Title: Bar
Series: Our Mrs. Cobb
Author: Sevangel
Disclaimer: Not mine; all belongs to Joss Whedon
Rating: PG-15
-
"Wow." Willow gasps. "If I swung that way….oh wait I do. Okay, if you didn't feel like my sister or something, I'd so have to try and score."
"Really?" River self-consciously asks.
"Oh, yeah." Willow assures her. "You look hot."
"She's right." Kaylee agrees. "You look beautiful."
River looks in the mirror and smiles. Jayne is going to lose it. Her hair is a mass of curls flowing down her back. Her eyes are outlined dark and look twice as big as normal. Her lips are full and pink. And then there's the dress; it's black and fits like a second skin. It's held up by to barely there strings and is cut down low in the front and back. The skirt flow out once it reaches her hips and is cut up on both sides to her upper thighs.
"Is that one of the dresses Nara gave you?" Kaylee asks.
"Yes." River answers. "Willow made some alterations."
"Are we ready?" Willow asks, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah." Kaylee answers. She looks down at the pink sundress she's wearing and then at Willow's sexy-barely there top and River's sexy dress with a sigh.
"What's wrong, Kaylee?" River asks.
"You two look all sexy and stuff." Kaylee answers. "And I don't."
"Sure you do." Willow argues. "It's not a 'in your face' way like we are, it's more of a cute and innocent way but it's still sexy."
"That's the whole ruttin' point." Kaylee replies. "People'll notice you two but they ain't gonna notice me."
"You want people to notice you?" Willow questions Kaylee.
"Not people." Kaylee replies.
"Just Simon." River says.
"Yeah." Kaylee agrees.
"In that case, your mission is complete." Willow says. "He notices you."
"He don't show it." Kaylee replies. "He told you that you looked beautiful but he can't say nothin' that sweet to me."
"Kaylee, that doesn't mean anything." Willow smiles at Kaylee. "Simon sees me as an extension of River. He can tell me I'm pretty just like he can tell River she's pretty. But with you, he's crossing the line into datesville and for a guy like Simon, that's probably very scary. I'm guessing he was never a big dater."
"No." River agrees. "Simon has always been too obsessed with work."
"He likes you, trust me, I speak guy talk." Willow says. "He just doesn't know how to say so without looking like an ass."
"You think so?" Kaylee asks hopefully.
"Know so." Willow replies. "Now, if that's all settled, let's go." She holds out both arms and River takes one and Kaylee takes the other. "River, you know Jayne's gonna loose it, right?"
River smiles. "Yes."
-
Mal grabs Simon's arm and looks at his watch. "What the hell is takin' them so long?" Mal says. "They've been in there for over 5 hours; how gorram long does it take to 'primp'?"
Simon jerks his arm out of Mal's grasp. "Wouldn't it be easier if you had your own watch?"
"Probably." Mal agrees.
"Oh, my." Book says, looking up at the catwalks.
Mal turns to follow the Shepard's gaze and his eyes widen in shock. The girls are walkin' down the stairs and all of them look dolled up. Kaylee's wearin' another pink thing but it don't look nothin' like the fluffy one she wore before; it's a sundress type thing with straps and ends bout mid-thigh. River's dress, well, he don't think she should be leavin' the boat dressed like that. And Willow, she's wearin' them dark jeans she had on when she first got here and a small, tiny, little tank top thing that looks more like underwear than anything else.
"A'right, I'm glad you had fun gettin' all sexified." Mal says to them. "Now, go change."
"Don't be silly, cap'n." Kaylee says. "We are changed."
"You three look lovely." Book says with a smile.
"Thanks." Willow, River, and Kaylee reply.
"So, we ready to go?" Willow asks Mal although she avoids looking him in the eyes.
"Yeah." Mal answers, looking around at his crew.
"Where we goin' anyways cap'n?" Kaylee asks.
