Chapter Six – 'Is this a date?'

"Obvious much."

Buffy jumped and quickly tried to hide the two tops she'd been deciding between for her da- her patrol with Spike.

"What do you mean?" She replied, knowing she couldn't play dumb for long. Dawn shrugged;

"I'm a teenager. We have a natural radar for all things hormonal. Besides, it's not like you could keep your eyes off him at the Magic Box earlier." She said with a smirk.

"That was purely professional. This is purely professional." Buffy babbled.

"Whatever, wear the black one, the red one is way too slutty. I'll see you at the Bronze. Oh, and hurt him and you die." Dawn replied with a smile before making her way downstairs leaving her older sister with her mouth hung open in shock. Buffy shook her head, that girl had her sussed. And was that sibling approval of her and Spike's impending itemness?

She heard voices downstairs and quickly chose and changed, praying Dawn wouldn't be enlightening everyone on how long she'd spent getting ready.

As Buffy walked into the living room ten minutes later, Spike was sat talking to Dawn, Tara and Willow. The conversation broke off as she entered the room.

"Are you ready?" Buffy asked brightly. Spike looked at her outfit, confused.

"Are we still going patrolling?"

"Of course." Buffy blushed a little at him noticing her clothes. She hadn't thought he'd complain. Spike shrugged, and then realisation seemed to hit him.

"Oh right, I didn't realise you wanted to go straight to the Bronze afterwards, I'm afraid we'll have to stop off at mine so I can change. Can't have you showing me up." He said with a smile.

"No problem." Buffy was glad to get the matter resolved before Dawn opened her mouth to helpfully explain. As she steered Spike out of the house, she looked back over her shoulder to a collection of knowing grins. She giggled to herself, this was going to be fun.

It felt like things were going well. Sure, she'd been the only one talking, in fact Spike hadn't really said a word, but that smile said it all. God she wanted him. Couldn't he tell? Maybe she wasn't being obvious enough, this was a date after all.

This was not going well. Buffy had been chattering away like some airhead cheerleader for the last half hour. All he could do was half-heartedly smile in response. Was this a date? He could tell she wanted him, he could smell her arousal, not that that was unusual around him, but God did she have to be so obvious?

Time for an old trick:

"I'm cold." Buffy deliberately pouted as she tried to snuggle up to Spike. He immediately pushed her away, took off his suit jacket and put it around her shoulders with a smile. Not exactly what she'd been going for, but definitely a good sign.

Spike had almost laughed out loud when she'd claimed to be cold, when the very opposite was so blatantly true. It freaked him out that he didn't want her touch, it felt weird. Probably just because he knew she felt no more than lust for him, he told himself. Hopefully she'd get the message quickly that he wasn't interested in being used up and thrown out.

Buffy smirked as she got a naughty idea;

"I think I hear something over there." She whispered innocently, pointing to the trees at the edge of a secluded part of the cemetery. Spike looked slightly unconvinced, so she grabbed his hand.

"Come on." She whispered. They got no more that two paces when screams echoed from the other end of the cemetery. Buffy rolled her eyes. Why did they have to be interrupted right now?

Spike used the opportunity to release his hand, relieved by the timely interruption. It would take his mind off a certain very horny slayer who'd just tried to have her wicked way with him in the cemetery, and his increasingly weird reactions to it.

There were six vampires and they had a young girl surrounded. Buffy rolled her eyes. Would people never learn not to shortcut through the cemetery?

She and Spike set to work on the vampires straight away, leaving the girl to run to safety.

Spike finished up his three quickly for once. He turned to help Buffy, but saw she was on her last one so just stood back and watched. She was breathtaking when she fought; her inner strength and beauty shining out. Her precise, deadly movements were like a dance. She was magnificent.

Out of nowhere two more vampires sprung Spike as he watched Buffy. She quickly finished hers off and went to Spike's aid, except he needed no help at all. He was awe-inspiring when he fought; his strength and masculinity shining out. His precise, deadly movements were like a dance. He was magnificent.

