelia sagged, gracefully into her chair and Oz seemed even more laconic than normal.

She sighed "Wonder if I should send my dress back?"

Not that Spike would accept it, except it had obviously cost a pretty penny and if this deal whatever he was working out was expensive he might need the cash.
Buffy suddenly seemed to snap out of her funk "Don't you dare."
"But Tucker is going to..." she started to explain but Buffy cut her off with a determined
"No! You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom that everyone should have. I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening if I have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do it."

No one knew what to say to that statement, Willow knew it sprang from Buffy's own hurt at her own ideal being shattered and she wanted to hug her friend and tell her it was okay.

Xander looked around at the stunned faces and summed it up for them
"Yay?"

Buffy issued orders for them to go and find out what they could. She seemed like a general trying to rally troops before the big show down and they all obeyed with out question.

Willow walked over to Buffy.

"Don't Will." Buffy said warding her off "If I start crying now I wont stop." She pleaded with her eyes.

"I love you." Willow offered

"Love you too." Buffy softened and they shared a smile, that promised friendship to eternity and Willow walked away to get started.

But in under an hour they were all back reporting their progress

"Zeroes all around, Buff." Xander dealt the good news.
"Sorry." Willow hated not turning up anything in her searches.
Buffy just shrugged "Make not with the long faces. I got the address. Now the prom starts in a little while. I want you guys to go on and I'll catch up with you as soon as I put a lid on this jerk."
Xander and Willow gaped and the began to protest

"What? No way."
"We can't just leave you, Buff." 
Giles agreed "Buffy, they're right. You need..."
Buffy interrupted "To see taillights. Hit the door. I have everything under control."
Oz even turned to complain  "Buffy, it makes sense to ..."

"Have. A. Nice. Time." Her low tone scared them all into action.

Xander, Cordelia and Oz raced for the door.

Willow smiled sadly at Buffy "I'll be alone too Buff, come find me and we'll hang."

"Promise?" her eyes were beseeching

"Always."

"Great, now go. I want to see that killer dress."

Willow ran away to get changed.

The Prom was in full swing as Willow entered. She was wearing her hair cascading in soft curls around her shoulders, the forest green doing wonderful things to her eyes and hair- just as promised. She was also wearing the silver and red choker that he had sent for her birthday. She looked a vision and more than one head turned in her direction.

"Wow!" Xander came over and looked her up and down "Willow you look amazing."

"Where in hell did you get that dress?" Cordelia was green with envy

"Present." Willow said, stroking the satin down her legs. "You like?"

"You look fantastic." Cordelia was so impressed she forgot to be catty.

Willow smiled and looked around.

"Well we got in without being eaten I'd say that's a good sign." She saw Anya standing over in one corner talking to Jonathon who looked scared out of his wits.

She giggled at the thought of what she was telling him.

Wesley was watching Cordelia and not listening to anything Giles was saying. Willow wandered over to them saying hi to people she knew.

Everyone had something to say about her dress. Gone was the shy hacker and a beautiful woman stood in her place and everyone was wowed.

"Giles." She greeted

"Willow, you look so elegant." Wesley offered, his face blushing as he kissed her hand. Willow chuckled and grinned at Giles' odd expression.

"What is it Giles?"

"You look beautiful Willow." he said softly "I feel like a proud father." he hugged her close, ignoring any strange glances her might get from other teachers or students.

Willow was choked up "Thank you Giles. That means so much; my parents won't even be back until after graduation. But it doesn't matter because you're here."

Wesley sniffed and turned his head away "Allergies."

Willow laughed with Giles at the new watcher and the tension left them all.

They both talked for a while but kept their eyes on the door waiting for Buffy.

Finally she walked in

"Hey Buff, nice dress."

"I'll go with WOW!" Buffy said staring at Willow "Devil dogs are history, how's Prom?"

"Cool." Willow said and Oz came up behind them

"Strangely affecting. I got all teared up when they played 'We Are Family'"

They all smiled.

Willow knew what to say to make Buffy feel better.

"It's perfect." Buffy beamed at her and they hugged.

"Although I think we should rescue Jonathon from Anya."

