A/N: Mad props to my lovely, wonderful beta Miss Kitty! Thank you to
EVERYONE who has reviewed thus far, especially those who have taken time to
write detailed reviews cause they really help me form further ideas. I'm
working on part 14 right now so there's a lot more to come! KEEP
REVIEWING!!!!
At seven o'clock, sharp just as Buffy had said, his doorbell rang. He finished tying his tie as he walked to the door to let her in. When he got there his breath caught in his throat. She was a vision. It had been hard for him to look at her this afternoon when she was only in the dress, but now with her hair done up in big springy curls and her makeup put on softly, she looked amazing. A wrap covered her shoulders as it was halfway into November, and she carried a small black clutch.
Buffy just stared at Spike, wondering how he could go from a cocky, rough looking rocker to the smooth, suave man standing in front of her. She had cooled off since their spat that afternoon, but she was getting hot again, looking at him. He was wearing dark gray pants with pinstripes through the fabric and an amazing blue shirt and tie combination that made his eyes pop out of his face. The blue was that dark electric blue during dusk that a person could only see in the fading seconds before night fell completely.
She snapped out of her trance and asked him: "Are you ready?"
"Yes, just a second." He walked into his room, smiling slightly at the response he had gotten from her. He put on his suit jacket and put his wallet, cigarettes and lighter in the front pocket.
"There is a car waiting for us down stairs." Those were the last words she said to him the entire way to the charity event. He knew that things had gone less than well at dinner this afternoon, but he didn't know what had set her off. He had to get to the bottom of this or else they would never stop fighting.
* * * * *
"Ah, Miss. Summers, so nice to see you. You brought a date this time, so nice!" A woman in a sequined dress greeted Buffy as soon as they arrived at the banquet hall. It was the type of place that business executive had fancy meetings in, in the center of the city.
"Hello, Mrs. Jacobson. It's nice to see you as well. This is Sp- er, William Giles. You may have heard of his musical group, "Band of Buggered"?" Buffy introduced Spike warmly, but Spike heard the sharp way she said his name.
"Mr. Giles," Mrs. Jacobson had a confused look on her face at the name of the band, but brushed it off. "Very nice to meet you, I believe you are very popular with my daughter. It's exciting to have you two here. Perhaps we will get some better publicity and more funding for the shelters."
"I hope so, Mrs. Jacobson. That's why I'm here. We'll see you later, ok?" She waved to her as she led Spike away. They walked to the coat check so she could leave her wrap there.
"So you aren't trying to be more of a celebrity by coming to these things, you use your celebrity *for* them." Spike commented.
"If anyone with half a name would lend their time and rep to a good cause there may be far fewer problems in the world now." Buffy told him, putting her coat check tag into her clutch.
"I suppose. But then it wouldn't be cool to help those less fortunate." Spike tried to tease her, but she didn't take the bait, just looked at him with a slightly sad look in her eyes. *What is it about this that makes her look like her dog died?*
"So what do you want to do first? The silent auction is already going on, in the next room, and it won't be till nine that the bachelor/bachelorette auction starts."
"Well, I'm always up for a spot of gambling, how about craps?" Spike led her over to the long table set up. "How does this work?"
"You have to pay in to get chips, then you play with those. If you win you get a small prize, like an engraved pen or gift certificates for massages, things like that." Buffy explained, standing back a little as he stepped up to the table.
"Sounds good." He gave the table manager his money and got chips in return. He waited a couple turns before he made his first bet. He looked for Buffy as the dice were rolled and saw her standing behind him slightly, biting her lip. She had that sad look on her face again and his heart went out to her. He leaned back and grabbed her arm, bringing her closer. He lost his bet, and he placed again, watching the man roll the dice.
"Seven, the man in the blue wins." The table manager called out. Spike smiled and doubled his bet.
"I think you might be my good luck charm!" He told Buffy. She relaxed a little and watched him play some more. When he took his turn rolling the dice he got her to blow on them, his fingers tingling a little as her cool breath washed over them. Spike played for almost an hour, and Buffy watched, getting more excited as he kept winning. Finally he decided it was time to try a different game.
"Where do you want to go, luv? I'll spot you some chips." He had cashed in some of what he had won for a gorgeous engraved ballpoint pen, with the name of the primary donator to the event on it.
"How about blackjack?" Buffy pointed to a table across the room. Spike groaned inwardly. He wasn't good at that game at all.
"I'll have to be your good luck charm then, cause I'm not good at it." Buffy led him over and perched on one of the high chairs.
"Does the lady want dealt in?" The dealer asked her. Spike gave her some chips and she placed her bet. He watched her as she shifted into an impenetrable card-game face. What he had done at the craps table she was doing here with blackjack.
"Remind me to never play poker with you. I think you may be able to wipe the floor with me." He rumbled into her ear. "Course, depending on what kind of poker we would play, I might make an exception."
Buffy shivered slightly, which didn't go unnoticed by him, and she tried to concentrate on the game. She won a couple more hands and cashed in her chips for a free dinner at a great restaurant in LA.
"This is really fun, luv. And I'm helping out. I like that." Spike said, lightly, hoping to keep things upbeat.
"I'm glad. I was worried that you would be bored."
