A/N : My updating cycle has gone completely wrong now but I needed to get the second half of this double chapter done! Thanx so much to my latest reviewers; Brunettepet, Baby Girl Geller-Green, Spuffy2008, spuffymonica, SpuffyChiclet, KelleyTheSelfToastablePopTart, demonica mills, souled-angel, Spikez-babe91, sdfd, Hellmouth2, spiked-gurl, Dabiel Wesley Rydell, bella-lover, and Ape18. You all rock as always. See what you think of what happens next. I personally loved writing this chapter so I'm hoping you enjoy reading it!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 16 - The Passion (Part II)

Spike didn't know how much more of this he could take. It was late Thursday night and for the third evening running he was propping up the bar whilst Buffy spun like a whirling dervish on the dance-floor, gyrating in what he considered an inappropriate manner with any human being that possessed a Y chromosome.

Buffy spent her mornings with her own kind of hangover, which just seemed to make her grouchy more than anything else, and the rest part of the day trying to avoid Spike. When they did spend time together she was distant or just plain bitchy and as much as he'd like to put her in her place and tell her to stop being such a brat, Spike didn't have the energy to deal with her. This wasn't how he'd envisaged their relationship going, if you could call it that anyway. He'd thought they were having a friendship at least, even if nothing more ever came out of it. Spike's problem was, he'd realised he was falling in love with Buffy Summers three days ago, and now nothing made sense.

When he saw her disappear with other men and re-appear later, all rumpled and dishevelled, he knew precisely what had happened, and a small part of him hated the blonde that for the most part he thought he must been in love with. It confused the hell out if him, feeling so mixed up in his emotions for her, and it wasn't as if he could even tell her with her being so desperate to get away from him all the time.

Tonight was the final straw, Spike realised, as Buffy strutted away from her latest conquest and arrived at the bar to get a drink.

"Havin' fun, pet?" he asked her and she barely looked at him when she answered that yes, of course she was having a great time.

"More than I can say for myself" he shrugged, emptying his glass and standing up, "I'm going back to the hotel"

"Well, I'm not" Buffy snorted, "It's way too early yet"

"Suit yourself, luv" Spike told her with a further shrug as he made for the exit.

He couldn't care anymore, couldn't let himself. Whatever feelings he thought she might be developing for him were clearly not there or she just wouldn't act as she was, shagging random fellas every night whilst he got drunk because there was nothing better to do.

When he got back to the hotel, Spike went straight to his room and collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. He felt so lost right now, because nothing made sense. Everything was simple before the Summer had rolled around. He was William Rayne, mother deceased, father best left unmentioned. He excelled in his studies and was an all round sensible young man. Now here he was, dressed in black and leather, with hair you could see several miles away, even in the dark. When he rang his Uncle to let him know he and Buffy were okay he mostly lied, and he was so much not himself even his name had changed.

Spike dragged himself up off the bed and looked in the mirror. This wasn't him, what he saw staring back at him. He wasn't Spike, he was William, and yet it wasn't the clothes or the hair that had made the real change. Something inside him had shifted and altered. Buffy had made all the changes, including the one deep inside his heart, and he wished he didn't feel this way but there was no way to help it.

"Falling in love with the silly bint" he muttered to himself, "Of all people why'd I have to..." he cursed himself, shutting his eyes and turning away from the glass. Staying here wasn't helping. He and Buffy had managed to be friends of a fashion back at Giles' House. Being here alone with her was making things happen that he couldn't deal with and he needed to get out.

The little excursion was over, Spike decided, as he pulled his bags out from under the bed and made sure all his belongings from the bathroom and the bedroom were present. He was just about to change out of his clothes and go to bed, had his T-shirt half off in fact, when the door of the bathroom swung open and Buffy stormed through from her own room.

"Hi" she said, stopping abruptly when she came face to bare chest with him. She'd looked so confident, almost angry when she'd come through the door but as she reached the man she'd come to see, who quickly pulled his top back on, she lost all her bravado, most especially when she noted his neatly packed bags on the floor.

"Hello, luv" Spike said, sitting on the edge of the bed, "You want something? Cos I was thinking of calling it a night, catching some shut eye"

"I was... I wanted to know what your problem was" Buffy snapped more harshly than she should've but he was really starting to piss her off now and through no fault of his own she knew that. Still, she couldn't stand this situation much longer, being trapped with him and knowing being close to him was just not an option. No matter how many other guys she went with nothing seemed to quash the want she had for Spike and it was slowly killing her.

"I don't have a problem as such, pet" he assured her, "I just, I'm bored I s'pose, had enough of hangin' round here and fancy to go home" he explained, "Reckon we should head back to the house tomorrow" he told her.

