Chapter Seven – Under your spell.

Spike made his way through the crowded Bronze; hoping beyond hope that he'd find Tara alone so he could get her advice without the others knowing. He rounded a pillar and saw all the Scoobies sitting down, listening intently as Harris animatedly told a funny work-related story that they probably couldn't even hear. Thankfully Buffy wasn't there. Willow was sat on Tara's lap, so no there was no chance of getting her attention subtly. Spike turned to leave before anybody noticed his presence, when Dawn spotted him and called out to him.

"Spike!" He froze like he'd been caught stealing burba weed from the Magic Box stockroom. Again. Then he slowly turned around. His carefully chosen suit and shirt had an immediate effect on every woman in the group, even the wiccas. Every female chin hit the floor speechless. This unfortunately coincided exactly with the punch line of Xander's story.

"And so I said; 'That's about the size of it!'" Xander laughed out loud , and then stopped abruptly as he caught Anya's expression. He followed it to the matching drooling expressions worn by the others, and finally to Spike.

"What…oh. Captain Peroxide. Pull up a pew, I was just explaining to the ladies about…"

"I need to talk to Tara." Spike interrupted, then amended off Xander's slightly hurt expression; "If she can bear to drag herself away from the comedy genius that is Xander Harris on form." He got a grin for his trouble.

"What's wrong, Spike?" Dawn asked, concerned.

"It's nothing, nothing at all. It's just –uh." The waffling and the hurt in Spike's eyes caused Dawn to approach him with Tara.

"Tell me now." Dawn said firmly, inadvertently adopting Buffy's 'mess with me and you're dust' pose. Spike sighed, he knew better than to mess with a Summers girl, even a small one.

"It was just… I found out something about the spell. It's nothing really… hardly worth mentioning." He sighed again. There was no getting out of it now. So he gulped some air down and said as fast as he could:

"Buffywishedmehumansoshecoulddateme."

"BUFFY DID WHAT?!" Dawn yelled angrily, causing Spike to wince and the rest of the Scoobies to gather into hearing range.

"She really did that?" Tara asked gently. "You didn't just mistake what she was saying?"

"No. She tried to kiss me. I realised I didn't want her that way anymore, she got really mad, and accidentally slipped into the argument that I had to love her because she'd wished it. It was her. She did this to me, because I wasn't good enough for her love before." Shock registered on everyone's faces; no one knowing what to say, so Spike kept talking.

"So I guess I was wondering if it was reversible."

"It should be." Anya spoke up. "It sounds like the work of a justice demon. If we can find out their name, we summon them and steal their pendant, then their spell breaks."

"That simple?" Spike asked cynically.

"Well yeh; but only if it's a justice demon. It won't work if it's anything else."

"We'll have to ask Buffy." Tara said quietly.

"I still can't believe she's done this." Willow said, shaking her head.

"I still can't believe she's done this because of us." Xander amended.

"She was so worried about what we'd think about her feelings for Spike that she changed him to make her feelings more acceptable." Dawn said, understanding.

"It's hardly surprising. This time yesterday you lot would have staked me for laying so much as a finger on Buffy, let alone dating her."

"I wouldn't have minded." Dawn insisted.

"We're here for you now, that's not going to change." Willow said firmly.

"I thought it was only a matter of time until you and Buffy acted on all that sexual tension anyway." Anya said matter-of-factly, causing Xander's eyes to widen and his hands to jump to his ears.

"Lalalala, I didn't just hear that, lalala." He chanted.

"What's he doing?" Dawn asked giggling.

"Swimming back up De Nile." Anya responded quickly with a grin.

"So getting back to the point… You don't love Buffy anymore?" Willow asked Spike incredulously. Suddenly all eyes were on him again and Xander's hands were back off his ears.

"Yes. I mean, she's hurt me but I love her. I will always love her, just not in the way she wants. I love her like I love Dawn." He avoided Dawn's eyes, knowing the pain that would be reflected in them.

"If this is a wind up…" Xander began.

"When have I ever been less than honest about my feelings for that girl?"

"Man's got a point." Xander conceded.

"What do we do now?" Dawn asked.

"I guess we call a meeting, research into changing Spike back, and until then we party." Willow said with a smile.

"What do you say, old man? One of the gang?" Xander extended his hand towards Spike.

"While I'm living?"

"Or undead." Xander said quietly with an apology in his eyes. Spike shook his hand, then turned to the group.

"First round's on me." He grinned. Dawn's face lit up, causing him to amend slightly.

"You know the rules, only coke for you, Bit."

Later in the evening, Spike was perched on a stool by the bar, enjoying some alone time after the hyperness of the Scoobies on alcohol. Why wasn't he drinking again? Right, Buffy's wish. As he supped on his coke his train of thought was interrupted by a girl sitting on the stool next to his. She was tall and slim, with dark hair; completely his type. Spike couldn't keep his eyes off her as she sat; long legs crossed beneath a sexy little denim skirt. Her dark hair hung loose down her back, which was partially exposed by the strappy halter top she was wearing. She was all woman. She smelt so good and those lips were so kissable, and those eyes… those big brown eyes…

"So were you planning on buying me a drink, or just staring at me?" She asked with a turn of her head in his direction.

"Would you like a drink, luv." Spike found his tongue.

"A coke would be great." She giggled. Spike knew he was in serious trouble. She had him enchanted.

Buffy made her way through the Bronze. She had gone home, unable to think straight with the tears that refused to stop falling. How could she have been so stupid? She sighed. She had to find him, to apologize, try to make him understand. She saw the other Scoobies sat at a table a little way from her. Not wanting them to see her in her present state and start asking questions, she made for the bar. That's when she saw him. She stopped dead as she saw them both. Spike was gently, tenderly kissing someone else. He pulled away, whispered something in the girl's ear and turned to leave her with a huge grin on his face. All Buffy's practiced apologies disappeared, leaving her mind blank and her mouth agape as Spike walked towards her.

"Something to say?" He asked nonchalantly, before sweeping past her, leaving her lost for words.

It was only then that Buffy recognised with a gasp of horror the girl that Spike had been kissing so sweetly.