Part 16: Give as Good as You Get

And then there was AOI. Here it is, part 16. I'm still slaving away at 18. Look for more MLIT next, or so I hope. Magz is a goddess for being a terrific beta and wonderful slasher!

Enjoy and REVIEW!

"Buffy, can you throw your leg over Spike's hip there? Yeah, that's good. Go from there and let's see what happens," Wes directed Buffy and Spike the next morning on set. Buffy smirked at Spike and did as she was told, relishing in doing so. Filming the love scene so far hadn't been that bad. The crew was being very professional and Spike was making her feel very at ease, joking and laughing to her.

"Alright, guys, start kissing and we'll go from there," Wes told them. Buffy laid her hand against Spike's chest and giggled quietly as his finger tickled up her side just a little. They leaned in together and started with a chaste kiss. Wes yelled action and Buffy was lost in directions and cues from both the director and her own mind. She wanted this to be realistic but she wanted to try to keep herself separate from the action too.

"Spike, roll her a little so she's under you and then pull back and gaze into her eyes," Spike did this and Buffy felt her breath leave her body as his eyes stared into hers. "Say your line,"

"Laney, are you sure?" Spike/Jake asked huskily. Buffy/Laney cradled his head in her hands and leaned up to kiss him softly.

"My whole life has been waiting for that right moment, the perfect opportunity, the proper time- screw it. I'm not waiting for anything ever again. I'm making the perfect moment. You make me feel like I can do anything... like it doesn't matter what happens tomorrow as long as we have this second to live right now. Love me, Jake," Buffy/Laney told Spike/Jake as she gazed into his eyes, smoothing his soft hair away from his face.

"Cut! That was perfect, guys. Stay right there, we're moving on. Just a second." Wes told them as he stepped away from the monitor for a moment. Buffy and Spike relaxed but didn't break their position. Spike sprawled out over Buffy with her leg wrapped around his hip.

"Quite the compromising position you're in here, Miss Summers," Spike indicated to their situation and her tiny top. They had wanted her to wear pasties but Buffy had balked and complained to Wes. This was, after all, a PG-13 movie and the odds of the majority of her chest being seen were slim to none as there was no nudity. So they had let her wear a tiny flesh colored half tube-top and flesh colored boy-cut panties.

"No worse than you, Mr. Giles," she laughed at him, letting her hand drift down between them to snap the top band of the VERY skimpy briefs he wore. He blushed slightly and pulled her hand from between them.

"That's a very naughty place, Summers. Don't want to be fooling around in there." He growled at her. She just laughed again as her eyes sparkled at him.

"I'm sure if you wanted it to be it could be a very NICE place." she taunted him. Before he could come back with something Tara came in to do a touch up on their make-up. But Buffy knew she hadn't gotten off that easily. She could feel exactly how nice things could get in his briefs as she felt him harden against her leg. She shot him a smug glance as Tara approached.

"H-hey guys. Doing okay? Lights too hot?" She asked as she patted some powder on Buffy's t-zone.

"We're doing ok. Day's still young though, pet." Spike commented. Tara nodded in response.

"Hey, Tara," Buffy started as the young woman moved to Spike. "You're not seeing anyone, right?"

"Well, er- actually I'm g-" Tara started hesitantly. Buffy waved her hand and cut her off.

"Oh, I knew that. That's why I'm asking. See, I have a friend who's been single for a while and she's the best. I mean, seriously, she's my best friend. I was just wondering maybe if you weren't seeing anyone that I could give her your number or you could come out with us some night and meet her, if you want that is," Buffy added hastily. Tara worked at touching up Spike's make-up with a thoughtful look on her face before she turned to Buffy.

"Is it your manager? The redhead?" She asked, curiously as she studied Buffy's face intently, making sure she was even.

"Yeah! Do you already know each other?" Buffy asked as Tara snapped her make-up bag shut.

"No. But I've seen her around a couple times, very quickly and I knew who she was. I wasn't sure if she was gay too, but I wondered. I- I thought of maybe, sometime asking you about her." Tara told them in a rush. Buffy's face lit up when she heard this.