"Nah. I've got to stay on my toes in case you try to clock me again, how can I be bored?" Spike rubbed his still sore nose and smiled at her.
Buffy winced. "Again, sorry about that. That was so *very* not cool. Hit you, and then come to a benefit on relationship abuse. What a great representative I am."
"Hey, I deserved it. I was an ass." Spike assured her, but it didn't help alleviate the guilt that she felt.
"No one deserves to be hit." Buffy told him softly, looking up at him with wide, pained eyes. Spike opened his mouth to try to get her to open up to him but Mrs. Jaconson interrupted him.
"Buffy, the bachelor/bacehlorette auction is starting in a few minutes, you have to come line up!" The woman told her.
"I'll be right there." She told her and she ran off to get things ready.
"Wait, you're *in* this auction thing? What am I supposed to do?" Spike asked her.
"Sit, watch the auction, bid on someone. Everyone comes equipped with a picnic dinner for two, which is the food portion of this benefit. I should have told you sooner, but I was having too much fun."
"So you're going to go up there and someone from the audience is going to bid money for. your goodie basket?" Spike swallowed hard, a wave of jealousy shooting through him.
"Pretty much. All those guys are going to be oogling my 'goodies.'" She laughed, teasing him. "I have to go, ok? It's not like I'm leaving you for the night anyway, just for dinner and then I'll be back. Oh, and can you hold my purse while I'm up there? Wes might call, so answer my phone."
Buffy ran off without giving him a chance to object. He watched the red-clad girl hurry off, noticing a few other guys eye her appreciatively as well.
*Look all you want you sodding poofs, but you won't be getting into her goodie basket*. Spike fumed, then looked down at the purse he was holding and groaned to himself. *Who's the poof now?*
* * * * *
Spike shifted uncomfortably in his chair, waiting for Buffy to come on stage to be auctioned off. It had already been a half hour and he was getting antsy. Men and women stepped on and off the stage, being sent off to eat with the highest bidder. *I really don't like this. Bloody hell, this is a benefit for women's abuse shelters, not a place to auction off innocent girls to potential freaks*.
"Sold to the dashing man in the Armani suit!" Mrs. Jacobson was running the auction and pounded her gavel on the podium. "Next up," she started at the previous auctioned off person left the stage on the arm of his winning bidder. "Is tasty dish of sweet and sexy. Buffy Summers is a 23 year old actress. She has starred in her own TV show, and is currently filming the soon- to- be blockbuster movie, 'Thief'!"
Buffy appeared on the stage holding a large picnic basket in her arms. The lights from the stage hit her in such a way that her hair looked like spun gold and the red dress made her golden tan shine. She stood with one hand on her hip, as if daring the crowd to pay enough for her.
"Lets open the bidding at seventy-five, who's to bid that?" Mrs. Jacobson called.
"Seventy-five." A man on the other side of the room called out, causing Spike to grit his teeth.
"One hundred." Came another voice from the back.
"One-fifty." Piped up a third voice.
"Two-fifty." The first man countered.
"Three." The man from the back shouted.
"Four." The second man threw in.
Buffy just stood on the stage with a smile on her face, watching the exchange.
"Five hundred." The first man put in. The second man put his hands up, defeated.
"Five-fifty." The guy in the back wouldn't give up.
"Six."
"Six-fifty."
"Seven."
"Seven-fifty."
"Eight." The man in the back paused for a second, but didn't put in another bid, leaving it to the first man across the room. Buffy gave him a wide smile, but he could see through it. She would be nice enough to him but she didn't really want to hang around with a stranger.
"All right, eight hundred, going-" Mrs. Jacobson started.
"Fifteen hundred." Spike called out, loudly. The room fell to a dead silence before bursting into a buzz. Mrs. Jacobson looked to the first man, but he simply shook his head and bowed ever so slightly in submission to Spike.
"Sold, to the very handsome man in the blue." Mrs. Jacobson announced still in shock, as this was the most an auction had ever got them. Buffy looked just as surprised, standing on stage staring at him. He stood and walked to the stairs of the stage where she would greet him.
"Ready for dinner, luv?" Spike took the picnic basket from her and kissed her hand. "I'm starved." He grinned wolfishly at her as he led her away from the stage and the other men who had bid on her.
* * * * *
"Is this good?" Buffy asked as she led Spike out to the lobby. She pointed to a corner, protected by some chairs and potted trees and he nodded. They pushed the coffee table out of the circle of chairs and spread the blanket that came with the picnic meal to sit on.
"Lets see what we have here." Spike smiled at her as he opened the basket after they settled themselves. Buffy hadn't said anything since he had led her away from the stage and he wondered if she was mad at him.
"Wow, they certainly do put on a spread, don't they? Caviar, lobster, champagne, Brie, a salad, some gourmet chocolate cake, strawberries, candles." Spike trailed off, seeing the look on her face. "Wha'?"
"Why did you do that?"
"Why'd I do what?"
"Pay that much money for me?"
"Felt like doing my part. Plus, I wanted to see what was in your goodie basket." Spike smirked at her, but she didn't smile back.
"If you want to save this, take the food home, you can. You can share it with someone else." Buffy offered, not meeting his eyes.
