Chapter 3- First Date?
"Wills, come on. You've been somewhere else all day. What's up?" Buffy queried as the best friends stepped through the relatively empty cemetery. Willow blushed a little but hid it beneath a cascade of red hair.
"Nothing Buffy, I'm just tired is all. Yawn Yep. Tired Willow. I should be going home." Willow hated lying to Buffy but she could only think of one thing at the moment. She wanted to see Spike. In the back of her mind she kept saying this is to bring Angel back for Buffy, but Willow knew better. She wanted her best friend to be happy, yes. But she even more wanted her friend back and for Spike to be happy. She'd do anything for that.
"Um, ok. I'll walk you home then. You should get some sleep. Don't want my best bud getting sick on me." Buffy smiled but she knew something was up. Buffy decided to let Willow think she was fooled. Then she'd follow her around until she found out what was going on.
Angelus had sent Drusilla and the minions home early. He wanted to watch the witch alone. Angelus had become as obsessed with the redhead over the last few weeks as he had been with Buffy. She had always amazed and mystified Angel but his demon was only now noticing her wonderful qualities. He saw her fire and wanted to taste it.
He stuck to the shadows as he followed her and his former lover home. What his soul had seen in Buffy, Angelus would never know. He did love to watch her fight though.
Angelus moved with stealth and grace. He could easily watch his new obsession. Dressed in all black the mysterious vampire exuded sexy, sexy and dangerous.
He watched as Buffy led Willow to her house and went so far as to escort the young witch to the door. Angelus snuck behind a tree the moment her living room light went on. He knew she was home alone again. As Angel, he'd always the Rosenburgs for the way they treated Willow but now he was very grateful for them. He'd probably still drain them the instant they appeared but he was still grateful.
Inside the house Willow changed clothes three times. She wasn't sure what to wear for her interlude. Would Spike want her in jeans? A skirt? Whoa, wait a second. Spike. Vampire. Bad. Willow tried to remind herself but his words kept ringing for her. He loves me. He's souled? When did that happen? Willow smiled. From the night of Halloween on Willow had fantasized about the blonde vampire. She'd fantasized about both vampires to be honest. Biting her lower lip, Willow slipped on a pair of jeans that Buffy had left behind and a little orange crop tank that she hadn't dared wear out before. Willow grabbed a small bag with her magick supplies, keys and breath savers. She quickly glanced out the windows, and satisfied that she was alone, slipped out the back door. Unbeknownst to Willow, she was being followed by not only an overprotective slayer but a sadistic Vampire as well. Fortune it seemed was not with her tonight. That was until,
'Angelus. What are you doing here?" Buffy spoke just loud enough for him to hear as she threw a hard punch his way. Angelus spun to look at her. Actually, he was leering at her. All the fire in his eyes reminded Buffy briefly of the night they made love. Angelus took advantage of that instant and shoved Buffy to the ground.
"You're ruining everything as usual you stupid bitch. Now you're going to pay," Angelus stood above Buffy and pulled her up by the collar of her shirt. "Come on lover how's about a kiss?"
Buffy head butted Angelus and threw him off balance. "Sure thing lover," She replied and the battle ensued.
"Where is she? Oh god did I push too hard? I scared her didn't I? Oh Bloody 'ell! I'm acting like a bloody whelp. What happened to me? I was the big bad, now I'm whipped by a 17- year old goddess of a witch." Spike was pacing the cemetery- restless. Willow was 30 minutes late and as much as he hated to admit it, he was worried for the chit. If she died tonight it would be his fault. Spike couldn't live with that. Just as he'd decided to go looking for her, Willow arrived bathed in a beam of moonlight.
"Where the hell have you been?! Angelus is still hunting right now. You could have been... I don't want to think about that and don't think that just because you're looking particularly lovely tonight that it excuses such behavior."
Willow blushed. Her emerald eyes shone as she stared at him. "Sorry, I just had to, um... I wanted to look nice for you."
"Willow, luv. You always look nice. Damn it, I was worried pet." Spike took the girl in his arms. "Don't ever want to let you out of my site. Not every vampire respects me you know."
"You mean Angelus." Willow whispered as she took in the scent of Spike. Stale cigs and vodka covered his own deep musk and old leather.
"And Dru. She's nutty as a bird that one but dangerous. And she never respected me. Loved me, maybe. I think maybe she just loved being loved. But she's still dangerous." Spike held Willow closer. "Once we do the spell, we'll have to take care of her. I know that now."
"Will Angel allow it? I mean, she is his childe right?"
"Yeah, well. He staked his sire so I think he'll do just fine with mine." Spike and Willow sat down on a tombstone.
"I'm going to have to tell the others about you. I can't do the research and spell alone. And, well, I don't want to risk anyone getting stake happy." Willow worried her lower lip as she always did when thinking. She really cared about Spike.
Spike gently kissed Willow's neck. "I know luv. When's your next Scooby meeting?"
"Tomorrow night at the library." Willow thought for a moment. "How am I going to introduce you to them so they don't stake you on sight?"
"Tell 'em to keep an open mind pet." Spike smiled briefly and kissed her cheek. "Brought you a present." He pulled out a small box from the pocket of his duster. Handing it to Willow he said, "I hope I'm not moving too fast."
"Let's see, in 17 years I've had one boyfriend and I was 6. Dated a demon online who couldn't decide if he wanted to keep me forever or kill me and then went on a few dates with the word's quietest musician. No, I think we're right on track. But hey, what do I know?" Willow smiled as she took the box from Spike. Opening it she found a silver necklace shaped like a willow tree with an emerald setting. "Oh goddess, it's beautiful. Spike, you shouldn't have." Willow turned it over in her hand. Engraved upon it were the initials W.R. and W. B.
"William Bradstreet, my uh, Christian name. I thought it fit better than Spike on something like this. You should know I haven't courted anyone since before I was turned and I was rather unsuccessful in that venture."
"You know, when you're nervous you sound like Giles." Willow and Spike talked for another two hours before he walked her home. The walk home was the best yet. Spike put his arm around her to hold Willow close to him. They laughed and joked and kissed. Willow told him all about her relationship with Xander and Buffy. She even confessed to not quite hating Cordelia anymore.
"The way you talk about them makes me really sorry I tried to kill them so much. But I still love to fight the chit especially. She's got spunk that one. Of all the slayer's I've fought, well let's just say there's more to that one than great fighting."
"Yeah, she's got passion too. And she has us. Loved ones make you stronger. Unlike what the Watcher's believe. She's gonna be around for a long time." Willow didn't want to let go when they reached her door, but knew she had to. "Um, tomorrow night. Meet me here, around dusk?"
"Sure thing Red." Spike turned away to leave but stopped briefly. "I want a real date pet. Movie, popcorn, hot cocoa. Do you think maybe we could do that?"
"Yeah, I think we could. After you meet everyone properly ok?" Willow kissed him lightly on the lips before heading into her home. She called her parents but they didn't answer. "Still out I guess. Probably won't be home till next month." Willow finished her home work and climbed into bed. She dreamed all night of a certain bleached blonde.