A/N : This chapter is a little short but hopefully you'll all like it anyway. I think re-writing episodes from Season 2 that didn't have Spike in them is going to be interesting, trying to include him and carry on making the Spuffy convincing... Oh well, we'll see how it goes. Your opinions in the form of reviews are always very much appreciated.
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 4 - I Looked Into Your Eyes

"Okay, just repeat that part for me so I have it clear in my head" Xander said too loudly as he walked through the museum with Buffy and Willow.

"I have an exchange student coming to stay with me" the blonde repeated slowly, as if Xander were even more stupid that he actually was, "Just like a whole bunch of other people, Xand, it is not the big deal you are making it"

"But this exchange student is a guy" the brunette reminded, "It is not safe for you to have a guy in your house, in your room even, it's just wrong" he protested, "Back me up here Will" he said, glancing at the red-head who squirmed uncomfortably.

"I...well, I think it's okay" she admitted, "I mean, if he gets fresh or anything it's not like Buffy can't stop him, what with being the Slayer and all" she whispered the last part so her fellow students wouldn't here, "and I think it's cool to learn about new cultures and stuff"

"That's what the museum is for!" Xander argued, "Safe learning, without the risk of man handleage!"

"Yeah, safe" Buffy sighed, "For us maybe, not for her" she said sadly as she looked down into a casket where a Mummy of a young Incan princess was laid out on display.

As a museum worker explained the legend of the princess and her sacrifice, Buffy got the weirdest feeling like she was being watched. She glanced around at the other students only to be accused of not listening to the mini-lecture being aimed at her class. She couldn't see anyone obviously looking her way but the feeling like someone was staring at her just wouldn't go away.

Spike smirked to himself as he watched the Slayer from across the museum. He'd come through the tunnels and up through a vent in the basement to keep an eye on the girl, find out what was going on with her. Of course he could've sent one of his newly acquired minions to keep tabs, but despite his threats he wasn't entirely certain he could trust them yet. Besides he found he quite liked stalking Buffy Summers himself, took the fun out when you delegated such tasks.

He ducked back behind the pillar when she turned around. Maybe the girl wasn't as daft as he'd first thought if she could sense him watching her, though that didn't mean she knew it was a vamp that had her in his sights. She turned back soon enough, pouting as the teacher accused her of not paying proper attention.

A couple of minutes later the group dispersed and Spike dodged away so he wouldn't be spotted.

"Well, I still don't like it" Xander said firmly as they passed by, "I mean, it's bad enough he's a guy, but a South American guy? You just know he's gonna get all accenty and smooth on you"

"Please, Xander, would you let it go" Buffy sighed, "Geez, you just know he wouldn't be making such a big deal if my exchangeable friend was a girl" she said to Willow who replied too softly for Spike to hear as the kids walked away.

So the Slayer had a bloke coming to stay with her. That could be useful information, her bleached blond stalker noted, though he couldn't explain why the idea annoyed him so much. Some kid from God knows where putting the moves on Buffy shouldn't mean much to him. So long as he got to kill her in the end, it shouldn't make a difference. What bothered Spike was that it did mean something to him that another man would be getting close to the Slayer, a man that wasn't him.

"So, Ampata, you're a guy" Xander said, a little hostility in his tone.

"Yes, for many years now" the Peruvian boy replied nervously, "You were not expecting me to be so?"

"Sure we were" Buffy assured him as the gang sat down at the counter in her kitchen and she pulled cartons of both milk and juice from the refrigerator, "Xander's just all state-the-obvious boy today"

Ampata wasn't really sure what to make of Buffy's friends, and he was sure the smile Xander gave him was far less than genuine. Still the girl who's house he would be sharing was beautiful and he'd be glad to get her know her better in more ways the one. The way he stared at her seemed to escape Buffy's notice, but Willow saw it and mentioned it to her friend an hour later when she and Xander left the house.

"I think Ampata has a little crush already" she whispered on the doorstep, checking said boy wasn't coming down the stairs from the bathroom yet, "Be careful, Buffy"

"Relax, Will, it's probably nothing" the Slayer told her, "and like we said before, if he tries anything I can more than take care of myself"

Willow nodded and smiled, though she still didn't like the idea of Buffy being left alone in the house with this boy that none of them knew too well yet. Joyce was at the gallery working late and wouldn't be back for at least another hour, but like Buffy had said, it wasn't like she couldn't take care of herself if trouble arose.

As the Slayer said goodbye and closed the front door on her friends, she turned and found Ampata right behind her.

"Oh, you startled me" she told him, her hand going to her chest.

"I am sorry" Ampata smiled, "It was not my intention... I just was thinking, perhaps we might be going to bed now"

"What!" Buffy squeaked, wondering if Willow had been right about this guy after all.

"I am very tired" Ampata explained, "It was a long trip on the bus to here and I would like to sleep now for many hours"

"Oh, go to bed, to sleep" Buffy said in realisation, feeling so stupid for thinking anything else, "Of course, you go on up" she encouraged him, "I just, I have a couple of things to do first, homework and... stuff" she said vaguely as he nodded and turned towards the stairs.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief when Ampata was out of sight and hurried through to the kitchen where she pulled on her jacket, checked her stake was still in her pocket and then crept out of the back door. She had to patrol and she couldn't let Ampata know about it. Her identify as the Slayer was forced to remain a secret for the most part, however difficult that made things.