"Why would I do that? I paid for a dinner with you, luv. Plus we have to spend 'every minute' together, remember? Director's orders. And I have to say, I wouldn't mind getting to know you some more and what better way then by candle light and chocolate cake?" Spike started setting the food out between them and lit the candles with his cigarette lighter. They set off a soft glow in the semi-darkened corner they were in. "Don't you agree?"
"I suppose." She replied, in a non-committal way. They started to eat but Spike wouldn't let her off that easily. He knew that she was trying to avoid talking with him. There was something more there that he wanted to get to the bottom of.
Buffy ate her food slowly, hoping to savor every mouthful, as well as delay him from asking her questions. She had been feeling nervous ever since their spat this afternoon. This event and charity was important to her and she had wanted him to know just how important it was, but she wasn't sure he would understand now. He had thought she was using this opportunity to increase her celebrity, which couldn't have been farther from the truth. She was letting a complete stranger into her world and he didn't even know it. She knew he was going to try to find out as much about her as possible but she wasn't sure if she was ready. She knew that it would come out sooner or later and she should talk about it, work through it, but she didn't know if she was ready yet.
"So," Spike started, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Who is Buffy Summers?"
"Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius?" She offered.
"Ah, a January baby. but not what I was thinking. I was hoping to find some skeletons in your closet." He watched her carefully and noticed her blink at that comment.
"Nope, skeleton free here." Buffy smiled and reached for a strawberry. "These are good berries, aren't they?"
"The best. So how does a fist swinging, astrologically confused, hot tempered girl like yourself get into show business?" He watched Buffy eat her strawberry and sigh before she answered.
"Well, I was always into performing. You know, singing, dancing, and being in plays- stuff like that. I got a couple commercials when I was a kid, which went towards my college fund. Mom and Dad knew I wanted to have my name in lights, but they weren't pushy stage parents, or stupid. High school came and went and I had a couple bit parts on TV shows and a few more commercials but nothing big. I went off to university, not expecting anything to come of my attempts. I joined the drama club and somehow landed myself the lead role in a play that a student was producing. The guy who directed 'Demon Hunter' was there and offered me an audition. The rest is history."
"Short and sweet. How about-"
"What about you?" Buffy cut him off. She knew that they had to start getting along, and that entailed getting to know each other but she was worried about it. She was already attracted to him and that was after feeling intense dislike towards him. What if she got to know him and started to like him more? She hadn't had the best luck with men and soon he would know that since he was so intent on pushing to know her every corner and cranny of herself. She didn't know if she was ready to let someone in to that area of her life yet though. Of course, it had one been since today that they'd been able to have a civil conversation without fighting or beating each other up, so maybe she was worrying for nothing. Also there was her goal to be an independent woman from now on. On one hand her mind told her she didn't need a man to do anything in life, Angel had proved that. But her heart, and loins, were screaming *he's hot, he's talking to you - DON'T blow it! He was right; Angel was a bastard with nasty gelled hair. Forget him and move on!*
"Nah, ah, pet. I'm not done with you yet." Buffy leaned back against a chair and resigned herself to the fact that he wouldn't let her away that easy. He grinned at her. "Ok then. What's your middle name?"
"Anne."
"Any brothers or sisters?"
"A younger sister named Dawn."
"Favorite color?"
"Blue." Buffy bit the inside of her cheek on that one because she saw him open his eyes just a little wider, letting her see his gorgeous eyes better.
"First kiss's name?"
"Brett."
"How old were you?"
"Seven."
"Started young, didn't you?"
"Probably no younger than you."
"Nah, I was a nerd when I was younger." He plowed on before she could say anything. "Favorite movie?"
"Anything from the Molly Ringwald oeuvre."
"Ever been to Disney World?"
"Nope, Disney Land though."
"Why is this charity so important to you?"
Buffy froze at this question, then took a deep breath. "So now we're getting into it, eh?"
"I just want to know you more Buffy. I want to know why you hold this charity so dear to you, why you have looked so sad tonight, why I almost became your punching bag over a comment this afternoon."
"Ok. Um, well I just want to start out by saying that I have never used this charity to help me. I could never exploit helpless people that way."
"I know, luv, you explained that to me." He had a feeling he knew what she would tell him but it would mean more to him if she told him.
"I got involved with this charity four years ago. I wanted to help raise money for battered women and make sure that they had a place to go, to escape from the hell they were in." Buffy sighed, looking at Spike. He nodded at her, encouraging her. "During my freshman year of university I was overwhelmed. The campus was huge, I had large classes, the profs were tough and hard and I hated my roommate. My friends had all gone to different places except for one, Willow, my manager, but she had her own thing going on. So I was on my own.
"I met this guy. Parker Abrhams. He was a sophomore; funny, cute and he wanted to help me out. I had heard all about the guys at university, how they were faster and wanted fast women so I wasn't about to let him get into my pants that easily. He asked me out for coffee one day and I set him straight to make sure his intentions were honorable. He laughed at me. He said that he thought I was pretty and just wanted to get to know me. Plus he remembered what it was like to be a freshman and alone on the campus, felt like he should lend a hand to someone in need. So I relaxed and we went out. We dated for a couple of months and I got more and more wrapped up in him. Finally, the big night came.
"It was- well," Buffy started to blush not knowing how much to explain or how. Spike reached over the food to pat her hand.
