A/N : Thanx to; Dark Drusilla, Moonjava, phantomphan85, Moluvsnumber17, katie, EMBER19, bella-lover, spuffygrl, AngelicDevil1, KelleyTheSelfToastablePopTart, and Xtremely-Canadian, for the reviews - you're all awesome.
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 8 - Wonderful Tonight

"Well, what d'ya think, Bit?" Spike asked his daughter, who eyed him like a science project, tilting her head just like her father would.

"I thought you were gonna wear the other shirt" Dawn frowned.

"Was I?" he checked looking down at his own attire. He had on his smarter black jeans and T-shirt, with a purple shirt over the top, but apparently that wasn't right. When he glanced up again Dawn was gone from the sofa and just emerging from his bedroom with a red shirt instead.

"Here, this one" she told him, handing it over and he swiftly traded it for the one he was wearing.

"Better?" he asked her and she smiled, nodding her approval.

Spike was just starting to get disturbed by the realisation that his daughter was dressing him for a date when there was a knock at the door and he opened it to reveal his father on the other side.

"Dad, thanks so much for this" he said gratefully to the man who would be baby-sitter tonight, not just for Dawnie but for the Osbourne twins, who would be brought over by their parents any minute now.

"It's no problem at all" Giles told him, giving his son a pat on the back, "I'm only too glad to be of assistance in such a matter as this" he assured him, "It's good for you to get out and meet people" the certain emphasis on that last word meant Giles referred to mostly female people but Spike didn't say anything about that.

"Sure you can handle the Bit and the twins?" he checked and his father nodded.

"Yes, I'm fairly certain I shall have a ball" he said sarcastically, "Braiding hair and talking about boys will be the highlights I'm certain"

Spike smirked at that as Dawn came back from her bedroom to greet her Grandpa Giles, and another knock on the door signalled the arrival of Willow, Oz, and the kids.

Five minutes later the parents were all saying 'goodbye and be good' to their children before heading downstairs to leave.

"Hey, what's this all about?" Spike frowned when he spotted the taxi cab outside the door, "I thought I was driving"

"Guess again, mister" Willow told him, "Tonight's your night off from being Chauffeur Guy" she smiled, "Besides I know you, nervousness makes you need a drink and you can't have one if you need to drive home"

"Ever the thoughtful one, eh pet?" Spike smiled back, hugging her with one arm before she got in the back of the cab with Oz and he took the front passenger seat.

It was ridiculous but Spike had to admit he really was nervous about this almost-date. It was so many years since he'd had a woman in his life that he liked this much, that he could actually see himself forming a romantic relationship with. The only other had been Drusilla.

"You think Buffy's nervous about tonight too?" Willow asked, as if she were reading his thoughts. Spike didn't answer, just stared thoughtfully out of the window.

"Buffy will you come on!" Xander called through the door to her, "We're supposed to be there at seven and looking at this map it's going to be at least a ten minute walk" he told her, checking his watch and seeing it was six-fifty-five already.

"I'm almost ready!" Buffy yelled back with barely contained annoyance at her cousins complaining. Tonight was the first night in a long time she'd been out with anyone, not that this was a date, but even going to a club with friends was something new. There was no escaping the fact that she and Xander were less than rich right now. They couldn't afford a cab and were forced to walk using a hand drawn map from Willow. Buffy was also worried about what to wear leading to her changing her entire outfit a ridiculous eight times before she was ready, thus leading to the yelling between her cousin and herself right now.

"Okay, I'm ready" she told him as she came out of the bedroom door. Xander was stunned by what he saw.

"Buff, you look awesome" he told her with a grin.

She blushed and swatted him across the arm, calling him a liar in a giggly tone. It was true she'd made an effort and although neither of them mentioned it, she and Xander both knew it was mostly for Spike's benefit that she'd chosen her best clothes for tonight - silky red halter top that showed what she had without being slutty, designer fitted jeans that she'd got majorly reduced in a sale because the stitching wasn't perfect, plus her fancy pair of black strappy sandals she saved for special occasions. She pulled on her jacket and pushed some stray hair out of her face. The majority of her blonde tresses were swept up on top of her head and held with a clip with a few strands left loose, hanging down to frame her face.

"You're sure I don't look over-dressed?" she checked worriedly, "Or under-dressed? Or maybe I'm too old for this outfit or..."

"Enough with the ors, Buff" Xander hushed her, "You'll have enough soon to row a Viking ship" he smiled, making her laugh out loud and forget for five seconds that she was supposed to be nervous.