"Some bar called Boca del Inferno." Mal answers. "Don't know what it…"
"Mouth of hell." Willow whispers.
"Huh?" Mal turns to look at Willow.
"It's Spanish, roughly translated means mouth of hell or hellmouth." Willow replies.
"So, you speak Spanish and Latin?" Mal questions.
Willow rolls her eyes. "I knew you couldn't go long without the questions."
"Hey, it ain't a hard question." Mal replies. "Just a yes or no one."
"Yes." Willow answers. "There, you satisfied?"
"Not at all." Mal answers. "Alright, there's some rules; number one, me, Jayne, and Zoe are makin' the exchange, the rest of ya just find a table and sit down. Number two, no bar fights and none of that stuff you three was callin' dancin'."
"Yes, sir, captain, sir." Willow salutes.
Mal rolls his eyes and leads the way out of boat. "Oh, couple more things." Mal says, turning to look at Zoe and Jayne. "Badger said this guy we're meetin' with is decent enough long as we don't try to play him, talk down to him, or make fun of his hair."
"His hair?" Zoe repeats.
"Yeah." Mal says. "That's all Badger would say; just don't make fun of his hair, guess he's sensitive bout it. You hear that, Jayne?"
"Yeah." Jayne mutters. "Leave his hair alone. Can we just go, I need a ruttin' drink." She shouldn't be wearin' that dress, not goin' into a bar where he's gonna have to break some fool's neck for starin' at her. Though he's gotta admit, she looks ruttin' hot. And he can't help but wonder if'n anybody would notice if he just threw her over his shoulder and ran to his bunk.
River lets go of Willow's arm and drops to the rear of the group.
Willow glances behind her and then grabs Simon's arm. "So, Simon, how are you?"
"Um, fine." Simon replies. "Are you feeling alright?"
"Peachy with a side of keen." Willow chirps. "Okay, I'm still sad and stuff but I think I needed that, the big ole breakdown. Sometimes, a girl just needs to cry, right Kaylee?"
"Yeah." Kaylee agrees quietly.
"You're askin' for all kinds of trouble dressin' like that." Jayne quietly growls over at River.
River smiles up at him. "I know."
Jayne glances up to make sure everyone's still a ways in front of him and River. "You even got panties on?"
"No." River replies sweetly. "Should I?"
Jayne closes his eyes and tightens his hand around the gun he's holding. "Moony, you do realize I'm gonna have to hurt any hundan that looks at you, don't ya?"
River nods happily. "I enjoy it when you commit violence."
Jayne cocks an eyebrow and a smirk crosses his face. "Do ya now?"
River smiles. "Very much so."
"Jayne, what the gorram hell?" Mal yells. "Get up here and stop arguin' with River."
"Stay with red." Jayne orders River quietly before jogging up to the front of the group.
"Hello, Inara." River takes the arm that the companion is holding out to her.
"Hello, River." Inara replies. "That dress looks lovely on you though I don't recall it being cut exactly that way."
"Willow made some alterations." River explains.
"Are you being careful, with Jayne?" Inara questions quietly.
"Are you being careful with Willow and the captain?" River questions back.
Inara flushes slightly. "You know?"
"Yes." River pats Inara softly on the arm. "You have a confusing road in front of you; don't automatically take the shortcut." Then she walks gracefully forward to take Kaylee's hand leaving the companion flustered.
With Kaylee on one side and Simon on the other, Willow is grateful for the support as she walks into the bar called 'Boca del Inferno'. It could be the Bronze, from the stage to the balcony to the bar to the pool tables, right down to their table. It's like stepping back in time, like waking up from a dream and it takes River pinching her to make her realize she was never asleep in the first place so it couldn't possible be a dream. Then she hears it, that voice, and her hearts stopping and she's walking over to Mal despite what she's been told.
-
"You guys go on and sit down." Mal orders. "Rest of us are gonna get paid. Jayne, you got that crate?"