"You don't have to do this, luv."
"No, I feel I sort of owe you an explanation as to my behavior today. It's not fair to you to drag you here and expect you to be a mind reader." She started again. "It wasn't my first time so I knew what to expect but it wasn't the best thing I had ever had. I figured there was room for improvement as we had just gotten together. After that night things changed. For the worse. He was still nice to me, sweet even. But he had these moments of horrible possessiveness and rage. He would scream at me for small things, like not having called him at the right time. This went on for about a week before I said something back. Then he gave me something to talk about."
"He hit you?" Spike ground out.
"Right across the cheek. Had a nice bruise there. But it shut me up. Things were fine for another week. We had sex again, and it was no better for me, but he seemed to enjoy it a lot. I tried to talk to him about it, perhaps slowing down with the sex. He shook me that time, getting smart to not leaving visible bruises. He shook me so hard that I had whiplash and he slammed me into the desk and cracked my tailbone."
"What were you telling people when they asked what was wrong?" Spike asked, incredulous. No matter how many times he heard these stories they never failed to amaze him how submissive the women were. Buffy's story really shocked him because she had to be the least submissive person he knew.
"You know what? I don't even remember. They were stupid, transparent things that any moron could see through, even me. But I didn't. Parker had my eyes veiled with his 'love'. People don't even realize that it's not the love that keeps them there. It's like being brainwashed. He was all I had, all I knew, and everything I couldn't live without. He could have told me to do anything and I would have done it. It's not the physical abuse that hurts- it's the mental and emotional, never knowing what he'll do next." Buffy smiled sadly. "That happens to a lot of girls."
"How much longer did it go on for?" Spike wanted to hear the whole thing, wanted to know how tortured he needed to bastard when he killed him. He felt hatred for any abuser, but the fact that it was Buffy made his anger ten times worse and he didn't even know why.
"Another month but he only hit me one more time. Third time's the charm, you know? He shoved me against the back of his door, head first and cracked the mirror, which cut my forehead. Then he tried to have sex with me, while I was bleeding. I kicked him between his legs as hard as I could and ran. Maybe it was seeing my own blood, or seeing me looking back at myself in the mirror or that almost tried to rape me, but something snapped in me. I ran back to residence and locked myself in my room for three days. I even kicked my roommate out. Willow had to get an RA to unlock the door. The bruises had faded some by then, and the gash on my head had started to heal, but I was a mess. I hadn't eaten, slept, bathed. My grades were slipping, I was on the edge of a breakdown." Buffy trailed off with tears in her eyes. Spike didn't say anything, only waited for her to go on.
"He tried to get me back. He called, left letters, emailed me, even tried to talk to Willow about me. I didn't want to go to the police because it was my word against his and I didn't have proof. The chicken's way out, I guess, but it's hard. No one knows how hard it is. I was moved out of my room, into a single near Willow. I started going to counseling provided by the university and I had the residence ban Parker from it."
"That's why you freaked out when I grabbed your arm by the pool?" Spike asked, softly. "And why you were Xena-esque when we ran into each other in the hallways?"
"One of the reasons. I also thought you were a psychotic asshole." Buffy smiled.
"Well, as long as I was only insane." He smiled back at her, both relieved and disheartened by her story. "I'm sorry you had to bring me here."
"Why?"
"I was such a bastard about it. I know it's hard for you to tell me this. But I appreciate it. It certainly changes the opinion I had of you that you were an air-head bitch." He told her teasingly. " I admire you for wanting to stand up for what happened to you, for using it to help others."
"If I can get even one girl out of a bad relationship, I'll feel wonderful." Buffy said truthfully.
"But you already have." He replied, taking her hand. Buffy cocked her head at him. "You got yourself out."
* * * * *
"Things aren't going to be weird now, are they?" Spike asked her as they rode the elevator to the floor together.
"Why would they?" Buffy asked him.
"I don't know. Things got heavy, I feel kind of responsible, you told me stuff. I just don't want there to be any bad feelings or regret or anything."
"This sounds like a really bad morning after speech." Buffy joked as they stepped off the lift together.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do. Things aren't going to be weird. At least not on my part. I was glad you came. It smashed a few misconceptions you had, and it helped me through a little victim's guilt I still carry around. Talking about it helps. You listened, and that's more than you'll ever know. Plus we had a nice conversation without wanting to torture each other. We may even be on our way to being *gasp* friends." She laughed at him as they reached her door.
"So tomorrow is my big day, eh?" Spike leaned against the wall, watching her as she took her card-key out of her clutch.
"Yup. Hope you have something good planned."
"Tomorrow night I my band is playing at a club in town, so we have to go meet up with the guys in the afternoon to get ready. Other than that I don't know. Any suggestions?"
"Anything that doesn't involve me revealing some deep, dark secrets."
"Uh, oh. I guess this means I'm up to bat, eh, luv?"
"Yes it does. I'm going to find out who William Giles really is." She laughed as he scrunched his nose up at that name. "But not until tomorrow."
"I guess this is goodnight?"
"I think so. God only knows what you'll come up with us for tomorrow so I need my beauty sleep. Tonight was fun though. I liked talking with you."
"And I with you, luv. This is a good start. Tomorrow will be better." He took her hand and kissed the back, sending shivers up Buffy's body. "Until then."