"I dunno why tonight seems such a big deal" she sighed as they walked along down the street, arms linked, "I just really want them all to like me"

"They already like you" her cousin pointed out, "They wouldn't have invited you along if they didn't"

"True" Buffy nodded in agreement, but the butterflies in her stomach would not give in. She felt like a teenager going on a first date or to her prom or something, when all she was really doing was going out for a drink with some friends. She thought of Spike and when he'd asked her to come along. She doubted he was nervous like she was, he seemed so cool and calm about everything.

"Spike, you're making me all jumpy" Willow told him as he sat on the stool beside her, leg bouncing like he had an involuntary twitch.

"What?" he asked absently, still watching the door. Buffy was five minutes late and he was starting to wonder if she was going to show. The red-head to his left rolled her eyes, reaching out a hand and forcing her friends knee to be still. He looked strangely at her hand and then her face, wondering what she was doing.

"You were all nervous-twitchy" she told him, "and it was driving me crazy"

"Sorry, luv" Spike sighed, taking a swig of his beer and changing the position he sat in to tuck his legs under the stool, "I don't know what's up with me tonight"

"I think maybe I do" Oz smiled, gesturing towards the door with his head, "No disrespect to my wife but, hottie at eleven o'clock" he said with a wink. Willow giggled when Spike's eyes snapped over to the door once again, his hand shifting and almost spilling his beer everywhere.

Buffy smiled when she saw her new friends, raising a hand when Willow waved to her, though she had a hard time keeping her eyes off Spike, he looked so good.

"Hey guys" the blonde grinned as she arrived at the table, "This is my cousin, Xander" she introduced, "Xand, this is Willow and Oz, and that's Spike" she gestured to each of them and there was much greeting and hand-shaking as the new-arrivals sat down on the two available stools.

"You two want drinks" Oz offered, having bought the first round before they got there. They thanked him, both requesting a beverage which he went to get for them.

"I love your top, Buffy" Willow told her, noticing she looked sort of uncomfortable, "It's so pretty"

Buffy thanked her a little over-zealously, she was just glad of the compliment and the re-assurance that she didn't look stupid at all.

"I told her she looks great" Xander threw in, "but she gets all twitchy panicky about her clothes. I swear I don't understand you women with your fashions" he added, amused by the shock on both girls' faces.

"Gotta say I agree with you there, mate" Spike played along, unable to contain and smirk and then a laugh as Willow and Buffy looked ready for a fight on the subject. The guys assured them they'd been joking just as Oz arrived with the drinks and the tone of the evening was set at a friendly and playful level from there on out.

Later in the evening, someone had jacked the volume of the music so they could dance and many patrons of the Bronze were out on the floor giving it their all in one way or another. The youngest people there were still mid-twenties and the music reflected that but it was by no means an old persons establishment. It made Buffy feel young again, but the memories brought forward by that didn't necessarily make her feel good.

Willow and Oz had got up to dance a few minutes ago and three songs later they were still out there. The conversation at the table had descended into sports as Xander and Spike rambled on over Buffy's head. She seemed to be in her own little dream world but the guys soon noticed she was far too quiet.

"You alright there, pet?" Spike checked, snapping her out of her memory-induced day-dream.

"Oh, er, yeah" she smiled, sipping her drink and going right back to her blank staring.

"Buff, if you're tired we can leave y'know, just say it" her cousin asked but she shook her head.

"Really Xander I'm fine" she assured him, "I was just listening that's all"

"Listening to us?" he checked, not really understanding why his cousin would be interested in their conversation. Spike smirked.

"Er, luv, what exactly were we talking about?" he asked her and she glanced between him and Xander before she answered.

"Some kind of sports?" she guessed hopefully, "Maybe football or something...?" the look on her face said she was guessing and didn't really have a clue where the conversation had ended up, only where it began over half an hour ago.

"Actually I was er, I was going to ask" Xander shifted on his seat, "You mind if I leave you with Spike for a while?" he asked Buffy with an almost begging expression, "'Cause a girl over their, kinda been diggin' the Xan-man's looks, y'know what I mean?" he grinned.

"Seldom if ever" Buffy laughed lightly, "but if you wanna go talk to the girl then go, talk" she encouraged, pleased to see her cousin so excited as he got her, kissed her cheek and headed off in each of the girl who'd been giving him 'the look' for the past hour.

It was only as she watched him go, Buffy realised she was alone with Spike. Now it felt like a date, all awkward and strange again. She had no idea he was thinking the same thing and they both sat there, silently sipping their drinks and looking at everything but each other for a while.