She was crossing through her second cemetery of the night, deep in thought when she felt a presence behind her. Turning fast, stake raised in preparation to stake the fiend that would attempt to tackle her, Buffy was stunned to find Angel there. He grabbed her wrist just in time before the wooden object in her hand reached his chest.

"Angel, God I'm sorry" the blonde gasped as she pulled her wrist free and put her stake back in her jacket, "Guess I'm a little jumpy tonight"

"Well, it's good to know your reflexes won't let you down" he smirked, "I've been kinda worried about you" he admitted, "It's been a couple of weeks since we really talked and days since that attack at the school..."

"Yeah, I guess it has been a while" Buffy considered, though really until it had been pointed out to her she'd barely noticed a lack of souled vampire in her life. The man that had filled her head more than most had been William - now him she was missing, despite the fact she barely knew the guy.

"...something about an exchange program, right?" Buffy only caught the end of Angel's sentence as she zoned back in from thoughts of the bleached blond she'd met two weeks ago.

"Oh yeah, exchange program" she nodded, "I have a guy from Peru staying with me, and other kids have folks from all over. There's gonna be a dance at the Bronze on Friday night, celebration of different cultures and stuff. Might be fun if I can convince Giles to let me go" the Slayer sighed, "He goes into Watcher over-drive when I mention that I'd like to skip patrol for one night"

"If it'd help I could take your patrol on the night of the dance" Angel offered, "It's not like I'll have anything else to do" he smiled sadly, but Buffy barely noticed.

"You're serious? You'd patrol for me?" she asked, bouncing a little like the excited teen she was behind all the Chosen One duties.

"Of course" Angel nodded, "Anything for you" he said softly, hand going to her cheek, but Buffy shied away.

"Angel" she sighed, "I... I don't think we... I mean, I..." she stumbled over what she meant to say as she glanced up into his eyes. He was first to break the awkward silence.

"I had a reason for finding you tonight" he admitted, attitude suddenly changing, going a little cold as he sensed her apparent indifference, "Something happened at the museum today, some bad power. There are rumours about the Incan mummy, something not good"

"I'll have Giles look into it" Buffy nodded, feeling overly awkward by now, "I should really get done with my patrolling and get home" she laughed nervously as she backed up a couple of steps, "Y'know I don't want Ampata getting suspicious or anything"

"Right" Angel frowned slightly as Buffy moved away from his too quickly, "I guess I'll see you?"

"Yeah, sure" the Slayer smiled fakely as she disappeared into the dark.

She let out a breath when she was sure he couldn't see or hear her anymore. Angel was great, completely gorgeous, and really kinda sweet, but the fact that he was a vampire was never going to go away and was always going to make their situation difficult.

Since the Summer break, Buffy had started to realise it didn't matter so much that she and Angel could never have a long term relationship. She was sixteen after all, and it wasn't as if she was in love with Angel. She liked him a whole lot and yeah, for a while there she'd thought there might be more to it than that, but it seemed there wasn't. If nothing else had proved it the fact his fingers on her skin made little difference to her and yet the way William looked at her made her whole being vibrate told Buffy a little something about her real feelings for Angel. She was attracted to the mystery and his looks, but it was little more than that. Maybe what she felt for William would run deeper. If only she got the chance to spend more time with him she might be able to find out for sure.

"There's my boy" Drusilla crooned as Spike came into their bedroom, "but my boy is mine no more" she moaned, her outstretched hand retracting and hiding her face from her lover.

"What are going on about Dru?" Spike frowned as he climbed onto the bed beside her, "You know you're my princess, my goddess, my only" he promised her, pulling her hand away from her face and kissing her fingers, before his lips moved up the length of her arm. He reached her shoulder and then leaned in to kiss her lips, but she shied away.

"Poor William, so confused" she said sadly, holding his face in her hands, "All green about the gills and gasping" Drusilla continued her fingers sliding from Spike's cheeks to his throat, gripping his neck as if she might throttle him.

"You having one of your bad nights, pet?" Spike asked, almost nervously. When she looked at him like this he felt as if she could see right into his soul, metaphorically speaking of course. It never really bothered him too much before but now, he was having feelings where the Slayer was concerned that he couldn't quite fathom himself, and really did not want Drusilla to figure out for him.

"The night is bad" she nodded slowly, "A bad influence on it's nymphs and fairies who want to dance beneath the stars" she whispered, a sly smile appearing on her face as her hands slid down across his chest and then lower, "Want to dance, sweet William?" she asked him, making her intentions very clear.

Spike wasn't so stupid as to turn her down, he wanted her so badly it hurt and it was rare for her to feel strong enough to want to be with him this way lately. Besides, he hoped he might clear his head of all things Slayer related with a few hours of shagging with his sire. He didn't know it yet, but that particular hope would prove fruitless.

To Be Continued...