Though it was sort of what Buffy wanted to hear, it worried her too. Back at the house there were less people to take her mind off Spike, not that anyone seemed capable of that anyway. Still, at least they wouldn't be alone every day, trapped in the same small space and everything. A part of her so wanted to tell him how she felt, but Buffy really wasn't even sure herself. Of course the word love had passed through her brain a couple of times but she'd dismissed it quickly. She'd never been in love, not really, and apart from that family type love she'd had for her parents, Buffy didn't think she could ever say she'd really loved anyone at all in her whole life. There was no way a guy like William Rayne was going to get under skin, she promised herself. Though she was semi-aware that she might not keep that particular vow, she had another that she was determined not to break.

"We can't go tomorrow" she said suddenly, "We promised we'd visit Drusilla again and if we don't go on a Saturday it'll ruin her routine, right?" she reminded him. Spike frowned at that, feeling a little stunned. Not only had Buffy remembered his sister, she was being thoughtful enough to consider Dru's feelings over and above his or her own.

"Well, I... I s'pose we could wait one more day before we leave" he conceded, staring at the blonde, head tilting of it's own accord as he tried to read her expression, tried to figure out where amongst all the anger and apathy had come this tiny piece of compassion and caring for his sibling.

"What? Did I suddenly grow another head or something?" said Buffy, squirming uncomfortably. When he looked at her that way she felt as if Spike could see right into her soul, and though it kind of thrilled her in one way, mostly it just scared her to death. He was unlikely to find anything within her that he would like, she was sure.

"I, er, I was just wondering what I'm gonna do all day tomorrow" Spike lied, shaking his head slightly and looking away.

"Last day of our little trip... You wanna spend it together?" Buffy said, regretting it almost as soon as she'd asked the question.

All this time trying to avoid William had done her no good at all, and had only served to make her want him more. Maybe if they did more of the friend thing like they had been before it'd help. Though she'd probably never tell him, he was a good friend, and she was determined not to screw that up for the sake of, well, screwing.

"Never did quite finish that sight-seeing tour" Spike considered as Buffy sat down next to him, "S'pose we could do that"

"Sounds good" she smiled genuinely.

If they could find away to be friends, if only for the rest of the Summer, Buffy thought she might actually be able to deal. Of course she had no idea that Spike wanted to be so much more than just her friend.

Spike had been quite determined not to go out tonight, if Buffy wanted a final wild experience in London he planned to make her go alone, but they'd had such a great day together, he found when she offered him the chance to go with her he genuinely wanted to.

So far it was okay, she'd stayed at the bar with him and they'd had drinks and talked about all kinds of things, including visiting Drusilla and heading back to Giles' House. Spike really loved Buffy for caring about his sister, in fact he'd come to realise he just loved Buffy, end of sentence. Telling her, now there was a concept. As much as he'd like her to know that he cared, a part of him was frightened of scaring her off, and the larger part was just plain scared for himself. Feeling this strongly for a girl he'd known such a short time was frightening enough but someone like her, with all the experience she had of the opposite sex and her many trust issues where all humans but most especially men were concerned, it was a lot to take on.

"Y'know I just realised something terrible" Buffy commented, bringing Spike out of his deep and meaningful thoughts, "All these nights we've been out and I've never seen you dance once!" she told him.

"Not much of a dancer, pet" Spike told her quickly, "'Specially not this kind of... dancing" he said uncertainly as he glanced over at the dancefloor. It just wasn't dancing, at least he couldn't see how it was anything other than simulated sex, and if Buffy thought he and she were going to get into that, well then she had another think coming! Though he got embarrassed less often these days, that was one level he was not about to sink too.

Buffy didn't look impressed by his attitude but she let it go, a grumpy expression on her face until Spike suggested maybe she could find someone else to dance with.

"Not quite understandin' why nobody's come over and asked you yet" he said with a look and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Er, the reason is sitting right here!" she smirked, gesturing at Spike, "You! You are the reason!" she explained, unable to believe he hadn't realised yet.

"Me?" he frowned, "Why, what am I doing?"

"You don't have to do anything" Buffy sighed, "Other guys just think that you and me are like, well, together" she explained, "And you look a little tough for anyone to want to fight with you"

"Yeah?" Spike smirked, liking the sound of that and sitting up a little straighter suddenly.

"Totally" Buffy nodded, "I mean, look at you, all with your tough guy coat and your bourbon drinking" she smiled, "Lookin' very much the manly man there, Mr Rayne" she winked and Spike was caught half way between being full of himself and embarrassed by her comments. The smirk that had found it's way onto his lips suddenly started to slide away as he caught sight of someone across the room that he'd rather not see.

"Oh bloody hell" he gasped, downing the rest of his drink and hopping down from his stool.

"What's up?" Buffy frowned, trying to follow his eyeline.

"As tough as I might look, pet, I'm no match for some of the larger blokes in here" he explained as he grabbed her hand and dragged her from her seat, "And that bugger over there is the one I laid out first night we were in town - I think he remembers me"

"Oh God" Buffy found that partially amusing but a little scary too since she'd rather not see Spike get his face smeared across the club floor. She hurried behind him, as they pushed through the writhing bodies that inhabited the club and were glad when they made it out into the fresh air of the night.

"You think he saw us leave?" Buffy asked, gasping a little from the sudden hurrying.