"Oh look" Willow pointed over at the pair as she and Oz danced, "They're alone"

"Not for long" her husband told her, "I thought we were sitting again after this song" he reminded her. Willow shook her head.

"Oh no, we can't" she told him all over-dramatic about it, "They have to be alone for a while. He likes her Oz, I know he does, and maybe she likes him" she said urgently, "Look at them, see how cute"

"I see potential couple cuteness" he admitted, glancing over, "but don't push it, honey, they might not like it"

The song was coming to an end and Willow wrapped her arms tighter round him, giving him a kiss.

"Just one more dance" she pouted and he rolled his eyes.

"One more" he relented, not really minding at all. It was too long since they'd been out like this, and as much as he loved his kids, it was nice to spend a little time, just him and his Willow.

"They're really in love, aren't they?" Buffy smiled when she saw the couple, "Willow and Oz, I mean"

"Oh yeah" Spike nodded, "Been together a long time. Romantic love that'll sustain that long, it's something special" he mused.

"You think everybody can have that?" Buffy sighed, not really thinking about what she was saying or who too, but it was too late now.

"Maybe" Spike told her, glancing up from the table to meet her eyes, "Thought I had it once" he added, voice disappearing into nothing.

"I'm sorry" Buffy said quickly, "I didn't mean to make you think about your wife and...oh God I'm such an idiot" she said looking away in embarrassment.

Spike felt bad for her. He knew she hadn't meant to upset him or anything and she hadn't, not really, just made him think was all.

"Buffy" he said, but she couldn't seem to look at him. He reached a hand across the table and covered hers, "Hey, pet, really not your fault" he assured her as she glanced over at him once again, "I don't mind talking about Dru, just sometimes, well, I s'pose I get a bit jealous"

"Of what?" she asked, not really understanding, and feeling really strange with her hand caught under his, still she didn't mind if he didn't move it for a while.

"Of Red and Oz, being so happy still when I lost the one I loved" he sighed, "Of all these other people, people like yourself, still young and carefree and good-looking enough to start over..."

"You can't be much older than me" she pointed out, "and you're totally hot and...oh God did I just say that outloud" she blushed profusely, letting her hand slip from beneath his and she tried to cover her reddening face.

"You did, luv" he smiled amusedly and a little embarrassed himself though it didn't show so much on him, "and it's very nice of you to say so, but..."

"But, nothing" she interrupted, deciding that the world didn't end when she got embarrassed the first time so whatever she said now, probably nothing bad would come of it, "You are attractive" she said more confidently, "and not at all old, and okay so you have a daughter, but I think it's great how you coped and brought her up on your own for this long" she told him, "So many people might've given up" she added more quietly, thinking of her own situation again and hating it.

"Thankyou, pet" Spike smiled, his hand finding it's way over hers again, "And y'know, if you're going to pay me so many compliments I should at least voice a thought I had earlier" he smirked, "You look stunning, luv, really you do"

"Stop it" she giggled, looking away, believing him to be teasing her.

"I'm serious" he promised her, squeezing her hand and getting her attention on him alone, "Wasn't sure how to say it before, but it's true"

"Thanks" she said as her eyes met his, not really knowing what to say next. She wanted to break eye contact but found it impossible for a while, until Willow and Oz returned to the table.

"Hey, what are we talking about?" Will asked as the pair took their seats once again.

"Not really talking, Red" Spike told her, but he didn't look away from Buffy yet, "Actually, I was just going to ask Buffy if she wanted to dance?" he said a little more cautious than his usual tone.

"Oh" she seemed a little startled by the question, but she soon smiled as she replied, "Yes, I'd love to dance"

Willow was practically bouncing in her seat with joy as she watched her friends stand up, holding hands, and walk out onto the dance floor. Oz smiled at his wife's enthusiasm, she really did love to play match-maker.

The two red-head's watched as Spike pulled Buffy into his arms and they swayed to the slow rhythm of the music. They both recognised it as Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight.

"Y'know I was ridiculously nervous about tonight" Buffy admitted, not looking up at him when she said it, "but I'm having fun" she smiled, turning her eyes to his.

"Glad to hear it, pet" he smiled down at her, "I am too, it's been too long since I..." he was going to say something about being on a date but it probably didn't seem that way to her so he stopped mid-sentence.

All around them other couples were having their last dance of the night, and many were kissing. The atmosphere was perfect and the situation was almost telling them to go with what they felt. It seemed the feeling hit both of them at the same time as they leaned in for one sweet kiss just as the song ended.

'Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight'

To Be Continued...

A/N2 : The last line of this chapter is the last line of Wonderful Tonight' by Eric Clapton