"That's great! I can set something up! If you want me to, that is." Buffy offered. Tara gave her a small, excited smile and nodded.

"That would be nice. Thanks Buffy," Tara started to walk away, grinning when she turned and crouched down to the blondes to whisper to them. "Um, I have a question for you two now. People have been wondering, and with things that I've noticed today- well… are you two together?"

Buffy and Spike looked at each other before Buffy smiled at Tara. "We're really good friends." She told her, which was hard to do with a straight face while feeling Spike's very noticeable erection digging into her thigh. He shifted slightly, to try to adjust himself and drew Tara's attention.

"Spike? Are you ok?" She asked, referring to his uncomfortable frown.

"Um, yeah. Muscle cramp." he told her. Buffy almost burst out laughing at him trying to be discreet.

Tara, however, gave a knowing smile and winked at Buffy. "Right. Well, I'll get going now. Good luck with that uh… cramp, Spike."

"I thought you said love scenes were easy?" He grumbled. She shook her head slightly and laughed at him.

"No, I said that to fake passion can be off-putting and that sometimes one can separate themselves from it because it's so direction oriented. You were the one who said that you thought you might get caught up in the moment. Guess you were right." She couldn't help but tease him.

"You're horrible, you know that? Here I am, uncomfortable and in an awkward state- in my first love scene no less! And you make fun of me! You're going to get it later." he threatened.

"Oooh. Sounds kinky. What am I going to get?" She taunted him more. He gave a quiet growl and leaned down to kiss her, forgetting where they were and that they were just 'really good friends' to anyone who asked. Luckily, Wes came back right then and stared barking out directions at them. Spike winked at Buffy instead who shivered internally at promises of later.

"That's a wrap folks!" Wesley called out to the sparse cast and crew by five that afternoon. Both Buffy and Spike breathed a sigh of relief to have that day over, to finally be able to go home and be alone and to drop the 'just friends' façade- even though half the crew was giving the duo knowing looks by the end of filming.

They crawled out of the bed and took the white, fluffy robes that were offered to them by a stagehand quickly, covering up their barely clothed bodies and tied the belts tight. They avoided each other's eyes, feeling almost as awkward as they would in a morning after scenario.

After Spike's arousal from their situation, it had been harder for either actor to focus on the fact that they were in bed together for work and nothing more. By the end of the day both blondes were very riled up but a bit wary of the new intimacy this had brought them. A day in bed making out with a potential significant other, for whatever purpose, would change the dynamics of the relationship.

"Buffy, Spike! Great work today, you guys pulled through like troupers. I was worried that you two might hold back on some of the stuff but you did great! Be ready for tomorrow, prepared and refreshed, alright?" Wes told them in passing, on his way to go do some on the spot editing and viewing of the dailies. The blondes just nodded and gave another sigh of relief in unison.

"Am I hallucinating or is this kind of weird now?" Spike asked as they walked off set. Buffy fiddled with the belt of her robe for a moment before answering.

"I think it always was weird, this just adds a new dimension to the weirdness."

"So we're ok?" He asked, still not sure how or it today had affected them. They weren't technically together and given their 'good friends' outwardly appearance Spike was worried that Buffy could decide to back out on the whole thing. She now realized how much she affected him so if she suddenly decided that this was too much for her, that she couldn't handle what he felt for her than it would leave him disappointed and desperately unsatisfied.

"I think so," Buffy replied after another long moment of silence. They had almost reached the door to that them to the lot where their trailers were. "Unless you think it's we're not."

"No, not at all, luv. I was just worried that today might have changed some feelings or I scared you off or something."

"Of course not. Today was a little awkward, I must admit, but I know that all of that heat wasn't purely for the cameras." Buffy told him with a mischievous smile.

"Oh, you know that, do you? Well, we had better confirm that then, hmm?" They stopped at the door as Spike leaned down to kiss her, his hands cupping her face. Buffy pressed against him as her hands rested on his hips. It was a soft, easy kiss of promises instead of rushed commitments.