"I dunno" Spike shook his head, looking back, "Don't fancy takin' any chances though" he said with a look.

"Me either" Buffy agreed, and with their hands still joined they ran towards the hotel.

"That was truly wild" Buffy laughed as she and Spike fell into his room, both fairly out of breath from the running.

"God, I'm knackered" Spike admitted as he sat down on the edge of the bed with a thump, "Seriously thought I was fitter than that"

"I thought you were gonna pull my arm out the socket" Buffy complained, wincing a little as she put her left hand to her right shoulder and rolled the joint around.

"Sorry 'bout that, luv" Spike apologised as he got back to his feet and went over to her, "Just didn't want to lose you in the crowd was all" he told her as his hand followed hers to her shoulder and rubbed it absently.

"Feels better already" she said more softly than she meant to as her eyes and his both shifted from her arm and the pair met each others gaze. Subconsciously he stepped in closer to her, their bodies just inches apart, and Buffy's breath hitched in her throat as Spike's lips drifted closer to hers. They were both thinking how insane this was and yet how great it felt as they finally kissed, tentatively at first and then more deeply as their arms wound around each other.

"Buffy" Spike gasped between kisses, "I think I'm falling in love with you"

He was startled to realise that far from echoing his words, laughter had escaped the blonde's throat, and he pulled back sharply to look at her. He looked incredibly hurt and Buffy put a hand to her face as she backed up a step.

"I didn't think it was quite as amusing as all that, pet" Spike snapped, feeling deeply wounded by her reaction.

"I'm sorry" she said, though her laughter did not cease and Spike, feeling so much more like William now, seriously doubted that she'd meant the words.

"I suppose I should have expected this from you" he spat, turning away from her. How could he expect a girl like Buffy to actually want him, to take him seriously when he said he loved her. It'd seemed like the thing to do when they'd started kissing the way they had. He wanted her badly, and was so in love with her, telling her as well as showing her how he felt seemed logical, but apparently it was just a big joke to her.

"What did you want me to say?" she snapped back at him, her laughter finally subsiding and anger creeping into her tone, "That I love you too? That we'll live happily ever after? This is not a fairytale, William" she pointed out.

"I know that" he said, rolling his eyes as he turned back and realised she'd moved several feet away from him, "I'm not completely stupid" he reminded her.

"Well, you just made yourself look that way" she told him a she took a few more steps backwards and fumbled for the door handle behind her back.

"I can't believe you would..." Spike began, before realising something. Buffy had been really into that kiss he could feel it, and it was only when he said he loved her that she backed off and laughed at him. As she shifted almost nervously near the door, he suddenly understood.

"Oh, now I get it" he smiled slightly, "It scares you, doesn't it?"

"Me? Scared? Please!" Buffy scoffed, letting go of the door knob and folding her arms across her chest, "There are very few things in this world that scare me, and believe me when I tell you, William, that you are definitely not one of them" she told him firmly, emphasising his name as if it were some sort of insult or perhaps to highlight the lack of strength she believed he possessed.

"It's not me that you're afraid of, luv" Spike smirked, feeling very cocky all of a sudden as he approached her "it's what just happened. We kissed, I said I love you, and suddenly you can't get to the door fast enough" he pointed out as he reached her, "You're awful jumpy for someone who's calm"

"That's bull" Buffy told him, her back flat against the door as he stood right in front of her, blocking her from going anywhere.

"What's the matter, pet?" he asked, with a tilt of his head, "Afraid I might kiss you again? Scared you might feel something if I did?"

Of course he'd hit the nail right on the head with that comment, and Buffy hated to think he knew her so well that he could tell what she was thinking, why she was acting as she was. She was petrified of feeling something really deep for this guy when it was unlikely she would be anything more than a way for him to lose his innocence. He wouldn't be the first to say he loved her, just to get his wicked way.

With an angry look that came from pure fear and desperation to cover her true feelings, Buffy put her hands on his chest and pushed Spike back til he tripped on the edge of the bed and landed flat on his back. In moments she was on top of him, kissing him senseless before he had time to process what was happening. When she was forced to break for oxygen she remained on top of him, looking down on him with a glare.

"Still think I'm scared?" she challenged, without giving him chance to answer her, "You want me, Spike, just say the word. I'd take you for a test drive, it'd be my pleasure" she assured him, "but don't dress it up like something it's not" she snapped as she finally climbed off him and stormed towards the door.

"You think so little of me?" William called after her as he got to his feet, "You think I'd say I love you just to sleep with you?" he asked, feeling even more hurt by that than he had by her laughing at him before.

Buffy turned back by the door, sparing him once last glance as she answered him.

"You're a guy aren't you?" she shrugged, before walking out and letting the door slam shut behind her.

Spike stared dumbly after her, completely stunned by what had just happened. He'd like to be angry at Buffy for saying such things to him, for making him suffer as she was doing, but then he realised for a young girl to have opinions like these, there must be a reason - she'd been hurt so many times too.

To Be Continued...