"Goodnight." Buffy opened her door and ducked in her room, watching him in the hallway, staring back at her as she closed the door.
At seven o'clock, sharp just as Buffy had said, his doorbell rang. He finished tying his tie as he walked to the door to let her in. When he got there his breath caught in his throat. She was a vision. It had been hard for him to look at her this afternoon when she was only in the dress, but now with her hair done up in big springy curls and her makeup put on softly, she looked amazing. A wrap covered her shoulders as it was halfway into November, and she carried a small black clutch.
Buffy just stared at Spike, wondering how he could go from a cocky, rough looking rocker to the smooth, suave man standing in front of her. She had cooled off since their spat that afternoon, but she was getting hot again, looking at him. He was wearing dark gray pants with pinstripes through the fabric and an amazing blue shirt and tie combination that made his eyes pop out of his face. The blue was that dark electric blue during dusk that a person could only see in the fading seconds before night fell completely.
She snapped out of her trance and asked him: "Are you ready?"
"Yes, just a second." He walked into his room, smiling slightly at the response he had gotten from her. He put on his suit jacket and put his wallet, cigarettes and lighter in the front pocket.
"There is a car waiting for us down stairs." Those were the last words she said to him the entire way to the charity event. He knew that things had gone less than well at dinner this afternoon, but he didn't know what had set her off. He had to get to the bottom of this or else they would never stop fighting.
* * * * *
"Ah, Miss. Summers, so nice to see you. You brought a date this time, so nice!" A woman in a sequined dress greeted Buffy as soon as they arrived at the banquet hall. It was the type of place that business executive had fancy meetings in, in the center of the city.
"Hello, Mrs. Jacobson. It's nice to see you as well. This is Sp- er, William Giles. You may have heard of his musical group, "Band of Buggered"?" Buffy introduced Spike warmly, but Spike heard the sharp way she said his name.
"Mr. Giles," Mrs. Jacobson had a confused look on her face at the name of the band, but brushed it off. "Very nice to meet you, I believe you are very popular with my daughter. It's exciting to have you two here. Perhaps we will get some better publicity and more funding for the shelters."
"I hope so, Mrs. Jacobson. That's why I'm here. We'll see you later, ok?" She waved to her as she led Spike away. They walked to the coat check so she could leave her wrap there.
"So you aren't trying to be more of a celebrity by coming to these things, you use your celebrity *for* them." Spike commented.
"If anyone with half a name would lend their time and rep to a good cause there may be far fewer problems in the world now." Buffy told him, putting her coat check tag into her clutch.
"I suppose. But then it wouldn't be cool to help those less fortunate." Spike tried to tease her, but she didn't take the bait, just looked at him with a slightly sad look in her eyes. *What is it about this that makes her look like her dog died?*
"So what do you want to do first? The silent auction is already going on, in the next room, and it won't be till nine that the bachelor/bachelorette auction starts."
"Well, I'm always up for a spot of gambling, how about craps?" Spike led her over to the long table set up. "How does this work?"
"You have to pay in to get chips, then you play with those. If you win you get a small prize, like an engraved pen or gift certificates for massages, things like that." Buffy explained, standing back a little as he stepped up to the table.
"Sounds good." He gave the table manager his money and got chips in return. He waited a couple turns before he made his first bet. He looked for Buffy as the dice were rolled and saw her standing behind him slightly, biting her lip. She had that sad look on her face again and his heart went out to her. He leaned back and grabbed her arm, bringing her closer. He lost his bet, and he placed again, watching the man roll the dice.
"Seven, the man in the blue wins." The table manager called out. Spike smiled and doubled his bet.
"I think you might be my good luck charm!" He told Buffy. She relaxed a little and watched him play some more. When he took his turn rolling the dice he got her to blow on them, his fingers tingling a little as her cool breath washed over them. Spike played for almost an hour, and Buffy watched, getting more excited as he kept winning. Finally he decided it was time to try a different game.
"Where do you want to go, luv? I'll spot you some chips." He had cashed in some of what he had won for a gorgeous engraved ballpoint pen, with the name of the primary donator to the event on it.
"How about blackjack?" Buffy pointed to a table across the room. Spike groaned inwardly. He wasn't good at that game at all.
"I'll have to be your good luck charm then, cause I'm not good at it." Buffy led him over and perched on one of the high chairs.
"Does the lady want dealt in?" The dealer asked her. Spike gave her some chips and she placed her bet. He watched her as she shifted into an impenetrable card-game face. What he had done at the craps table she was doing here with blackjack.
"Remind me to never play poker with you. I think you may be able to wipe the floor with me." He rumbled into her ear. "Course, depending on what kind of poker we would play, I might make an exception."
Buffy shivered slightly, which didn't go unnoticed by him, and she tried to concentrate on the game. She won a couple more hands and cashed in her chips for a free dinner at a great restaurant in LA.
"This is really fun, luv. And I'm helping out. I like that." Spike said, lightly, hoping to keep things upbeat.
"I'm glad. I was worried that you would be bored."
"Nah. I've got to stay on my toes in case you try to clock me again, how can I be bored?" Spike rubbed his still sore nose and smiled at her.
