AN: Thank you for the reviews, more are greatly appreciated. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy.
Chapter Nine
Small Favors
"Unicorns?"
"They're my favorite. So cute with their little horsey faces and horn."
Spike feigned appreciation as the perky blonde continued to show him her prized collection. He supposed this was sort of a big deal, being invited to the girl's apartment after only two weeks of meeting her, though they hadn't exactly followed typical courting procedure.
They'd already slept together, their second "date", if you could call it that. Spike felt the slightest tinge of guilt, though it was short lived. Harmony seemed just as eager as he was, and then when they'd done it again on their third time outing. The bathroom of the Bronze, the backseat of Spike's newly acquired DeSoto and now, he was most certain, the girl's apartment.
"Looks like quite the collection, pet," He offered distractedly. He hated himself a little right now. Harmony was supposed to be his rebound. Though, if was honest, it wasn't technically Drusilla he was rebounding from.
Buffy seemed content with Riley, loathe as Spike was to admit it. He'd only seen the lumbering dolt one other time on campus, Buffy dutifully at his side. Spike was pleased to note however, that the pillock hadn't been over to the apartment, a small consolation that perhaps things were moving slower than he imagined.
Of course, his frame of reference was not a good gauge. He cringed at the idea of Buffy behaving in a similar fashion to that of Harmony. Sleeping with a bloke you barely know after flirting with him in an alleyway. Bloody hell, was he a hypocrite.
"So, Spikey," Harmony cooed, spinning around to face him; her hands ghosting along his chest. "You still wanna go out tonight?"
Spike shook his thoughts of Buffy from his mind, as best he could, and managed a wry smirk at the buxom blonde before him.
"Change of heart, pet?" He wondered playfully; knowing full well what Harmony's question really implied.
The girl giggled and pulled at his duster, slamming him against her chest. "I was thinking we could…you know, stay in…."
Spike hesitated for the briefest instant, his concern over whether Buffy played this same game with Riley suddenly making his jaw clench. He knew he had absolutely no reason to feel contempt. It wasn't as though Buffy knew how he felt. Indeed, even if Buffy did know, it wasn't like she'd return his feelings. They'd been living together for months now, if something was supposed to happen, surely it would have already, right?
"Harm," Spike whispered; lowering his mouth to her ear and giving it a quick nibble, "Better lock your door, pet."
***
"I'm going to England," Giles repeated, sighing as his young charge glared back at him in disbelief.
"But it's Thanksgiving!" Buffy whined.
"Yes, and as I said, the holiday is brief. I shan't be gone longer than the extended weekend."
"But Giles!" Buffy pouted, "You're missing my point! It's Thanksgiving!"
"I believe we have, in fact, covered that Buffy."
"What are Dawn and I supposed to do?"
"Celebrate the holiday with one another. I'll ring you from Sussex when I've arrived."
Buffy seethed and slumped into the couch. "What am I supposed to do about dinner? I don't how to cook a turkey, Giles! Buffy and cooking are very unmixy!"
"Dawn is more than capable of assisting you in the kitchen."
"But…" Buffy attempted once more, "We could burn down the house!"
Giles rolled his eyes and crossed out of the room toward the hall. "Why don't you see what everyone else's plans are for the holiday, hmm?"
This was supposed to be a stress free week, shortened and all by the holiday interruption that was Thanksgiving. But now Giles, the functioning adult and seeming father figure wouldn't even be there! The first major holiday he'd spent away from the girls since Joyce had passed.
She'd undoubtedly be required to stay at Giles' house, to watch over Dawn, which definitely meant no time for smoochies of the Riley variety. Besides, he was probably going home to Iowa for the holiday, which rendered all her conflicting thoughts moot. Great. Peachy with a side of keen. Buffy would be lucky if she and Dawn would be eating McDonald's this holiday, left by themselves, let alone a wholesome Thanksgiving dinner.
Giles reemerged from the hall carrying a folder of papers with them as he addressed Buffy once more. "My flight leaves at eleven, Wednesday evening. Shall I call a taxi or will you and Dawn be escorting me to the airport?"
"I just don't understand what's so important suddenly." Buffy grumbled, crossing her arms indignantly.
Giles gave the girl a stern look and came to sit beside her. Buffy looked up at the man and saw the sadden look in his eyes.
"We'll take you," she sighed.
***
Buffy yawned as she stretched her arms above her head. Padding down the stairs, rubbing the sleep from her eyes; she groggily crossed the living room into the kitchen and sought to prepare herself some coffee for the day.
Her evening with Giles hadn't been nearly as relaxing as she'd hoped it would be; filling in Dawn on their now brief holiday sans parental figure. Dawn was understandably upset but recovered quickly at Giles' reassurance that they could invite friends over if they so wished. Buffy kept this in mind as she came home last night, to an empty apartment.
Xander had tentative plans to spend Thanksgiving with Willow, if the redhead ever conceded to actually spend the weekend with her family. Barring that plan however, both of Buffy's best friends had happily agreed to make an appearance at Giles' house instead.
So that left Buffy with a possible guest list that included more than just her, Dawn and a Lunchable. Things were looking up!
She hit the 'on' button to the coffee maker and spun around to grab a mug and a spoon when the front door suddenly clicked and a slightly haggard looking Spike entered.
Buffy's eyebrows rose in surprise; having assumed Spike was simply in his room asleep. The blond man caught her gaze and gave her a bashful smile, surprised as well to see his roommate awake.
"Hello, love," Spike grinned.
"Hey yourself," she gave him a suspicious smile, "Are you just now coming in?"