Buffy broke away laughing as his hands trailed down to tickled her neck. She pushed the door open, still laughing as he stepped outside with her and tried to move closer bite at her neck playfully.

As the door closed behind them, Spike drew her in for another kiss, uncaring of who saw them outside, away from the prying lens of the camera. Buffy responded eagerly this time, wrapping her arms around his neck so she could run her fingers through his hair. They were so caught up in the moment, their first real one all day, that they didn't hear anyone approach them.

"Well isn't this special. Big, bad Spike trying his moves out on good-girl Buffy. I must say though, Buffy, doesn't look like you're so good anymore- throwing yourself at Spike after the day of hard 'work' you two put in today." Angel laughed from behind them. Buffy and Spike broke apart, almost guiltily, before they turned and saw Angel and Drusilla watching them, Angel laughing and Dru less than pleased.

"What are you talking about? It was a closed set today." Buffy told them, confused.

"Was it? You two looked pretty cozy to me." Angel laughed back. Buffy grew red and dropped her gaze, pulling away slightly from Spike.

"Let's go, luv." He noticed her start to close off so Spike wanted to get her away from Angel before he caused her to withdraw any further.

"Why? The fun is just beginning," Dru spoke up finally, turning her nose up slightly at Buffy. "My Spike, always gallant, no matter who he's around."

"Uh, Dru? He's not your Spike anymore, remember? Why would you want to be with such a freak anyway?" Angel asked the brunette, his voice with an edge showing his distaste for her comment. It just seemed to enflame his attack on the blonde couple.

"It was sad seeing you two in bed together and then out here just now. It's sad because I now realize just how desperate Buffy has been for a man since we broke up. I didn't think you'd resort to going after your co-stars though. Poor, poor Buffy. This is quite the far cry from when you were with me. I couldn't pry your legs open with a crowbar half the time, no wonder I had to go to greener pastures. Hopefully this one will stick around, huh, Buff?"

"Angel, shut up." Buffy retorted with a weakening resolve. He was getting to her and she hated it, but she couldn't help but believe that what he was saying was true. She hadn't been with anyone since Angel and now she's jumping on the first guy who shows interest in her?

"C'mon," Spike tried to push through with Buffy but Dru grabbed his hand to hold him back.

"Wait, Spike-" Angel's face turned beet red seeing his girlfriend almost throw herself at her ex. He shoved Spike back in a fit of rage.

"Hopefully this one will be better for you Buff. Cause you have a tendency to go for guys who either beat you or cheat on you, don't you? Maybe fucking you senseless would make for a longer lasting relationship."

All the color drained from Buffy's face and her mouth dropped open, stunned at his words. She stopped dead in her tracks, in shock Spike took one took at her and flew at Angel, knocking them both to the ground. Dru turned to Buffy as the two men struggled with each other, a haunted look in her eyes.

"You are naughty, causing our boys to fight. You've changed my Spike. I look at him and all I see if you- floating all around him. You're horrible, taking what is someone else's," The dark haired girl hissed at Buffy. Numb, she started to back away, and then turned to run to her trailer, leaving Dru to watch her retreat and the two men rolling on the ground together, exchanging punches.

"I warned you Angel. One more word and you'd regret it," Spike told Angel as he rolled them over so he was on top finally and delivered a few satisfying blows to his face and stomach. Angel grunted in surprise, and then pain as the wind was knocked out of him. Dru shrieked as Spike got up and knelt beside him, throwing nasty looks at Spike.

"You've hurt Daddy, all because of that mean, nasty girl. You should be ashamed of yourself! What has happened to you?"

"Give it up, Dru. You and the poof deserve each other, you're both bleeding insane," Spike told her as he looked around for Buffy and dusted off his robe.

Angel sat up, wiping blood from his nose, and laughed. "She ran off. Probably to go get ready to shag you rotten."

Spike launched himself at Angel again, fending off a few harmless blows from Dru, and pulled his head back by the hair. "Do you WANT to get your ass kicked again, old man? Because I can and you know it."