Buffy winced. "Again, sorry about that. That was so *very* not cool. Hit you, and then come to a benefit on relationship abuse. What a great representative I am."
"Hey, I deserved it. I was an ass." Spike assured her, but it didn't help alleviate the guilt that she felt.
"No one deserves to be hit." Buffy told him softly, looking up at him with wide, pained eyes. Spike opened his mouth to try to get her to open up to him but Mrs. Jaconson interrupted him.
"Buffy, the bachelor/bacehlorette auction is starting in a few minutes, you have to come line up!" The woman told her.
"I'll be right there." She told her and she ran off to get things ready.
"Wait, you're *in* this auction thing? What am I supposed to do?" Spike asked her.
"Sit, watch the auction, bid on someone. Everyone comes equipped with a picnic dinner for two, which is the food portion of this benefit. I should have told you sooner, but I was having too much fun."
"So you're going to go up there and someone from the audience is going to bid money for. your goodie basket?" Spike swallowed hard, a wave of jealousy shooting through him.
"Pretty much. All those guys are going to be oogling my 'goodies.'" She laughed, teasing him. "I have to go, ok? It's not like I'm leaving you for the night anyway, just for dinner and then I'll be back. Oh, and can you hold my purse while I'm up there? Wes might call, so answer my phone."
Buffy ran off without giving him a chance to object. He watched the red-clad girl hurry off, noticing a few other guys eye her appreciatively as well.
*Look all you want you sodding poofs, but you won't be getting into her goodie basket*. Spike fumed, then looked down at the purse he was holding and groaned to himself. *Who's the poof now?*
* * * * *
Spike shifted uncomfortably in his chair, waiting for Buffy to come on stage to be auctioned off. It had already been a half hour and he was getting antsy. Men and women stepped on and off the stage, being sent off to eat with the highest bidder. *I really don't like this. Bloody hell, this is a benefit for women's abuse shelters, not a place to auction off innocent girls to potential freaks*.
"Sold to the dashing man in the Armani suit!" Mrs. Jacobson was running the auction and pounded her gavel on the podium. "Next up," she started at the previous auctioned off person left the stage on the arm of his winning bidder. "Is tasty dish of sweet and sexy. Buffy Summers is a 23 year old actress. She has starred in her own TV show, and is currently filming the soon- to- be blockbuster movie, 'Thief'!"
Buffy appeared on the stage holding a large picnic basket in her arms. The lights from the stage hit her in such a way that her hair looked like spun gold and the red dress made her golden tan shine. She stood with one hand on her hip, as if daring the crowd to pay enough for her.
"Lets open the bidding at seventy-five, who's to bid that?" Mrs. Jacobson called.
"Seventy-five." A man on the other side of the room called out, causing Spike to grit his teeth.
"One hundred." Came another voice from the back.
"One-fifty." Piped up a third voice.
"Two-fifty." The first man countered.
"Three." The man from the back shouted.
"Four." The second man threw in.
Buffy just stood on the stage with a smile on her face, watching the exchange.
"Five hundred." The first man put in. The second man put his hands up, defeated.
"Five-fifty." The guy in the back wouldn't give up.
"Six."
"Six-fifty."
"Seven."
"Seven-fifty."
"Eight." The man in the back paused for a second, but didn't put in another bid, leaving it to the first man across the room. Buffy gave him a wide smile, but he could see through it. She would be nice enough to him but she didn't really want to hang around with a stranger.
"All right, eight hundred, going-" Mrs. Jacobson started.
"Fifteen hundred." Spike called out, loudly. The room fell to a dead silence before bursting into a buzz. Mrs. Jacobson looked to the first man, but he simply shook his head and bowed ever so slightly in submission to Spike.
"Sold, to the very handsome man in the blue." Mrs. Jacobson announced still in shock, as this was the most an auction had ever got them. Buffy looked just as surprised, standing on stage staring at him. He stood and walked to the stairs of the stage where she would greet him.
"Ready for dinner, luv?" Spike took the picnic basket from her and kissed her hand. "I'm starved." He grinned wolfishly at her as he led her away from the stage and the other men who had bid on her.
* * * * *
"Is this good?" Buffy asked as she led Spike out to the lobby. She pointed to a corner, protected by some chairs and potted trees and he nodded. They pushed the coffee table out of the circle of chairs and spread the blanket that came with the picnic meal to sit on.
"Lets see what we have here." Spike smiled at her as he opened the basket after they settled themselves. Buffy hadn't said anything since he had led her away from the stage and he wondered if she was mad at him.
"Wow, they certainly do put on a spread, don't they? Caviar, lobster, champagne, Brie, a salad, some gourmet chocolate cake, strawberries, candles." Spike trailed off, seeing the look on her face. "Wha'?"
"Why did you do that?"
"Why'd I do what?"
"Pay that much money for me?"
"Felt like doing my part. Plus, I wanted to see what was in your goodie basket." Spike smirked at her, but she didn't smile back.
"If you want to save this, take the food home, you can. You can share it with someone else." Buffy offered, not meeting his eyes.
"Why would I do that? I paid for a dinner with you, luv. Plus we have to spend 'every minute' together, remember? Director's orders. And I have to say, I wouldn't mind getting to know you some more and what better way then by candle light and chocolate cake?" Spike started setting the food out between them and lit the candles with his cigarette lighter. They set off a soft glow in the semi-darkened corner they were in. "Don't you agree?"