All too soon the dance ended, but Buffy moved towards Spike, wanting to be in his arms, wanting to touch him, to hold him.

Spike saw her approach him and as she reached him, he brought her in for a tight hug. He kissed the top of her head. She was so special to him.

"Shall we call it a night?" He asked softly.

Buffy agreed although she was reluctant to go meet the others, but then again, maybe they wouldn't make it out of his apartment, she thought with a smirk.

When Spike flicked on the light to his apartment, Buffy was instantly blown away. Spike excused himself to go shower and change, leaving Buffy alone to explore. She went to his bedroom first as it would be the worst place to get caught. She practically drooled at the sight of his huge round bed. She had to force herself out of the room when she heard the shower stop, but that didn't do much to stop the naughty images from flitting through her mind.

Trying to gain some composure, Buffy looked through his CDs and DVDs. There was a good range of both. All in all she was very impressed. It was a nice, stylish, spacious apartment, and it already felt like she would be spending a lot of time here.

Buffy's train of thought was interrupted when Spike emerged from his room, changed into a dark grey suit and bright blue shirt. Her mouth fell open at the sight. He ducked his head in embarrassment, and tried not to look at her eyes that were dark with lust.

"You ready to go?"

"You know, we don't have to go right away…" Buffy smiled seductively and walked up to Spike. He swallowed nervously as she reached him and put her hands on his chest.

"…We don't have to go at all." With this she looped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. Spike pushed her away after only a second.

"No." He said, wide-eyed.

"It's alright, baby, I want this. I want you." Buffy tried to lean into him again, this time he was faster and held her at arms length.

"I don't want to."

"What? Why not?" She asked stroppily.

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I've been feeling weird about us for the last couple of days, I only just realised it's because I don't feel the same way about you anymore."

"You mean…you don't love me anymore?" She asked quietly.

"Only the same way I love Dawn." He admitted.

"I don't believe this. This cannot be happening. You said you'd always love me. You can't go back on that. You promised. You can't just change your mind." Buffy was getting more and more angry, working herself up.

"I'm sorry Buffy, I don't know what to say."

"Tell me you love me. Tell me you want me." She begged him desperately.

"I can't. I'm sorry."

"But you have to, everything's simple now. We can be together."

"Because I'm human?" Spike snapped suddenly.

Buffy opened her mouth and closed it again, knowing he had her trapped.

"Or is it the nice new apartment that appeals to you?" He was really angry now.

"I want the whole package." Buffy said weakly.

"Yeh, now that it's changed to suit you." He yelled.

"Well it obviously doesn't suit me because you don't love me back like you're supposed to!" She yelled back, riled.

"What do you mean 'like I'm supposed to'?" Spike asked slowly.

"N-nothing, I just meant that, you know, that's what I want." Buffy lied badly, knowing he'd caught her out.

"What have you done?" Damn, he knew her too well.

"Nothing, I've done nothing." She said, accidentally putting too much emphasis on the 'I've'.

"A wish. I should have realised before." Spike shook his head, willing away the tears from his watery eyes.

"I'm sorry." Buffy said quietly.

"Why, because you've done something terrible, or because you got caught out?" Spike asked spitefully.

"I didn't realise you'd feel this way."

"Of course you didn't; because if you had, you'd have wished that would change too."

"I…I…" Buffy knew there was nothing left to say.

"Here's some money for a cab, I'm not going anywhere tonight."

"I'll walk." Buffy said quietly, and left, not letting her tears fall until she was out of the building.

Inside, Spike was pacing backwards and forwards. What should he do? Could this be reversed? God, he wanted a drink. Why didn't he just get one? He really needed to talk to Tara. She'd sort it out. He reached for the phone, and then remembered that she'd be at the Bronze with the others. He sighed, maybe Buffy wouldn't feel like going out either. He could go, find Tara and leave without having to see her again tonight. He sighed again, and then reached for his jacket and left for the Bronze.