"Y-you do?" said Willow with a slightly shocked, but happy look on her face.

"I do" said Spike solemnly. Then he broke out into a smile. "What say you to an evening of merriment at the Bronze tonight?"

Willow smiled too. "I'd love it! Oh my god, I have just the thing to wear. You'll love it, I promise" Willow was cut off by the shrill ringing of her phone. "Ooh, I'll just get that"

She picked up the receiver. "Hello? Willow Rosenberg speaking...Buffy! No I don't want to talk...You were kissing Oz, that's why, you blonde bimbo ("No offence" she mouthed to Spike. His smile got wider.). You were my best friend. Were being the operative word, by the way. And F.Y.I, I'm with someone new...Yes I am. No, I'm not lying. No, he's not a rebound. Yes he exists! Why should I prove something to you? You know what? I will prove it-Oh Spiiiiike!" She said the last two words in a sing-song voice.

He took the receiver. "Hello there! Yes I am dating Willow. Is that any of your business? I love her. Yes I do. Who are you to tell me how I feel...I would never hurt Willow...To coin a popular Sunnydale phrase, HELLO?! You were playing smoochies with her then boyfriend! She was bloody suicidal...How do I know? She bloody well told me to drink her dry! Fact of the matter is you hurt her very badly. And now you're just jealous that she's been able to get over some of the pain you and flea-boy inflicted on her. Now if you excuse us, we have some very girly bonding to do."

Willow giggled when Spike mentioned "smoochies" and "girly bonding". It seemed out of character for a vampire of Spikes stature to say such "fluffy-cotton-candy-esque" words.

"You really mean it? W-we're dating?" Spike nodded.

Willow squealed in his highly sensitive vampire ears, as she gave a hug with the strength of rugby tackle.

"You're just gonna love my outfit" She whispered.

####################################

Willow and Spike were at the Bronze. She wore a long black gypsy skirt with ruffles going down from her knees. She also wore a red tank-top and a badge which read "You say WITCH like it's a bad thing".

Although there was not much skin on show, all eyes were on her. Unlike Buffy she thought, I don't need to flaunt my flesh!

They were talking about Spike's life in the Victorian times, when the opening chords of "Lunchbox" came on.

"Oh Spike, I love this song! Let's dance!"

"I didn't think you were into Marilyn Manson." Spike said, surprised pleasantly.

"It's just I can identify a lot with this song.

They moved on to the dance floor.

on we plow
the big bully try to stick his finger in my chest
try to tell me, tell me he's the best
but I don't really give a good goddamn cause
I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well

I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well
I got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well
I wanna grow up
I wanna be a big rock and roll star
I wanna grow up
I wanna be
so no one fucks with me
I got the pencils in my pocket, try to put me down
wanna go out, gotta get out
to the playground, gonna throw down at the playground
I wanna go out
next motherfucker gonna get my metal
next motherfucker gonna get my metal
next motherfucker gonna get my metal
next motherfucker gonna get my metal
pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow, pow pow pow
I wanna grow up
I wanna be a big rock and roll star
I wanna grow up
I wanna be
so no one fucks with me

Their dance was light-hearted and enjoyable. When they got back to their table, Willow was laughing.

"That's true, you know"

"What is, pet?" Spike loved to be with her. She was always surprising him.

"I mean the song. My mom sent me off with a pat on the head and my lunchbox to face the big, bad, playground. When I'd come back with bruises from being bullied, she'd say how it was an essential part of my childhood, and how I'd grow up better for it. Then the next day, she'd arm me with my lunchbox again, and send me on my not-so-merry way."

Spike looked at Willow with understanding. He had a rough time at a top Victorian boarding school.

They danced a few more times, before Buffy and her entourage entered.

Buffy walked straight up to Willow. She looked her up and down with a look of disdain. Oz, Xander and Cordelia hovered near her with similar expressions. Willow struggled not to laugh, cry, or bitch-slap Buffy. The latter was the hardest temptation to fight.

"Well, well, well. Wasn't woman enough for Oz, so now you're what? Dating the most pathetic vamp in history? The same (and I use this term loosely), man who got dumped by an insane parasite who talked to her dolls?" Spike growled at Buffy, who sneered in return.

Willow started clapping slowly. "Awwwwwwww!" Willow said patronizingly. "Buffy latched on to her best friend's boy-friend because her first love was killed by her! Watch out Oz, you could be next! And F.Y.I, I don't have to get into a childish argument about who's more woman. You're obviously more baby if you feel the need to put me and the man I love down the night after I saw you making-out with Oz! How extremely mature of you!"

Suddenly Buffy punched Willow in the lip. Spike rushed to her side.

"Buffy, I may not have slayer strength, but I'm stronger than you mentally" said Willow calmly, dabbing at her split lip with a napkin. "Buffy, I've managed to get over Oz, and fall in love in 24hrs, skipping the brooding for months part. I've managed to stand up to you, even though you could kill me in a heartbeat. And most of all, I've managed to not throw up when looking at your repulsive face!" Spike let out a bark of laughter.

"Hey, Spike, wanna go someplace else? I think we've seen all this place has to offer."

Spike put his arm around her waste and lead her out of the club, leaving in his wake the three stooge gawping at them.