She walked down the stairs after looking in at both bedrooms and seeing that nobody was there and that everyone was up.
"Well I say we all go shopping today since its my day off and my jeans all got-" she called out cheerfully.
Buffy stopped at the bottom of the stairs observing the serenity off the house. No tv, no running water, just her voice and her footsteps. "Willow? Dawn?" she called out. She knew it was a fat chance that Dawn would be home this early but figured Willow would be at least.
Recalling the opened bedroom window Buffy started to get jittery wondering if there was some kind of demon in the house. Her slayer sense kicked in as she slowly ventured into the living room. Buffy started to become anxious, feeling another presence in the room. She stopped, looking at her reflection in the tv screen and saw nothing. 'Okay, if this is some kind of ghost thing that those geeks sent on me, I'm moving 'kicking their asses' to the top of my list,' she thought. She could feel an icy hand reach out and gently brush her shoulder and as soon as it did, she spun around and laid a right hook into its nose.
"Ow! Geez Slayer, I thought we've moved beyond the nose by this point."
It was Spike. Again. Pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to stop any bleeding. A part of Buffy wanted to reach out and embrace him and ask him if he was hurt from last night but the other part, the part that always seemed to have the most control told her to kick his ass for sneaking up on her.
"Now why are you here? I thought you left last night." Buffy said with an edge in her voice.
"Like the bloody whelp could really throw me out." He scoffed. "It was all part of my plan," he lied.
"Your plan? To do what exactly?"
"Uh, well. I'm not sure yet. I'm still workin' on it." He shifted uncomfortably like a mouse caught in a corner by a cat.
Buffy didn't say anything just turned and went into the kitchen, trying to best ignore Spike and his games as much as she could. When she got there she found the sink filled with dishes and Willow no where in sight.
"So, are you feeling better then?" Spike drawled out.
"Yeah, not perfect ya know, b-but better. Almost a ripe peach."
Spike made a face and walked over to the sink next to Buffy from the doorway where he had originally been standing. "I hate peaches."
"Is that why you call Angel 'peaches' cause I really don't get you obsession with that." She smiled at her witty comment.
Spike ignored it and inched closer to Buffy, running his hands down her shoulders. She pulled away after a few seconds and starting to get uncomfortable.
"Willow." Buffy warned.
"I'm not so sure Red's up for a threesome." She rolled her eyes at his comment. "She's not here, love. She left early this morning." Spike could feel Buffy become almost disappointed or nervous that they were alone. She was never much one for opening up to him lately.
"Did she say where she was going?"
"Didn't actually see her. Just heard her up and about and then leave."
"Oh. . .wait a minute. Where were you? She didn't let you in?" Buffy asked
Spike didn't answer right away but Buffy's glare was obvious. "Oh, bloody hell. I was up in your room." He said quickly. "I snuck back in through your window last night. Wanted to make sure you were really okay, but you were sleeping." Buffy thought she caught a twinkle in his eye. "So I just laid by your bed and dozed off."
Buffy felt a familiar tug at her heart and the fluttery flaps of butterflies in her stomach. She felt free and lighthearted but at the same time insecure and unresponsive. How was it that Spike could be such an ass some days and then sweet as rain the next? He was so unpredictable and it scared her, never knowing what personality he'd have from day to day. But then she was the same way, wasn't she? Always either treating him like crap and running out or beating him up like the evil being he is, or was. She didn't know.
He loved her, she knew it but she didn't know what she felt. Tara told her it was okay, that it was okay to love him. And it was okay to use him. But was it? She had been dragging him along on a rollercoaster of emotions and hardships and he always stayed. Like her very own puppy dog.
Spike watched her debate his words in her head. He'd been totally honest with her and was anxious about her response. Would she just throw it back in his face or finally open up to her feelings for him? He had no idea what she was thinking. Buffy was just standing there, her head tilted to the side a little, her eyes cast away form him, somewhere off in space.