"Yeah." Jayne answers, lifting the small, practically weightless crate into view. "Where's this guy?"
Mal looks around the bar trying to find whoever seems to be in charge. He spots the man almost right away; an air of power practically circling him. He's currently breaking up a fight (to the annoyance of what looks to be a couple bouncers) and his authority to his employees can be seen.
"Now, I have to break up you two bloody idiots again and I'll rip both your arms off and beat you to death with them, dong ma?" A cockney accent, one closely resembling Badger, says.
"That's our guy." Mal nods to Jayne and Zoe who both flank him on his way across the bar.
The fighting men scatter and the man, slim built, dressed in all black with white hair (now Mal can see why he's so sensitive about it) takes a shot glass from a passing waitress and downs it before tossing the glass to the bartender. He spins around before they reach him and Mal comes to a stop at the two guns pointing at him and Jayne.
"Well, now, you're both dead." Blonde head cocks, eyebrow jerking up in the air. "Though you both look a bit different; what happened to the suit and tie, lawyer boy?"
"Huh?" Jayne mutters. "Tie; I don't own a ruttin' tie."
"Sure ya don't." Blonde boy sneers. "Just like preacher boy here doesn't own that God-awful black suit that ain't ever seeming to go outa style."
"Hold on a gorram second." Mal shouts. "I ain't a preacher and Jayne here ain't a lawyer."
"I got a thing for faces." Guns cock. "And two people who tried to do me in, I remember."
"Spike."
"Which one of ya's said that?"
"Ain't me." Jayne defends.
"Me either." Mal replies.
"Don't look at me." Zoe says. "I'm just as confused as you."
"Spike."
"There it bloody well is again."
"Spike."
Mal looks behind him when he finally realizes it's Willow. She's walking towards them slowly, the rest of the crew on her heals, and when she sees the blonde man in front of them, she's running towards him.
"SPIKE!" Willow squeals happily. "Oh my goddess, Spike." She throws herself at the blonde vampire expecting an equally as happy greeting; she's disappointed.
"Don't know who the bloody hell you are." Spike growls, gripping 'Red's' impersonator's arms tightly. "But wearing that face round me is the last bloody thing you'll ever do."
"Spike, it's me, Willow." Willow pleads.
"No, Red's dead." Spike growls. "Done seen where she went down; there weren't enough left to ID even."
"Spike, it's me." Willow says.
Spike just growls and tightens his hands around her arms. She knows she's going to have bruises but that doesn't matter. She shakes her hair to the side, baring her neck. "Spike, trust your instincts." Willow says passively. "Feel me; smell me; you know my scent."
She didn't think it worked but after a few seconds, she feels Spike growl against her neck, can feel his face against her skin as it changes and his teeth push in slightly over the scar Harmony gave her. She knows the moment he realizes it's her; the moment her blood hits his tongue. His tongue swipes at the pinpoint to close it and his face changes back. Then he's pulling back to stare at her with tears in his eyes. "Red, it's really you."
"I know." Willow smiles at him and then squeals when he picks her up and spins her around in circles.
Mal's hand was on his pistol ready to come up when this Spike guy started shaking her. Oh, he remembers Spike; remembers the stories Willow told. Then Willow is pushing her neck into his face and telling him to smell, whatever the hell that means. Then he's spinning her in circles and they're both laughing happily. Needless to say, Mal's hand still wants to shoot the blonde, actually, if he's completely honest, most of him wants to shoot the blonde.
"Willow, we're attractin' a bit of a crowd here." Mal says. "And I thought I done told all of you to stay outa this trade."
Willow bends her head backwards to look at Mal. "Oops." Then she leans up to look at Spike. "Spike, is there somewhere we can go, private somewhere?"
"Well now, I didn't think you were driving stick anymore." Spike leers, eyebrow wiggling in invitation.
Willow laughs, smacks him on the head and then kisses his cheek. "I missed you."