Angel laughed again. "Defending your lady love to the end. When you really should be with her right now. Cause if I know Buffy she's probably picking up the pieces of her shattered ego right now. Poor girl has bad luck with men."

Rage shot through Spike, amazed at how inhumanly cruel Angel could be. He delivered one final punch that doubled Angel over again and left to find Buffy. He should have known better than to let Angel get to him. Especially when it was Buffy he was trying to rattle. Which he had done successfully.

He jogged to her trailer and entered without knocking. He found Buffy sitting on her sofa seat, her arms wrapped around her as she stared into space. He sat down beside her and tried to wrap his arm around her shoulders but she jerked away, finally realizing he was there.

"Buffy, I'm so sorry. We should have just left. Angel's such an asshole." Spike sat back a little, giving her a little space.

"He's right though. What he said- it's all true. And here I am, carrying on in broad daylight like a wh - "

"Buffy! Stop!" Spike grabbed her hand and pressed it to his mouth, wishing he could take all her insecurities. "Angel's a bastard, right?"

"Yes, but-"

"And he's with my ex, which immediately brings me to question his sanity because she's a bit of a psychopath. All he's ever done is hurt you, luv, and he's still trying to do it. He's just trying to get to you and you can't let him. You're so much better than him."

"That may be so but it doesn't make what he said any less true. I can't shake it. His words keep echoing in my mind." Buffy put her head in her hands and sighed. Spike edged closer to her again and tried to put his arm around her as he had before. This time she allowed it. She turned to him and curled into his side, letting him hold her.

"He was the one who cheated on you Buffy. He's probably just mad at himself that he fucked up something good and wanted to take it out on you. He's a bloody wanker, luv," Spike told her, laying his head on top of hers. She pulled back and looked up at Spike, a small smile on her face.

"You always seem to know what to say, you know that? I always try to have it together but you're the one that can pull it all in and make things better. Thank you." Spike looked so surprised at her assessment that she gave a quiet laugh and leaned up to kiss him.

Spike responded easily, keeping it slow and calm. Buffy had other ideas in mind, however and soon their tongues were tangling with each other. She bit down lightly on his lower lip and brought her hands up to stroke his neck. Spike moaned into her mouth when her hand slipped into his robe and traced his collarbone with one fingernail. He pulled her up further next to him so she wouldn't be at such an awkward angle but Buffy decided to get even more comfortable. She climbed into his lap and straddled his legs, her knees on either side of him.

They kissed for long minutes, her hands drifting through his hair and around his neck while his traced small circles on her lower back, sending warmth through her body. His restraint was driving Buffy crazy, however, so she decided to make the next move for him. With one hand cupping his jaw she let her other slide between their bodies to the belt of his robe knowing that neither of them had changed out of the skimpy clothing that they had on for filming.

When Spike felt Buffy fumbling with his belt he broke their kiss and stilled her hand quickly. "Buffy, luv, what are you doing?"

"I got impatient," She told him with what she hoped was in impish grin. Why was he stopping? Didn't he want her? She shrugged mentally and tried the belt again but Spike brought his hands from her back to stop her firmly.

"Buffy, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but we can't do this," He told her. She looked back at him, confused, before she stood clumsily and stumbled away from him.

"Y-you don't want me?" She asked.

"Bloody hell, Buffy, I've wanted you since the very first day we met. When I plowed into you in the hallway I wanted to ask you out. I've been wracking by brain trying to come up with ways to get near you, for you to like me. I made up the story about my TV being on the fritz, you know. Just so I could be with you. Believe me, I want you," Spike told her.

"Then what's wrong?" Buffy asked, even more confused.

"After what just happened I don't want to do anything with you that you might wish you could take back later. I don't want this to be about Angel or because you want to prove him wrong or just because. I want to make love with you Buffy, but only when I look at you and you look back at me and we just know that it's right. I don't want to hurt you here, but I don't want to get hurt either. So far I've put all my feelings out on the table so fancy that if I don't want to be in bed with you and have you realize that you didn't want me to begin with. But never doubt that I want you," Spike told her honestly. His heart was beating a mile a minute, worried she would scream at him to get out or tell him that it was over.

