A/N : Since the previous update on this was so short and this chapter kinda ended itself pretty short too you're getting two updates pretty close together - aren't you just all so lucky? Big thanx to the dedicated readers and wonderful reviewers of this fic, namely; EMBER91, Moluvsnumber17, Ape18, KelleyTheSelfToastablePopTart, Baby Girl Geller-Green, wicked-angel-413, Life'sSlayer, Freezyboncoolipants, EilA, Spikez-babe91, Brunettepet, spiked-gurl, Inuyasha-xcgirl, and spuffygrl, on the previous chapter. You are all so kind and complimentary - you guys make me blush and everything! Love all your sweet comments though - keep on rockin'!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 14 - The Next Day

Spike woke to a regular thump in the whole of his head. Partly it was the pain of having drunk so much the night before but he was fairly certain the steady beat was also audible. Music perhaps, he realised as he forced his eyes to open. He was still laying on the bed where he'd fallen asleep a few hours ago but where Buffy once was there was just an empty space.

As Spike replayed the night before in all it's glory he winced when he realised all that had been said. He'd admitted to his lack of bedroom experience, and though that was nothing to be ashamed of he sort of wished that Buffy didn't know. In her circle of friends he had no doubt he'd be a laughing stock, making it all the way to nineteen without ever being with a woman that way. Still, Buffy hadn't laughed at him, she'd just imparted a tale of her own that Spike wished he hadn't heard. Her cousin Faith was quite clearly a bad influence and her Aunt and Uncle could not be trusted to bring up children properly.

Spike sighed and tried to sit up though his head swam when he did so. He couldn't recall ever getting drunk before and therefore a hangover was yet another new experience he was having on this trip, though this one he felt he could well do without.

The music came clearer now, apparently from the bathroom to which the door was slightly ajar. Carefully Spike swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood on unsteady feet. He staggered a little towards the door and pushed it open more until he spotted Buffy, her back to him as she tidied up her face in the mirror and brushed her teeth, all the while bobbing along to the music from the radio in the corner.

The fact she was wearing nothing but her underwear and one of Spike's own shirts did not escape his notice, but it seemed his presence in the doorway did not get her attention at all as she continued with what she was doing.

It was a minute later when she turned around that she saw him there. He was too far over to be reflected in the mirror and she jumped a little when she suddenly realised he was there.

"What are you doing?" she asked suspiciously, hating herself immediately for sounding more bitchy than she meant to. Spike either didn't notice her harsh tone or didn't care right now.

"Watching you Walk Like An Egyptian" he said trying not to smirk as he gestured towards the radio.

"Oh" Buffy almost blushed as she looked anywhere but at him, "My parents used to like it, The Bangles in general, although I think my Mom was all about the music, my Dad just liked the girls" she smiled at the memory as she walked over to the radio and switched it off. Spike's eyes followed her everywhere and she found it was quite disconcerting. Though usually she liked to attract the attention of any and all men, it was something about the way only he looked at her that made her feel strange, but kind of in a good way.

"Er, I borrowed your shirt" she told him pointlessly, "First thing I could find to change into"

"'S fine, pet" he told her, suddenly feeling as uncomfortable as she looked, "I was, er, just wondering if we had any aspirin or something. Bloody head's killing me" admitted and Buffy smiled.

"You're so not used to the drinking" she said as she came towards the door, instead of pushing past him waiting for him to actually move out her way.

When she'd woken up this morning and found him lying beside her, momentarily she'd wondered what had happened. She drank often enough that she lost very little of her memory by the morning and hardly ever had a hangover. His arm had been across her waist, holding her gently when her eyes opened this morning. They were both fully clothed and on top of the covers so her memory wasn't playing tricks, they hadn't done anything.

Buffy felt like both laughing and crying when she'd looked over at the sleeping man beside her. She couldn't remember ever spending the night in the same room as a guy without something happening. All they'd done was talk and sleep, he'd not tried to take advantage of her and she'd not tried anything with him either, and it was... nice.

She was standing by the bed rifling through the contents of her bag when his hand landed on her shoulder and she physically jumped. She turned too fast and he instinctively reached for her so she didn't fall.