"Missed you too, Red." Spike says. He whistles over his shoulder and one of the bouncers comes back. "Give me that crate."
Jayne tosses it to him, frowning when the smaller man catches it with ease.
Spikes rips the top of the crate off and laughs gleefully. "Finally." He growls, hands digging in. "I've been bloody craving these for weeks."
Willow peaks into the crate and then starts laughing so hard she has to grab onto the Spike to keep from falling over. "Onions." Willow gasps. "We were transporting onions for you?"
Spike thrusts the crate at his bouncer and then places a handful of onions on the tray of a passing waitress. "Give these to Earl and tell him to fry em up." Spike orders. "We'll be in the back."
"Can do, bossman." The waitress says as she walks back to the kitchen.
"Now, everyone get back to what they were doing." Spike yells at the bar patrons. "And remember, them two are just as capable of ripping arms off as I am; don't give them a reason to." Then he turns to face the Serenity crew. "If you'll follow me, we'll go to the back."
Willow leans happily against Spike's side as he leads them through the bar. He's Sunnydale and L.A. and the scoobies and the bat pack and everything home and safe all rolled up into one.
"How'd you get here?" Spike whispers.
"Buffy." Willow answers. "That's all I know as of now."
Spike raises an eyebrow. "They know?"
"No." Willow answers. "Not the right time."
Inara is confused; they're not lovers but they're very secure and easy around each other, just like lovers would be. And she jealous, she can feel it churning in her stomach; she hates that feeling.
Mal's hand hasn't left his pistol and still wants to pull it out. They're too comfortable around each other, she's leaning too close and they're whispering too gorram much.
Spike pushes open the back door leading to home and gestures for everyone to enter.
"Whoa, Spike, it's…not a crypt." Willow gushes. "I'm impressed."
"Yeah, well, a man can only live in a cemetery for too many years before he misses having real furniture." Spike answers. "Take a seat and then you can start explaining why you're traveling with preacherboy and lawyerboy."
Mal looks around the large living room full of plush, leather furniture that probably cost more than they made last year. He nods for Inara, Kaylee, and River to take a seat and then sits on the arm of the couch by Inara why Jayne takes the arm by River. Book, Wash, Simon, and Zoe take another couch and to his complete disgust, Willow shares a small couch with the blonde.
"Okay, Spike, I get the preacher thing, cause I thought he was Caleb too." Willow says. "But what's up with the lawyer thing?"
"Hamilton." Spike replies.
"Who?" Willow asks.
"Oh, he was after your time." Spike says. "You remember Eve, right?"
"Eve, the evil, liaison to the senior partners Eve whose ribs Buffy was going to rip out and wear as a hat if she looked at Angel one more time, Eve?" Willow replies.
"That'd be the one." Spike replies. "Well, she tried to play the senior partners and got caught; Hamilton, your boy over there, replaced him."
"What the gorram hell are senior partners?" Jayne asks.
"Senior law partners for the law firm Wolfram & Hart." Willow explains.
"Lawyers?" Jayne says. "I ain't ever worked for lawyers."
"And I seem to remember you with a pen held out to the poof, telling him to sign on the dotted line more bloody times than I can count." Spike replies. "Wanna explain that?"
"I ain't ever worked for lawyers." Jayne repeats. "And I don't know who or what the poof is but I can guarantee you I ain't ever gave him anything, let alone a gorram pen."
"Spike, it's just gotta be one of those things." Willow says. "So, are you alone? Is Angel here?"
"No." Spike replies. "A bit after you died or whatever happened to you, we took on Wolfram & Hart and kicked their bloody asses. The poof got his new shoes he was always talking bout and him and Buffy got hitched."
"Shoes." Willow's brow furrows. "Oh, shoes. Angel got new shoes!"
"Don't see why you're so excited bout some guy getting shoes, Willow." Wash says. "But hey, Angel got new shoes!"