"I suppose." She replied, in a non-committal way. They started to eat but Spike wouldn't let her off that easily. He knew that she was trying to avoid talking with him. There was something more there that he wanted to get to the bottom of.
Buffy ate her food slowly, hoping to savor every mouthful, as well as delay him from asking her questions. She had been feeling nervous ever since their spat this afternoon. This event and charity was important to her and she had wanted him to know just how important it was, but she wasn't sure he would understand now. He had thought she was using this opportunity to increase her celebrity, which couldn't have been farther from the truth. She was letting a complete stranger into her world and he didn't even know it. She knew he was going to try to find out as much about her as possible but she wasn't sure if she was ready. She knew that it would come out sooner or later and she should talk about it, work through it, but she didn't know if she was ready yet.
"So," Spike started, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "Who is Buffy Summers?"
"Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius?" She offered.
"Ah, a January baby. but not what I was thinking. I was hoping to find some skeletons in your closet." He watched her carefully and noticed her blink at that comment.
"Nope, skeleton free here." Buffy smiled and reached for a strawberry. "These are good berries, aren't they?"
"The best. So how does a fist swinging, astrologically confused, hot tempered girl like yourself get into show business?" He watched Buffy eat her strawberry and sigh before she answered.
"Well, I was always into performing. You know, singing, dancing, and being in plays- stuff like that. I got a couple commercials when I was a kid, which went towards my college fund. Mom and Dad knew I wanted to have my name in lights, but they weren't pushy stage parents, or stupid. High school came and went and I had a couple bit parts on TV shows and a few more commercials but nothing big. I went off to university, not expecting anything to come of my attempts. I joined the drama club and somehow landed myself the lead role in a play that a student was producing. The guy who directed 'Demon Hunter' was there and offered me an audition. The rest is history."
"Short and sweet. How about-"
"What about you?" Buffy cut him off. She knew that they had to start getting along, and that entailed getting to know each other but she was worried about it. She was already attracted to him and that was after feeling intense dislike towards him. What if she got to know him and started to like him more? She hadn't had the best luck with men and soon he would know that since he was so intent on pushing to know her every corner and cranny of herself. She didn't know if she was ready to let someone in to that area of her life yet though. Of course, it had one been since today that they'd been able to have a civil conversation without fighting or beating each other up, so maybe she was worrying for nothing. Also there was her goal to be an independent woman from now on. On one hand her mind told her she didn't need a man to do anything in life, Angel had proved that. But her heart, and loins, were screaming *he's hot, he's talking to you - DON'T blow it! He was right; Angel was a bastard with nasty gelled hair. Forget him and move on!*
"Nah, ah, pet. I'm not done with you yet." Buffy leaned back against a chair and resigned herself to the fact that he wouldn't let her away that easy. He grinned at her. "Ok then. What's your middle name?"
"Anne."
"Any brothers or sisters?"
"A younger sister named Dawn."
"Favorite color?"
"Blue." Buffy bit the inside of her cheek on that one because she saw him open his eyes just a little wider, letting her see his gorgeous eyes better.
"First kiss's name?"
"Brett."
"How old were you?"
"Seven."
"Started young, didn't you?"
"Probably no younger than you."
"Nah, I was a nerd when I was younger." He plowed on before she could say anything. "Favorite movie?"
"Anything from the Molly Ringwald oeuvre."
"Ever been to Disney World?"
"Nope, Disney Land though."
"Why is this charity so important to you?"
Buffy froze at this question, then took a deep breath. "So now we're getting into it, eh?"
"I just want to know you more Buffy. I want to know why you hold this charity so dear to you, why you have looked so sad tonight, why I almost became your punching bag over a comment this afternoon."
"Ok. Um, well I just want to start out by saying that I have never used this charity to help me. I could never exploit helpless people that way."
"I know, luv, you explained that to me." He had a feeling he knew what she would tell him but it would mean more to him if she told him.
"I got involved with this charity four years ago. I wanted to help raise money for battered women and make sure that they had a place to go, to escape from the hell they were in." Buffy sighed, looking at Spike. He nodded at her, encouraging her. "During my freshman year of university I was overwhelmed. The campus was huge, I had large classes, the profs were tough and hard and I hated my roommate. My friends had all gone to different places except for one, Willow, my manager, but she had her own thing going on. So I was on my own.
"I met this guy. Parker Abrhams. He was a sophomore; funny, cute and he wanted to help me out. I had heard all about the guys at university, how they were faster and wanted fast women so I wasn't about to let him get into my pants that easily. He asked me out for coffee one day and I set him straight to make sure his intentions were honorable. He laughed at me. He said that he thought I was pretty and just wanted to get to know me. Plus he remembered what it was like to be a freshman and alone on the campus, felt like he should lend a hand to someone in need. So I relaxed and we went out. We dated for a couple of months and I got more and more wrapped up in him. Finally, the big night came.
"It was- well," Buffy started to blush not knowing how much to explain or how. Spike reached over the food to pat her hand.
"You don't have to do this, luv."