Willow watched as they began to announce the awards, they got that over with at the beginning so everyone could concentrate on having a good time.

Xander and Cordelia won an award for oddest couple which made up for him not winning Class clown award.

Then Buffy got the surprise of her life when she was awarded the Class protector award. When the whole room applauded her, Willow felt like her heart would burst for her friend and she sniffed, trying to not to cry and waste her makeup.

"Now, now, tears do not go with that outfit pet."

Willow spun around "Spike?"

And he was there. His beached blonde hair looking striking against the black tux he wore. It fitted him like a glove complete with black silk shirt open at the neck.

He walked closer and reached up, cupping her cheek with his cool hands.

"Hello pet." His voice sent shivers down her spine, it was low and sensual.

She smiled at him softly "What are you doing here?"

"I heard that my girl was going solo to her big dance, we couldn't have the belle of the ball all alone now could we?"

"You came back from Brazil to escort me to the Prom?" she was incredulous

"No I came back to tell you that I love you, the Prom was just a bonus."

Willow's jaw dropped "Wha-?"

Spike chuckled and pulled her out to the dance floor.

"See pet, while I was in Brazil I heard some stuff about this ascension. How it was going to be a big old party. At first I was impressed, then it dawned on me you were in danger." He pulled her into his arms and looked down at her "I had to come to save you, save my girl. But Dru, Dru was pissed. She didn't want to come back here and she was furious that I wanted to save you. She was screaming and all trying to get her own way. But I had to get back here for you. I didn't care what she thought. Then it suddenly hit me. I don't care about Dru any more. Not like I did. She isn't my world. You are. I couldn't talk to her, not like I can you. I couldn't confide in her or even show my whole self to. She didn't care about me and I no longer care about her. It took me a while to figure out why it was okay."

He leaned down to look intently into her eyes, the blue intense in their proximity.

"Because somewhere between Sunnydale and Sao Paulo, I fell in love with you. I love you Willow."

"I love you too." Was all she could manage, her throat was tight with tears and emotion as he lifted her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers for the first time.

The soft pressure of his mouth on hers caused her to gasp and he took the opportunity to delve into the sweet depths, tasting her at each turn until she needed to breathe.

He leaned his forehead on hers, their eyes locked.

"Oh wow." She whispered to him and he grinned. His face lit up.

"By the way you look smashing."

"You too, you clean up good." She eyed the tux.

"You like?" he stretched his arms out and let her look her fill.

"More than."

"Me too."  He stroked her cheek again and kissed her softly.

"Willow who's the…oh my god you're Spike!" Buffy voice pulled them out of their moment.

Willow stood in front of him.

"It's okay Buffy."

"It's not okay Will, this is Spike- evil Spike!"

"Thanks." Spike preened behind Willow.

"Not helping." she turned her head slightly to warn him off "Buffy, Spike is my date."

Buffy's mouth opened and closed a few times "D-date?"

"He's the one I've been writing to."

"You didn't show my letters to the Slayer did you love?" he sounded worried.

"Of course not." She looked over her shoulder "They're mine."

"Me too?" he asked quietly, ignoring the Slayer.

"You too." She leaned up on tiptoe and kissed him.

Buffy made an inarticulate sound in her throat.

"Demon." She pointed and pouted at him.

"But I bought you a present." Spike pointed over her shoulder.

Buffy turned in fighting stance, half expecting a hoard of Vampires. Well it was a Vampire.

"Angel?"

"Red told me that he didn't ask you to the dance. Since this is your big who-ha, I thought he should make an appearance. After all a girl only gets one Prom."

He pulled Willow back into his arms.

Buffy stared at him and then at Angel and back again.

"You brought Angel here for me?"

"You being upset was upsetting my Red, and that's not allowed." He answered kissing Willow's collarbone.

"Say thank you Buffy." Willow instructed with a grin.

"T-thank you Spike." Buffy swallowed and went to move to Angel, she paused "But we are so having words tomorrow Willow."

Willow nodded and turned back, melting into Spike's arms.

"Now this is how it's meant to be." He whispered in her ear, his voice low and sending shivers up her spine.

"Always."