I did a lot of SF fic reading and reviewing and I feel quite accomplished. lol xD I love you guys.

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Chapter 14 : Coming Undone

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If this moment represented my resistence, then I had none at all. At least I knew that now. Spike practically dragged me into the house, not entirely against my will, and sat me atop the kitchen counter. I followed his figure as he went to lock the door and return to the room. He opened one of the cabinets and pulled out a first-aid kit. He placed it beside me and opened it up. I stared at one extremely long needle.

I cocked an eyebrow. "How exactly are you going to go about 'disinfecting' me, Spike?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "To tell you the truth, I'm not that sure." I could practically see that sweatdrop going down his face. He laughed when my mouth dropped down.

"You mean to tell me you have no idea what you're doing?"

Spike took out a bottle and a jar of cotton balls from the kit. "Relax, I was only kidding around." He paused. "Now take off your shirt."

I blinked. "What?"

He tried hard not to snicker. "Come on, Faye, it's practically off anyway."

I jumped down from the counter. "I'm sorry, but no. I take pride in the fact that you've never seen me in my underwear."

He sighed, then pretended to think this through intelligently. "What about we make a deal? You can see me in my underwear and then that way, you won't feel uncomfortable being in yours."

I practically choked. "What the hell kind of deal is that?" He didn't seem to be listening to me because he was busy trying to pull down his pants. I held his wrists frantically, stopping him. "Spike, Spike." I shook my head. "No need for that, now."

Spike looked up to watch me as I crossed my arms, my fingers taking hold of the hem of my shirt. I pulled the shirt up and over my head and threw it on the floor. "Happy now?" Good thing I decided not to wear my lacy bra today, I thought.

He smirked. "Very."

The next few minutes were spent disinfecting me. In other words, every other dab of alcohol I was squirming around the counter or crying out in a fit of stinging pain.

"Done," he said after pulling out the last piece of glass. He stood upto throw the dark red cotton and the remains of my shirt into the trash. "Now that wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Easy for you to say," I mumbled, stepping to the floor and stretching my arms. "That almost killed me." He walked to the window as I said thanks.

"Yeah." He shrugged. "No problem." He turned his back to me and I stood there for a few minutes watching him silently. A single thought flashed through my mind right then.

I shouldn't have given him up so easily.

--

Julia got back an hour or so later. I heard their voices talking from downstairs and judging from Spike's tone, they weren't on good terms. Wonder what happened with them. Sticking to my plan, I decided not to greet them yet. I'd wait until dinner. I got off my bed and walked out onto the balcony, staring at the city lights not too far away. That's when Julia's cell phone started ringing. I almost forgot I still had it. Curious as to who was calling, I accepted the call, not saying a word.

"Julia?" A deep voice asked, apparently tired.

Was it really.. "Vicious?" There was a silence.

"Miss Valentine..." He said finally.

I had a feeling that I wasn't supposed to know about this. "I. I..didn't know...about.." I was stuttering.

He cut me off. "It's not what you think, Faye."

"What am I thinking then?" Vicious sighed heavily, answering enough of my question. "Look, I'm not saying it's the wrong thing to do. Personally..." I lowered my voice, "I think you two make the perfect couple."

"Faye, we really shouldn't be talking about this. I'll get this straightened out the next time I stop by."

I smiled to myself. "Sure, whatever." I hung up the phone and got ready for dinner.

--

I have to admit, Julia was one hell of a cook. Dessert was always the best part and I knew I was eating too much cake because she and Spike stopped eating just to stare at me. I looked up at Julia and remembered about the cell phone. I pulled it out of my pocket and slid it down the table.

She picked it up. "Thank you. Were you able to make use of it?"

I swallowed. "Yeah." I took a sip of wine. "Which reminds me..." I thought of two things to say to her but decided on the safer one- "I need a license plate for the car."

"I can get that done," Spike said, his mouth full.

I beamed. "Really?"

He nodded. "Tomorrow morning, come with me."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Alright. And tell me, how much is it going to cost me really?"

He grinned. "That you will find out tomorrow."

I was glad Julia was oblivious to the deeper meaning of our conversation. It was better that it stayed that way. Afterwards, she got up to load the dishwasher with her apron on again and I wandered outside.

It was the end of June and the weather was always nice. Not that I had anyone to enjoy it with. I sighed, trying to sort out my feelings and found that it wasn't working. I looked back at the car and wanted to take a ride badly, but I'd probably be spotted. Then I'd get into a whole mess and I didn't want that right now.

I walked around to the back and found Spike standing there, smoking a cigarette. I froze, unable to say anything. He turned to look at me and his eyes flashed something I used to be able to recognize. But then it was gone. He moved to sit down on the stone floor and I moved to sit beside him, pulling my knees up to my chest. Every once in a while I'd glance at him smoking.

It suddenly came to me that I haven't smoked in days. What did that mean?

It means you're not addicted.

It means that with Spike around, you don't need to smoke.