"No, I feel I sort of owe you an explanation as to my behavior today. It's not fair to you to drag you here and expect you to be a mind reader." She started again. "It wasn't my first time so I knew what to expect but it wasn't the best thing I had ever had. I figured there was room for improvement as we had just gotten together. After that night things changed. For the worse. He was still nice to me, sweet even. But he had these moments of horrible possessiveness and rage. He would scream at me for small things, like not having called him at the right time. This went on for about a week before I said something back. Then he gave me something to talk about."
"He hit you?" Spike ground out.
"Right across the cheek. Had a nice bruise there. But it shut me up. Things were fine for another week. We had sex again, and it was no better for me, but he seemed to enjoy it a lot. I tried to talk to him about it, perhaps slowing down with the sex. He shook me that time, getting smart to not leaving visible bruises. He shook me so hard that I had whiplash and he slammed me into the desk and cracked my tailbone."
"What were you telling people when they asked what was wrong?" Spike asked, incredulous. No matter how many times he heard these stories they never failed to amaze him how submissive the women were. Buffy's story really shocked him because she had to be the least submissive person he knew.
"You know what? I don't even remember. They were stupid, transparent things that any moron could see through, even me. But I didn't. Parker had my eyes veiled with his 'love'. People don't even realize that it's not the love that keeps them there. It's like being brainwashed. He was all I had, all I knew, and everything I couldn't live without. He could have told me to do anything and I would have done it. It's not the physical abuse that hurts- it's the mental and emotional, never knowing what he'll do next." Buffy smiled sadly. "That happens to a lot of girls."
"How much longer did it go on for?" Spike wanted to hear the whole thing, wanted to know how tortured he needed to bastard when he killed him. He felt hatred for any abuser, but the fact that it was Buffy made his anger ten times worse and he didn't even know why.
"Another month but he only hit me one more time. Third time's the charm, you know? He shoved me against the back of his door, head first and cracked the mirror, which cut my forehead. Then he tried to have sex with me, while I was bleeding. I kicked him between his legs as hard as I could and ran. Maybe it was seeing my own blood, or seeing me looking back at myself in the mirror or that almost tried to rape me, but something snapped in me. I ran back to residence and locked myself in my room for three days. I even kicked my roommate out. Willow had to get an RA to unlock the door. The bruises had faded some by then, and the gash on my head had started to heal, but I was a mess. I hadn't eaten, slept, bathed. My grades were slipping, I was on the edge of a breakdown." Buffy trailed off with tears in her eyes. Spike didn't say anything, only waited for her to go on.
"He tried to get me back. He called, left letters, emailed me, even tried to talk to Willow about me. I didn't want to go to the police because it was my word against his and I didn't have proof. The chicken's way out, I guess, but it's hard. No one knows how hard it is. I was moved out of my room, into a single near Willow. I started going to counseling provided by the university and I had the residence ban Parker from it."
"That's why you freaked out when I grabbed your arm by the pool?" Spike asked, softly. "And why you were Xena-esque when we ran into each other in the hallways?"
"One of the reasons. I also thought you were a psychotic asshole." Buffy smiled.
"Well, as long as I was only insane." He smiled back at her, both relieved and disheartened by her story. "I'm sorry you had to bring me here."
"Why?"
"I was such a bastard about it. I know it's hard for you to tell me this. But I appreciate it. It certainly changes the opinion I had of you that you were an air-head bitch." He told her teasingly. " I admire you for wanting to stand up for what happened to you, for using it to help others."
"If I can get even one girl out of a bad relationship, I'll feel wonderful." Buffy said truthfully.
"But you already have." He replied, taking her hand. Buffy cocked her head at him. "You got yourself out."
* * * * *
"Things aren't going to be weird now, are they?" Spike asked her as they rode the elevator to the floor together.
"Why would they?" Buffy asked him.
"I don't know. Things got heavy, I feel kind of responsible, you told me stuff. I just don't want there to be any bad feelings or regret or anything."
"This sounds like a really bad morning after speech." Buffy joked as they stepped off the lift together.
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do. Things aren't going to be weird. At least not on my part. I was glad you came. It smashed a few misconceptions you had, and it helped me through a little victim's guilt I still carry around. Talking about it helps. You listened, and that's more than you'll ever know. Plus we had a nice conversation without wanting to torture each other. We may even be on our way to being *gasp* friends." She laughed at him as they reached her door.
"So tomorrow is my big day, eh?" Spike leaned against the wall, watching her as she took her card-key out of her clutch.
"Yup. Hope you have something good planned."
"Tomorrow night I my band is playing at a club in town, so we have to go meet up with the guys in the afternoon to get ready. Other than that I don't know. Any suggestions?"
"Anything that doesn't involve me revealing some deep, dark secrets."
"Uh, oh. I guess this means I'm up to bat, eh, luv?"
"Yes it does. I'm going to find out who William Giles really is." She laughed as he scrunched his nose up at that name. "But not until tomorrow."
"I guess this is goodnight?"
"I think so. God only knows what you'll come up with us for tomorrow so I need my beauty sleep. Tonight was fun though. I liked talking with you."
"And I with you, luv. This is a good start. Tomorrow will be better." He took her hand and kissed the back, sending shivers up Buffy's body. "Until then."
"Goodnight." Buffy opened her door and ducked in her room, watching him in the hallway, staring back at her as she closed the door.