Spike grins at Wash. "Well, if he ain't just like the whelp."
"I know." Willow agrees. "I'm thinking of showing him the snoopy dance."
Spike smiles and looks around at the rest of the crew. "Hey there, what's your name, cutie?"
Kaylee looks up at the blonde man talking to her and wets her lips. His voice sent tingles down her spine and for some reason, she just wants to follow him out of the room and let him do whatever he wants to her. "Kaylee."
Willow smacks Spike on the back of the head. "Don't use the voice on her, Spike."
Spike fake growls at Willow. "Don't know what you're talking about, pet."
"Oh, please." Willow rolls her eyes. "I've seen you seduce dozens, hundreds of dozens of women out of their clothes with that voice; Kaylee's off limits."
"Staking a claim?" Spike smirks.
"Kaylee!" Willow squeals. "No, that's just wrongs. Not that she's not sexy cause she is but she's not my type, she's too chipper. Could you just imagine us together, it'd be like two little chipmunks on speed and nobody would be able to get a word in edgewise or anything. Not that that's the only reason, they're tons of other reasons…"
Spike places a gentle, laughing kiss on Willow's still moving lips. "I missed the Willow babble."
Mal sits up straight, his hand tightening around his gun again.
"Oh, Spike lips." Willow fake gags.
"Brat." Spike says.
Willow sticks her tongue out at him.
Spike rolls his eyes and stands up. Walking across the room he opens the door and motions in the waitresses. "Set everything down on the table."
Willow sees the 'bloomin' onions' and giggles. Then she sees the tray of chicken wings and grabs one with a moan. "Chicken."
Spike gives his waitresses a few more orders before sitting back down and grabbing one of the blooms. "You guys can dig in."
Willow, starting on her 4th wing looks at the crew. "It's good."
River and Kaylee both grab for a wing, sighing happily as the real meat hits their tongues. "Real chicken."
"Yeah." Spike agrees. "There's some red meat coming in a bit, Earl's just gotta finish some other orders first." There's another knock on the door. "And that'd be the booze." He's up again and this time the girls are setting down large pitchers of strawberry daiquiris, beer, and water along with a couple bottles of whiskey and an array of glasses.
Kaylee grabs the pitcher of strawberry daiquiri before anybody else can and moans loudly at the first taste. "Oh, this is so gorram good."
"Well, not-a-preacher, you gonna eat any?" Spike questions curiously.
"Not till I understand why you're giving all this to us." Mal replies. "You treat all delivery people this way."
"Nope." Spike answers. "You're with Red."
"And that's it?" Mal replies. "Just cause Willow's with us you treat us to food and drink better than most core parties have?"
"Yep." Spike answers. "Red's done been by my side, even after I tried to kill and torture and rape her more times than I like remembering. She says you're good folk; you're good folk."
"I never said they were good folk." Willow comments.
"Are they?" Spike replies.
"Yeah." Willow smiles. "They're good."
"See there." Spike says to the still frowning captain. "She said you're good, I trust her, ergo food and drinks for all."
Mal, while not really satisfied with the answer, takes the glass of whiskey Zoe is holding out to him.
"Aw, more food." Spike stands up and lets the girls back in, this time their trays weighed down with bite size pieces of steak and pork, potato wedges, and fresh cut vegetables.
Plates are passed around and the food is eaten slowly and happily, the real meat and vegetables being savored down to the last bite. Spike leaves once and returns with a plate of brownies.
"That was delicious." Willow says, sneaking a brownie off the plate.
"Yes, it was." Inara agrees.
One by one, they thank the blonde man, even Jayne and Mal, who both do it seemingly against their wiles.
"Okay, now that everyone's full and tired." Spike says, looking at Willow. "You wanna explain why you're traveling with criminals?"
"What makes you think we're criminals?" Mal asks Spike, a glass still held in his hand.