Buffy shook out of her trance and looked Spike in the eyes. She stepped foward and slipped her hand behind his neck, bringing him closer. She pressed her lips against his, catching him a little by surprise. He returned the kiss, his hands on her waist. Their tounges battled inside but not in the lustful, 'I have to have you now' way, more in a romantic, passionate way. Buffy pulled back and rested her hands on his chest.
"Thank you." she said almost in a whisper.
Xander strolled merrily into the Magic Box humming a little tune to himself. He'd been in a good mood ever since this morning when he remembered that he was the one who knocked Spike down and kicked him out. Xander never liked the guy and could never comprehend why Buffy always kept him around. It annoyed him to no end that Spike still had a crush on Buffy but last night pushed him over the edge. Seeing Spike in her room, all alone together sent a frosty, violent chill down his spine. He could just imagine what Spike might have been tryin to do, but Xander pushed these thoughts out of his mind because this time, he was the one who came out on top.
"And how are my two beautiful ladies doing this evening?" Xander called out.
"Hello sweetie," replied Anya, a bright smile forming on her face.
Willow and Anya were sitting at the 'research table' when he walked in. He strode over and bent down to kiss Anya before taking a seat next to her. That's when he noticed all the Bridal magazines covering the table top.
"So I'm guessing you guys aren't researching the next Big Bad?"
"Only if its a demon who craves cake and wedding dresses with their chaos," Willow said with a little chuckle.
Anya looked up from the magazine she was flipping through. Her face showed alarm and agitation. "Hey, that's not funny! We don't need a demon-party-crasher at the wedding. That's like a jinx you're putting on us there."
"It's okay hunny," remarked Xander. "No Big Bad is gonna ruin out wedding." He gave her an extra reassuring glance.
"Except for your parents." Anya added.
"Right, except for my parents."
Anya seemed satisfied with that answer and dived right back into her magazine. Willow gave him one of those 'Thank God its you and not me' looks before consulting Anya on a style of necklines.
"So, how was Buffy acting this morning when she got up?" Xander asked to Willow.
"She was still sleeping when I left. Why? Is something wrong?"
"Well Spike was there. Didn't you see him when you came in?"
"Um. . .no." Willow could see the fear wash over Xanders eyes. "But I was still in the car talking to Anya. We probably just didn't see him," she added quickly. That seemed to calm him down a bit. "Do you think there is something going on?"
"Yeah! I mean, when I walked in on them they were just acting real. . .guilty. And then when I was pummeling Spike, Buffy was all like 'Xander no! Spike was just helping me.' "
"You know, it does seem like they have been acting different when they're together. And Buffy has been patrolling alot lately." said Willow.
"Do you think Spike put a spell on Buffy? Maybe to get her to like him?" Anya asked. "And by the way, that sounds nothing like her."
"No," uttered Willow before Xander had the chance. "If there was one, you know. . . m-magical energies, I-I would have felt it. I would have sensed it."
Xander looked stunned to hear this. Willow was his best friend and always would be. They knew everything about each other. Willow's magic addiction was scary to face, not only because of how much power she had, but because it almost came right out of the blue. For Xander at least. It was just like, one day she was different. It pained him to see her so sad these days after Tara left. But she was doing better. Willow was much stronger than anyone realized.
"Well that's good!" commented Anya. "Although not for you really. Going through the magic withdrawl and still being able to sense it."
"Yeah," Willow said quietly. "But if there's not a spell, what does that mean?"
The question was followed by complete silence. There were a million and one posabilities. Could Buffy just be defending the chipped vampire? Or was it more than that? Spike had been around alot since Buffy's death and they had seemed to grow closer after her wakening.
It seemed like time would last forever in silence and it was getting to everyone. Willow finally broke it off and announced that she was off to her afternoon classes. It had been a slow day for Anya and she decided to start closing up the shop early. Xander was still seated, thinking to himself when a sudden memory of an annoying vampire caused him to jump. Just a couple weeks ago when Buffy was invisible and he went to visit Spike. . .
"Oh my God!"
TO BE CONTINUED. . .