"Spike!" A voice called. Spike looked up from his research in time to see Xander rushing through the library doors, a while piece of paper clutched in his hand.
"Xander, I know these past few days have been hectic but I insist that you remain respectful of the libraries rules," Giles said, coming out of his office and sitting down across from Spike.
Xander narrowed his eyes in confusion, "What?"
"He wants you to be quiet in the library," Buffy explained, coming out from behind the stacks, her arms filled with heavy texts. Xander saw the Slayer struggling to look at the library steps and carry books and he rushed up to help her. Spike watched the exchange with jealousy masked in amusement. He could hear Xander's heart beating faster than it had a moment ago and he could hear the boy's eagerness to help Buffy in all his movements.
"Xander," Spike said, interrupting the boys conversation with the Slayer, "I need to talk to you."
"What's up?" The boy asked.
Spike started walking and motioned for Xander to follow. "Come into Giles' office. We'll talk."
Xander settled himself on Giles' desk chair and looked up at Spike who had taken a seat on the desk, his feet hanging casually off the side.
"What did you want to talk about?" Spike asked.
"When?"
"When you first came in the library, you had a paper in your hand and you were calling my name," Spike clarified.
"Oh!" Xander exclaimed, excited once more. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a slightly more crinkled version of the paper that had been in his hand when he first entered the library. "Read it and weep"
Spike took the paper from Xander's outstretched hand and looked it over carefully.
"Or cheer, if you'd perform. Because I mean, you don't actually need to weep. I can't really imagine you crying…that would just be weird. But maybe-"
Spike cut off Xander off. "This is incredible."
Xander blushed, "I know. It's like my first non-D…ever!"
"Ever what?" Buffy asked, bouncing into the room and coming to stand beside Spike who placed a possessive hand on her hip.
"I got a B+ on my English paper," Xander told the Slayer, smiling when he received a hug.
"That's amazing Xand. Listen, we've been researching for like…two days straight. Why don't we take a break and go out tonight?" Buffy suggested. "It can be like a celebration of your good grade."
"But love, I thought we were going to try and find out the location of Malcah's book. We don't have much time before she rises and we need to find the book, study it, use some of whatever training methods it gives us-" Spike stopped talking as soon as he saw the pout Buffy had aimed in his direction.
"But you promised to take me dancing, and Wills told me about this awesome club at the edge of town that's kind of like Karma and I thought you could take me," The Slayer said.
Spike rolled his eyes in mock annoyance. "Insistent little chit aren't you?"
Buffy leaned over and whispered in Spike's ear. "I have a surprise for you."
Spike looked at Buffy, question written in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
"Take me dancing and you'll find out tonight," Buffy said, taking a step back from Spike. Before she knew what hit her Spike had grabbed her and crushed his mouth to hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth and engaging hers in an erotic battle.
"Ummm…excuse me….Buffy? Spike?" Xander rolled his eyes as the Vampire and Slayer continued to kiss, unaware of Xander's pointed throat clearing. It wasn't until Giles walked in and pulled the two apart that they stopped kissing.
"If you two are quite through I believe I have some information about the whereabouts of the book we are looking for. It's usually referred to by the name Tri and was written by the Master as a gift for his three childer. Malcah was the last remaining childe of the master so, even though she was the youngest, she ended up with the Tri," Giles explained, not noticing the blush that had spread across all of Buffy's face.
"So does that mean we have to do research tonight?" Xander asked.
"I'm afraid not. You see, there's no way for us to get the book until tomorrow night when the-" Giles was cut off by Willow's sigh.
"No research tonight?"
"Wills, it's totally cool. You know the club you were telling me about, The Bronze? Xander, you, Spike and I are going to go there," Buffy told Willow.
"Oooh! Yay!" Willow said happily.
"Yes, well I'm happy to see that you all won't be too upset that we don't have research to do today," Giles said sarcastically.
"Don't worry about us. And now, if that's all I better go. Come with me Willow, because if you don't then I'm pretty certain I'll get lost," Buffy said.
"Where are you guys going?" Xander asked. Buffy and Willow made eye contact before looking at Xander with expressions that clearly said "duh" on their faces.
"The mall," The girls answered in unison before breaking out into laughter.
"Of course…the mall…and us boys will just…" Spike trailed off when he realized that both Buffy and Willow had already headed out of Giles office, calling that they would meet the boys at the Bronze after sunset.