"A few things." Spike answers. "One being your doing a job for the rodent boy and he don't hire anybody but criminals. Other being the two fugitives you've got with you."
Guns are drawn and aimed at the blonde; he just sits back in his chair and smirks, not a bit of fear crossing his face.
"Well, now." Mal says, grinning sardonically. "Looks like we have a problem."
"Yep." Jayne agrees, shifting his weight in front of River.
"Cause they're my crew." Mal says. "I don't think kindly to those lookin' to hurt my crew or turn them in either."
"Spike's not going to hurt River or Simon." Willow assures Mal. "Or turn them in."
"It's a big reward, Red." Jayne says. "Who knows what he's libel to do."
"He won't turn them in, right Spike?" Willow turns to look at Spike with pleading eyes.
"No, I ain't gonna turn them in." Spike agrees. "I'd sooner shoot my own dick off before I'd help the bloody Alliance."
"How'd you know who they are then?" Mal asks, his gun still not lowering.
"Make it my business to know who's at the top of the Alliance's most wanted list." Spike answers with a grin. "Makes it easier to know who to help."
Mal grins back. "You're not worried bout a backlash?"
Spike laughs. "Purple-bellied boys don't come here." He says. "Not after Blue shoved a chopstick through one of their balls for touching her arse."
Hands drops to cup themselves protectively.
"Blue?" Willow asks.
"Oh, I forgot, you don't know about Blue." Spike says. "Fred."
Willow's eyes widen. "Fred's here?"
"Yeah." Spike answers. "Well, not right here; her and the niblet went shopping on the core somewhere, don't actually know where though; they never tell me."
"Niblet?" Willow repeats. "Dawnie! Dawnie is here? How?"
"Remember that thing with Glory?" Spike says. "Well, it seems that makes the niblet a bit like me."
"Oh." Willow mutters, trying to figure out how Dawnie's keyness makes her immortal. "Then how's Fred?"
"Happened a bit after you left." Spike answers. "She had a bit of a time like you did, though it was completely out of her control, and she's kinda like me too."
"You know these people?" Book questions Willow, not missing the way Spike flinches when he walks towards them. "You're afraid of me?"
"No." Spike argues. "Just never met a man of the cloth that didn't condemn me straight to some special hell."
"I believe in giving someone the benefit of the doubt." Book replies. "And taking in to account their present actions when weighed against their past as they can always overcome past mistakes."
Spike laughs. "That'd make you different than most I've met." He comments. "And trust me, you've killed as long and as much as I have, there's no overcoming." Spike closes his eyes and breathes deep. "Something the poof taught me; this is just a break before I'm tumbling back into hell where I belong."
"Don't say that." Willow says to Spike. "You can still…"
"What, find redemption?" Spike interrupts. "That's a mirage in the sand; the token pot of gold at the end of the bloody rainbow; it's not something I'll ever find."
Willow hugs Spike sadly.
"It's okay, Red." Spike says. "I'm okay. I got my bar and I got my girls; don't need anything else."
"Girls?" Willow gaps. "Oh, you and Dawnie and Fred, together?"
"Yeah." Spike grins. "Why, you jealous?"
Willow smacks Spike on the arm. "Dawnie's like my little sister." Willow says. "Yours too."
"But she ain't." Spike replies. "And don't try the guilt thing, I did that for so gorram long I could have given peaches a run for his money in the brooding department. Finally, I just gave into Blue and the bit's seduction attempts."
"Who is peaches?" Wash asks curiously.
"Angel." River whispers.
Spike turns to peer at the little girl being protected by her almost lover. "Well, now, if that something I haven't seen in a long time."
"What?" Jayne says, trying to move more in front of River.
Spike turns to look at Willow. "You're riding with a seer."
"Yeah." Willow agrees.
Spike cocks his head to look at River more. "Well, now, I just wonder how good you really are."
River cocks her head back. "You'll never find out, William."
