Thanks everyone for the reviews. For those of you looking for some Spuffy loving, I am getting there. Spike does need some time to wear Buffy down now doesn't he? That's half the fun I think. Look for some in Chapter 9 very soon. Of course, it is never all flowers and perfume for them you know. Hope you are enjoying the story!
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Chapter 7 A Friend In Need
The trip to the library was very quiet. Giles had explained everything in detail to Willow and she was angry but understood his reason for keeping her uninformed. He was doing what he thought was best for Buffy. It was a moment of weakness on his part. He wasn't usually this easily fooled. This Mr. Hargis must be pretty persuasive.
"Do you think this prophecy thingy is for real Giles? Could it really be possible?" It was a question she had asked him already three times, and each time the answer was no better than the time before. He didn't know. She decided one more time might not hurt. Maybe he had thought of something new during the long walk.
"I am still not sure Willow. As prophecies go, it looked real enough. I suppose one could arrange to have such documentation forged, but it had the details of being authentic. I don't understand this anymore than you. As I told you before, I assumed it to be legitimate. Mr. Hargis was representing himself as a member of the council. They don't deal in forgeries."
Giles was still carrying the burden of his errors and it could be heard in his weary voice. Willow decided a different approach might be good. "Let's think about his logically. A man, representing the council, asks you to have Buffy do this mission. Three girls are missing and they were last scene at the library. He tells you that if she does this she can be a normal girl. We know that the slayer has to die to" ………..Willow suddenly stopped walking. Giles took a few more steps before he realized she wasn't walking anymore.
"Willow". Giles went back to where Willow was standing and staring at the ground. When she turned to look at him she looked as if she had seen a ghost.
"Oh, God Giles! What if Mr. Hargis doesn't intend for Buffy to live? What if this mission results in her death? He could be some bad demon guy trying to kill the slayer and take over the hellmouth!"
Giles tried to calm her down and he put his hands on her shoulders. "Willow, please, let's not jump to conclusions. Buffy is just missing at this point. We don't really know who Mr. Hargis is and we certainly don't know that he wants Buffy dead. Let's just continue to the library and see what we can find out before we start theorizing."
Willow shook her head to agree and they continued to the library in silence. She needed to find her friend. Whatever happened, she certainly hoped that the library would hold the clue.
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"Ok, William, you can come out anytime now. We are going to be late if you take any longer." Buffy was standing in the middle of the room twirling around. She stopped every now and then to look at the dressing screen and encouraged Spike to appear. So far, it wasn't working.
"Look, slayer, this is ridiculous. I am not coming out. I told you that I wouldn't wear this dribble and I'm not. End of story." He had to wear this stuff when he was human, at least something resembling it, and he wasn't about to return to it now.
"Well, then I guess you will be missing dinner then. Fine, I will go down and have my meal with the prince. I am sure he won't mind if you're not there." Buffy hated resorting to these kinds of tactics but Spike really wasn't giving her any other choice.
"If you think you are going down there alone you are daft!" Spike was screaming as he appeared from behind the screen. "I refuse to let you go by yourself Buffy. After all, I am your husband. How would that look to the prince?" He stopped in his tracks when he saw her. She was radiant in a beautiful blue dress. It was cut very low in the front and as much as he tried not to his eyes were glued to her gorgeous breasts. He neck was exposed and her hair was twisted up on her head in ringlets of curls. It would have taken his breath away if he had any.
"What?" You don't think the prince would buy my explanation that you weren't well? She was looking at him with a slight smile. He was dressed in cream colored pants and a flouncy cream colored long sleeved shirt with a collar. His vest was intricate with detail. He looked like quite the gentleman. Well, except for his brightly colored hair.
"Stop looking at me. I know I look ridiculous. You don't have to rub it in." Spike was daring her to say something awful. He was feeling insecure and she didn't want him angry when they went to dinner. He needed to be on his good behavior. Whatever that was.
"I don't think you look ridiculous at all William. You look very handsome." Buffy was as sincere as she could muster. In a way she really believed it, right? She had thought it just a few seconds ago, so it wouldn't hurt just this once to tell him.
Spike looked shocked and pleased at the same time. "Yeh, well you look lovely. I have to say that the women's clothing is much better than the man's in this world. I don't think they could have made a better choice for you slayer."
"I think we need to talk about something before we go downstairs." She was being serious now and eager to change the subject from her appearance. The look he was giving her was making her very uncomfortable. Sort of like she was food. His food.
"You need to call me Buffy, not slayer. They don't know what a slayer is here and frankly I would like to keep it that way. We are supposed to be married Spike…I mean William. We should be calling each other by our real first names. I know it will be an adjustment, but we both need to do this if we are going to fool anyone into thinking we are married and not mortal enemies."
She was right of course. He wasn't used to calling her Buffy. She wouldn't have put up with that in Sunnydale. Too personal. But it was a necessity here and he would have to get used to it. Of course getting used to it would be half the fun now wouldn't it. This married thing could be just the think he needed to get the slayer to see things his way.
"Alright then love. Buffy it is. I'll try to remember." His voice was soft and he was giving her a meaningful look she couldn't quite place. Buffy blushed a little. He called her love again. He always managed to do it like it was an everyday normal name to call her. She was usually agitated by it, but she decided not to say anything because it went along fine with her plan to pretend to be married.
"Good then. It looks like we are off to dinner with the prince. I also thought of something else while you were behind the dressing stand for so long. How long has it been since you had any blood?" Buffy knew he wouldn't volunteer the information, so she decided to just ask him.
Her question startled Spike. "Don't worry love, I am not ready to slaughter the help yet." He knew he shouldn't tease her. She knows the chip won't allow him to hurt anyone, but he couldn't help it. The look on her face was priceless.
"Please don't even joke about things like that. I know that you must be getting hungry. I don't have any idea how long we will be stuck here so I came up with a plan." Buffy was definitely plan girl today. Giles would be so proud.
"Another plan! Great. So spill, what's the great plan this time. Not that you won't go ahead and change it to something else without telling me." It was his sarcastic voice of course. Spike shook his head. He might as well resolve himself that she was going to go ahead with whatever scheme she came up with.
"I think maybe if I tell the prince that you have a condition that requires you have transfusions every few days then maybe we can get some blood without drawing any suspicion. I know it makes you seem……ill….but really I think it is the best way." Buffy knew she had to be delicate about this, but Spike was going to be mad no matter how she said it.
"Bloody hell. Now I am an invalid who needs blood every other day to survive." The words came out before he could retract them and Buffy was bending over with laughter. Of course it was funny. The bloody joke was always on him.
"Fine, sla……Buffy. Have it your way. Give me a condition and let's get on with it. The sooner we get this dinner over with the sooner we snoop around and get information to get out of here."
"So………a truce then. We agree to work together to get home. Can we be friendly to each other long enough to make this work?" Buffy was testing the waters. She never knew how Spike was going to react to her plans.
Spike mumbled something under his breath and then cleared this throat. "Alright Buffy. Friends." This was just what every bloke wanted to hear. Let's be friends. This must be hell.
They descended the stairs together. She put her hand on his extended arm. She wasn't surprised really. Spike was always showing Drucilla his gentlemanly ways. Maybe this could work after all. Who was she kidding?