"I'm sorry" he said softly, hands still on her, "I didn't mean to startle you"

"It's okay" she breathed, "I... I guess I should get dressed" she said glancing down and up again. His eyes were too blue to look at and his hands on her body felt like fire. If this is what he could do to her with a look and innocent touch... Buffy dare not finish the thought she was having and quickly pulled herself away from him.

"Buffy" he said as she turned and watched her walk across the room, "About last night..."

"What about it?" she asked, as if she didn't know, "We went out, we got a little drunk, we talked, then we fell asleep"

"We did" he agreed, "but..."

"Spike" she sighed, interrupting him, "Whatever was said yesterday, it can't be taken back. We just... we won't talk about it again, deal?" she said hoping to make him feel better as well as herself.

"Deal" he nodded, knowing now that she too remembered everything that had been said and was not especially glad to have shared her secrets either.

"Giles House" Willow chirped a she picked up the phone, "Hello?" she frowned when nobody answered. A moment later then line went dead and she hung up herself, still looking confused.

"Willow?" Wesley said as he approached her, "You okay, sweetheart?"

"Er, yeah" she replied with a slight smile, "Just a weird phonecall. Nobody spoke and then the line went dead"
"A wrong number, I suppose" Wes guessed as he slid his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek.

"Wesley, stop" she giggled, pushing him away half-heartedly as he tried to pull her close and kiss her, "What if Mr Giles saw us?"

"I suspect he'd be quite jealous" Wes smirked, "After all you are the most beautiful woman in the building, and you're all mine"

"I am" she agreed with a smile, "Yours, I mean, not the other part" she added quickly, blushing the colour of her hair, "Anyway, Giles is a little edgy lately, I don't wanna get him mad"

"That would have something to do with Buffy, I assume" Wesley said as he walked with his girl down the hall, "I don't know what his problem is really"

"I think he's more worried about William" Willow sighed, "Buffy might be kind of a bad influence on him, and he's real worried Will might turn out like his father"

"Have you never met him?" Wes checked, "His father, I mean"

"No, Ethan Rayne stopped coming here years ago" Willow told him, "Way before I moved here. I've heard Mr Giles talk about him though, he's not a nice guy"

"Well, I doubt very much William has it in him to be anything but a 'nice guy'" Wesley assured his girlfriend, hugging her close, "He's hardly the tough type, is he?"

"Ouch" Spike winced as someone slammed their room door shut just as he came out of his own. His head was still banging despite the aspirin he'd taken an hour ago. Buffy smiled as she followed him into the hallway.

"Aaw, poor baby, still suffering?" she asked, stifling a grin.

"You might smirk, pet" Spike said, making a face, "Bloody hurts this does"

"I'm sorry" Buffy apologised, trying to look like she meant it, "I guess it is kind of my fault in a way. I knew you weren't used to it, I shouldn't have let you drink so much"

"Newsflash, Buffy" Spike told her, "I can take care of myself, I'm a big boy y'know" he said, though he was touched by her concern. He was also very glad she hadn't picked up on his accidental double entendre.

They went down to the dining room and got some breakfast, talking a little about neutral subjects as they ate their food and drank coffee.

"So, what's the plan for today then?" Spike asked as he left a tip on the table for the waitress.

"I dunno" Buffy shrugged, "I was thinking about going out again tonight, if you want to?" she suggested, "Though maybe a different club where that guy you knocked out won't find you?"

"An excellent plan" Spike smirked as they got up from the table, "Though that doesn't solve the problem of what we're going to do with the rest of today. You fancy sight seeing or what?"

"Depends on how good the tour guide is" she said with a smile, glad the awkwardness of earlier was dissipating now.

"Oh, he's excellent" Spike told her, continuing the joke, "Born and brought up here, knows the place like the back of his hand. So what do you say, pet?" he asked her, holding out a hand, "Wanna see what my town has to offer?"

"Yeah" Buffy nodded, putting her hand in his and grinning, "Show me what you've got"

"Giles House" Xander said as he picked up the phone, "Hello?" he frowned when nobody answered. A moment later the line went dead and he hung up, still looking confused, "Weird" he said to himself as he went back to his work.

To Be Continued...