Spike laughs. "You got guts, pet."
"Not yours." River nudges Jayne aside so she can look at the blonde vampire. She knows what he's seeing and with an evil grin, closes her eyes and dances her fingers across the air. "My mummy used to sing me to sleep at night." River whispers, using a voice she knows Spike will never forget. "Run and catch, run and catch, the lamb is caught in the blackberry patch. She had the sweetest voice." Then she opens her eyes to look into Spike's. "What will your mummy sing when they find your body?"
Spike's face goes paler than normal and he realizes he completely underestimated the seer. "Well, then, I think you've proved your bloody point."
"What point?" Mal asks, wondering if River's doing another one of her 'feeling' things.
"That she's not like Dru." Spike answers.
"Who was that, mei-mei?" Simon asks River.
"Dru." River answers.
"Okay, she's not like this Dru and proved it by impersonating her?" Mal asks. "Don't seem logical to me."
"Dru was psychotic." Spike answers. "She never would have been lucid enough to play with me without someone instructing her."
"Who is Dru?" Simon questions.
"She's Spike's ex-girlfriend." Willow answers.
"She was more than that." Spike cuts in. "She was life and death, love and hate all rolled into one. She made me the man I am today and for that, I will always hate and love her. But she was also a seer like the little stream here though she had nowhere near the control that she's got. Dru's visions came and went as they pleased. Little stream looks to be able to see when she wants." He then looks at Willow. "I'm guessing that's due mostly in part to you."
Willow nods. "I've been helping her."
"That's good." Spike says. "Cause otherwise, she'd probably lose it completely though she ain't gonna ever be 'normal', seers never are." For this he looks at the big man beside her and her brother. "Best thing for her, let her be and let her choose what she wants on her own, not what you think is best for her."
"Thank you." River says to Spike. "That was very nice of you, William."
"And she'll live a bit longer if she stops with the William thing." Spike threatens with a growl.
Jayne tenses.
River just looks Spike up and down with a small smile. "Wait'll they drop and try that again, William."
Willow and Kaylee giggle, Jayne and Mal smirk, Book and Simon gasp while the rest of the crew looks at Spike for his reaction.
Spike glares at River for a few seconds before throwing his head back and laughing. "Bloody hell, have you got a strong pair." Spike says. "You're not the least bit afraid of me, are you?"
"No." River agrees. "You will not harm us."
Mal grabs Simon's arm and looks down at his watch again. "Well, I'm not trying to cut this reunion short but we've got jobs to do." Mal announces.
Willow looks at Mal and then back at Spike, not completely ready to leave.
"You don't gotta go with them, Red." Spike says. "You're welcome here, you know that."
It would be so easy, so much less painful and less confusing and she wants to say yes. She wants to tackle Spike with a huge hug and tell him of course she'll stay but she doesn't; she can't. Buffy sent her to River for a reason and she has to find out what that reason is.
"I can't Spike." Willow says quietly, not hearing the relieved breaths from her announcement. "It would be wonderful but can't leave until I figure out why I'm here in the first place."
"I know." Spike kisses Willow's forehead. "It's the bloody Scooby in you."
"Yeah." Willow agrees. "Stupid thing."
Spike chuckles. "Well, if you're not staying, least let me write down our coordinates so you can write and so that the niblet can write you when her and Blue get back."
"These two are your girls." Mal comments, refusing to see the similarities that has with his own situation. "And you don't know where they are?"
"Nope." Spike replies. "Girls can take care of themselves and they say we need this time so we can 'bond' further or some other go'se. I don't really pay attention since I know they really only want to go spend as much money as they can on shoes and clothes without me finding out how much."
"And you don't stop them?" Zoe asks.
Spike gets a terrified expression on his face. "You never step between a Sunnydale girl and her shoes." He stresses. "Libel to get one to the side of the face or dick if you do."
Willow laughs. "He's right." She agrees. "We're a little, mean when it comes to shoes."