The thought infuriated me. So what is this, he's my fucking pack of cigarrettes?

"Give me one." I said abruptly.

He took a breath. "It's my last." He exhaled.

I narrowed my eyes. "Okay, then." I leaned forward to snatch it out of his fingers and brought it to my own lips, inhaling deeply.

He narrowed his eyes. "You're not supposed to do that, Faye."

I laughed. "Since when have I followed the rules?" I exhaled. "And it's not like you do the right thing, either." I thought of how he'd take that line, if he'd take it the way I wanted him to.

"Faye. You're not still mad about the bet thing, are you?"

"You just don't get it, do you Spike?"

"You're making this too fucking complicated." He outstretched his legs. My eyes followed the creases on his jeans.

I looked at him lazily, my head leaned back. "Spike. This was too complicated to begin with."

Then we had a staring contest and after a while I grew tired of the game. I broke his gaze to look at the crescent moon a little over the horizon. It was getting dark and I could barely make out his facial features.

"So." I said finally, not really sure what I was trying to get across. "How are things going with you and Julia?"

"And do you mind telling me where that came from?"

I shrugged. "You two don't seem to be on good terms, that's all."

"Yeah. You're damn right we're not."

"Really," I said, almost whispering, wondering if he knew what might be going on.

The cigarette died and I dropped it on the ground between us. I watched him brush it away and sit closer to me, our shoulders touching lightly. I shivered and sat still, listening to his steady breathing.

"It's been a while since we've...been like this." He said weakly.

I was afraid to look him in the eye but I did anyway. I wished I didn't because he was staring at me hard. I closed my eyes as he lifted a hand to caress my cheek.

"I'm sorry."

I sighed as he let his hand fall to his lap. "For ..what?"

My heart was beating loudly as he moved in front of me, placing his hand on my thigh and leaning in until our noses touched.

"For still fucking wanting you like this."

Spike kissed me hard with his mouth open, running his tongue along my bottom lip before biting my top lip softly. I tried to pull away but he was holding me too tight, and his hand running up and down my leg wasn't helping.

We broke the kiss to breathe but then his lips were on me again just as quickly, tugging on the sensitive skin of my neck. He hands pulled the neckline of my shirt to reveal my shoulder, where he started kissing around the strap of my bra.

"We shouldn't be doing this..." I said finally, giving in and slipping my hands under his untucked shirt.

He smiled against my skin and pulled me closer. "That's exactly why we're doing it, Faye."

The lights went out in the kitchen and it brought back some of reality. It was odd to realize that we couldn't do things like this anymore. This wasn't three years ago where we had all the time and freedom we wanted. Why were we only being honest now? It wasn't making any sense.

So that's what happened. We were cut short.

I looked at Spike's shirt halfway unbuttoned and his hands still gripping me around my stomach. He was still planting reluctant kisses around my neck and I told him softly to stop. He straightened hesitantly and my forehead fell to his chest.

My words came out muffled. "I hate you, Spike."

He smiled, already pulling away from me and going to walk inside. "Don't forget about our date tomorrow."

"Shut the hell up." I followed him inside before the bastard could even think of locking me out.

--

A dream hadn't graced my sleep in a long time, but tonight I had one. But that didn't change the fact that I forgot it the moment I woke up. I only remembered that it was weird and it had something to do with Spike and I and flowers.

I turned to my side and discovered Spike sitting there, drinking coffee from a mug.

"Hey there, sleeping beauty."

I yawned, not entirely surprised to see him there. "What, is it time to go already?"

He set his cup down on my nightstand. "Nah, I just wanted to be here when you woke up."

I rolled my eyes. "Like I can believe that." I sat up and the white sheets fell to my waist. I swung my legs to the side to face Spike fully and noticed he was dressed quite neatly. "Where are we going?"

"Getting a license plate will only take about an hour. I thought afterwards we could go see a movie or something."

I stared at him blankly. "What the hell is wrong with you, Spike?"

He scratched his head. "Everything?"

"Good answer, but it's still wrong," I said, placing a hand on his head of hair to help me get up. I stretched my arms. "You seem to be forgetting that you have Julia and I have..." I trailed off. A second later I resumed with, " ..my car."

"Your car." He snorted. "You, Faye, need to get out more."

I pulled at the collar of his shirt so that our faces were only inches way. "Will you just shut up and stop acting like an insensitive jerk?" I lowered my voice. "You're too late anyway."

Spike traced my lip with his thumb and suddenly irritated, I dropped my grip on his shirt, letting him sit back into his chair roughly. "We'll see about that, Faye."

I pointed to the door. "You need to leave. I have to get dressed."

He stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Alright, alright. I picked out a dress for you and it's hanging in the bathroom." He stood at the doorway and winked. "Don't keep me waiting." He turned away and pulled the door closed behind him.

I rolled my eyes at the closed door. Like hell I will! Bastard. I was still laughing to myself as I walked into bathroom, curious to see which of my dresses Spike picked out.

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