"I'm sorry," she whispered instead. "I did want to prove something. I wanted to prove that I could lose myself in you and you wouldn't hurt me or leave me in the morning. Because I don't think you're that kind of guy. And that was wrong. I want you too, that's never been an issue for me, not even when we were fighting so bad, but it's wrong of me to use that to my advantage." Buffy sat back down on the sofa seat and propped her chin up in her hand. If he were going to storm off in a rage it would be now, so she wanted to have a good view for it. To her surprise he sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders again.

"So here we are. Not shagging like bunnies and appropriately depressed about it. What say we go out and get pissed?" Spike suggested.

"You want to go get angry?" Buffy asked, confused again.

Spike laughed. "No, get drunk, luv. British and all." Buffy laughed too but shook her head.

"That's a no for me. Alcohol and Buffy don't mix. They make a sort of cave-Buffy and she does stupid stuff. How about dinner instead?" Giving him a sidelong glance.

"It's a date." He stood, pulling her with him by the hand and pulled her to him to give her a chaste kiss on the lips. "So we're ok?"

Buffy smiled shyly up at him. "We're still really good friends."

"Good," he smiled back at her. "Let's get changed. I have a couple calls to make and then we can go eat."

By the time they got back to the hotel it was after nine and both blondes were exhausted. They had gone to a small Italian restaurant and shared a plate of pasta, a desert and a glass of wine each. They'd talked for hours about everything and nothing at all, trying to surprise each other with things about their lives. Buffy learned that Spike had almost gone to Oxford University to study English and Spike was surprised to learn that she was planning on going into teaching after university.

The ride back to the hotel was silent, each blonde on their own side of the taxi but held hands in the middle. It was a comfortable, easy silence that neither tried to break. They walked into the lobby and rode the elevator in silence. They reached Buffy's door where Spike turned her around to face him and kissed her softly on the forehead. Buffy leaned against him, breathing in his scent and the feel of his leather around him.

"Lets get you inside, luv," He murmured. She handed him her card key and he opened the door, allowing her to go inside first. He stayed in the doorway and watched her walk into the suite, look up and gasp.

The entire suite was covered in lilies. Red, white, pink, orange, two-toned colors filled the room in different shapes, sizes and variations of the flower. She could hardly move three feet without coming across a new plant. She wheeled around to look at Spike who was smiling at her.

"Oh my god. This is amazing. Beautiful! Did you do this?" She gaped at him, still stunned. Spike walked into the room and took her hands.

"Are you happy?" He asked.

"I'm in shock. I'm overwhelmed and bewildered. You did all this for me?" Spike nodded. "This has to be one of the most amazing things that anyone has ever done for me, if not the most amazing."

"This was the call I made before we left for dinner. So you're happy?"

Buffy nodded and broke out in a dazzling smile. "They're so pretty! I don't know how to thank you."

"Your smile is all I need." He leaned down to catch her lips in a soft, short kiss. Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's body under his jacket and burrowed against him, a huge weight lifting from her shoulders that she hadn't even realized she was carrying.

"I should head to my suite and get to bed, luv." He told her as he squeezed her tightly. Buffy pulled back and looked up at him.

"You don't want to … I mean, do you want to maybe stay?" She hesitated; still unbelieving that he had gone to all this trouble. If she hadn't wanted him before this she was certainly going to have trouble keeping her hands off him now.

"You have no idea how much, luv. But not tonight. This is just for you. Nothing else. Like I said earlier- when it's right for both of us." He told her, stroking her hair. Buffy was silent for a moment, deep in thought. She looked up at him and captured his face in her hands, bringing him down so she could kiss him.

"Thank you," She whispered when she pulled back, truly touched by his selflessness.

"Car to the set in the morning?" He asked. Buffy nodded. He kissed her again and then started for the door.

"Hey," Buffy called. "What am I supposed to do with all these?"

"Smell them," He threw back. As he left her suite and closed the door behind him he could hear her laughing. He took that sound with him to bed.

What happens next in the saga of Buffy and Spike? Check it out in Part 17: Safe Passage

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