"Mean?" Spike huffs. "Violent is more like it. No, they wanna go shoe shopping, it's safer for all involved if I remain here and wait on them to get back." He walks over to a picture and pulls it aside to reveal a safe. He opens it and removes a few things before slamming it back shut. "Here, Red, the watcher's journals and stuff."
Willow takes the five journals Spike is holding out to her and opens one to see Giles' familiar handwriting. "Giles."
"Yep." Spike agrees. Then he tosses Mal a bag of money. "That's for the onions and I've decided to cut out the middleman. I need something, I'll contact you straight instead of the rodent."
"Which will put us on bad footing with Badger." Mal says as he pockets the money.
"No, it'll probably get you a cash reward." Spike replies. "He's bloody terrified of me and hates dealing with me; I only use him because I find it entertaining."
"Why's he deal with you if he's afraid of you?" Zoe questions.
"Huh, I'm not real sure." Spike grins at her. "Might have something to do with me casually mentioning I've ripped people in half for trying to back out on me."
"That's why he's afraid of you?" Mal asks.
"No." Spike answers. "He's actually more afraid of Blue seeing how she picked him up by his balls once. Girl's got a wicked fascination with causing men pain in the nether regions."
Zoe laughs. "Damn, I've always wanted to do that."
"You should have." Spike says. "Damn entertaining."
"Spike, do you think Dawnie would care if I took some clothes?" Willow asks. "Cause I don't really have any."
"Naw, she won't care." Spike answers. "First room down the hall; her and Blue's stuff is in the big closet, take what you want."
Willow waves and runs out of the room with River and Kaylee on her heels.
Spike tosses another bag to Mal. "Red's fare."
Mal looks down at the money.
"Just take it." Spike says. "Know she doesn't have money, gonna give her some too, and I know what it costs to keep a boat fueled and crew fed. Red finds out how much she's costing, she's going to freak out and insist on getting off wherever you might be; she's too much of a good person."
Mal nods and pockets the money.
Spike walks out of the room and returns a few moments later with plastic containers. "You guys can take what's leftover."
Mal raises an eyebrow; there's a lot of food leftover.
"Except for the onions." Spike grabs the last three and sets them to the side. "They're mine."
Book and Simon fill the containers as they wait on the girls to return. By the time they're done, three giggles can be heard coming down the hall.
"Spike, do you own anything other than black?" Willow asks with a giggle.
"Yeah." Spike answers. "Some gray and dark blue. You get enough stuff?"
Willow holds up the two bags of clothing. "Give Dawnie and Fred hugs for me and tell them to call or whatever." Willow says. "You know how to call us, right?"
"Yeah." Spike laughs. "I know how to wave ships and your captain here just gave me his information so as soon as the girls get back, I'll tell them to wave you. Now, come on, and I'll walk you out the back exit."
Willow feels the bags being lifted out of her hands and looks over to see River and Kaylee taking them. She smiles gratefully at them and then grabs onto Spike.
The walk to Serenity is quiet, only the occasional sniffle being heard out of Willow. Spike follows them onto the boat and looks around the bay before looking at Willow. "Well, Red, last chance."
Willow throws her arms around Spike's neck with a cry. "I needed to see somebody from home so much." Willow whispers. "I was losing it; you don't know how much good it does to know you and Dawnie and Fred are here. It means I'm not alone and I'm not stuck here; I'm staying here because I choose to."
Spike squeezes Willow tight and kisses her forehead. "Just remember, you change your mind at anytime, just give me a wave and I'll find you, wherever you are."
"I know." Willow replies, pulling back to look at him. "Bye Spike."
"Bye Red." Spike whispers, pressing money into her hand. "You need more, just wave and I'll get it to you."
"Thank you." Willow says gratefully.
Spike kisses Willow's forehead once more, waves to the crew, and walks down the loading door and into the dark.
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