Spike sucked on his teeth, unsure if he was ready to divulge his reasoning, "Uh, yeah."
Buffy smirked, "Long night?"
Spike shrugged and ran a lazy hand through his hair. Buffy noticed his usually slicked back style was now mussed and slightly curly. He's just woken up, Buffy thought to herself. He's just woken up from someplace else.
"Do you want some coffee?" Buffy offered. At Spike's slight grimace she quickly added, "Or tea?"
"Coffee's fine, love. Yeah, that'll…be just fine," he assured slowly; finally making a move away from the entry way and toward the kitchen.
Buffy gave him another small smile as he flung his duster over the backside of a chair and took a seat beside it. She studied him intently as he leaned his elbows onto the island's counter and buried his head in his hands.
"Spike, you okay?" she wondered, grabbing another mug from the cabinet.
"Just…knackered…is all…" He said quietly.
"Where'd you stay last night?" Buffy asked casually; trying not to sound too nosy.
Spike quirked his eyebrow. It wasn't really her business, though he supposed his reasoning for even dating Harmony in the first place was the feeble hope of making Buffy jealous. So why not enlighten her? Let her see how busy his was with some new chit, how occupied he was elsewhere.
"Harmony's," he informed her simply.
To her credit, Buffy hid her distaste admirably. It wasn't as though she really cared if Spike was seeing the trampy blonde she'd noticed him with a few times these past two weeks. Spike wasn't her boyfriend, Riley was. Spike was just her roommate, right? Sure, they flirted occasionally, and initially Buffy had even considered the possibility of something more. Though she was naïve to think that Spike's affection had been mutual; Spike was just naturally flirty, right? He'd flirt with anything that moved. Case in point, Harmony.
That sudden though made Buffy retch a little. She'd hate to think of Spike as one of those guys who just used woman for whatever means. Not that it concerned her. He was his own man. He could do whatever he pleased. He didn't have to answer to her.
"Oh," Buffy finally replied, "So, was it good?"
"What?" Spike gave her a curious look.
"I mean," Buffy stammered, "Did you have a good night?" She covered quickly.
Spike's suspicious glare remained fixed as he nodded slowly, "S'pose."
"So," Buffy continued, spinning around to avoid his intense gaze as she busied herself with pouring the coffee. "You and Harmony have been seeing each other a lot lately, yeah?"
Spike nodded absently as Buffy handed over a warm mug to him and took her own seat across his way.
"Do you like her?" Buffy asked lamely. Spike snickered as Buffy amended her own statement, "I mean, obviously you like her. I meant, you know, how are things going?"
Spike took a sip of the caffeinated beverage, the scalding motor oil that was Buffy's coffee recipe. He didn't have the heart to tell her how bad her coffee was. So he continued to sip it quietly, watching her watch him over the rim of his mug.
"Harm's a sweet bird," Spike answered plainly.
"Good," Buffy considered, "I mean, that's good, right?"
"Sure. Yeah."
"Good."
"And you and Soldier Boy?" Spike dared to wonder, eyeing Buffy carefully as she withdrew her own mug from her lips and proceeded to trace a lazy finger along the rim.
"Riley," she emphasized, "and I are…we're new," she decided to say.
"New, eh? Sounds positively delicious."
Buffy managed a small giggle at that, "We're new. He's new. I'm still…testing the waters."
"Niblet says this bloke's been your tangerine dream since before Angel," Spike reminded her.
"Yeah, but that was always from afar. Now it's…real."
"New? Real? What is he a scientific theory?" Spike jabbed playfully. It should have been a tender subject; discussing how Buffy and her new beau were getting on, but the girl's uncertainty actually fueled Spike's own romantic sense of hope and curiosity.
"It's just," Buffy began, "I know it is still new and all…and I really like him…at least, I think I do. I thought I did. But that's kind of what I mean. I thought I liked Riley, ya know? Like, he was always this 'very very' kind of guy that I couldn't ever really get to. But now, now that I kind of have him, I don't know…he's…lost some of that 'very very'."
Spike couldn't help but laugh. "Not living up to expectations, eh?"
Buffy shook head but laughed in kind, "No… well…yes but he's really a sweet guy—"
"But sweet's not what gets you hot?" Spike guessed.
Buffy blushed at this suggestion, true though it was. It was strange to be confessing these feelings about Riley to Spike; things she hadn't even mentioned to Willow yet. Buffy considered how close she and the bleached blonde had become, yet no attempt at anything further than friendship had been made.
It was this last thought, coupled with Spike's earlier assumption of qualities that got Buffy 'hot' that made her suddenly change the subject.
"So, Giles told me you're teaching a class next semester?"
Spike furrowed his brow, surprised and a bit annoyed at the girl's obvious dismissal of his comment. But he humored her and nodded accordingly.
"Right," he agreed, "Poetry."
"That's right," Buffy nodded, genuine intrigued now taking over. "You're really into poetry."
"Never was much of a poet myself, really," Spike confessed, "But those who can't…"
Buffy gave him a sad smile, "I'm sure you're a perfectly good poet. I mean, I'm not really into poetry personally but, I bet your class would be great."
"Thanks, pet," Spike snickered, "If it happens."
"Why wouldn't it happen?"
"Need at least twenty students or it gets cancelled. It's just a trial run for me, you know."
"Oh."
"Don't have any extra credit need for a poetry class, do you?" Spike half joked.
Buffy laughed, "I don't think I need an unnecessary 'F' if I can help it."
"Well I certainly wouldn't fail you, pet."
"I'm not really into all that. But I'll totally spread the word for ya."
"Thanks, love."
They shared a companionable laugh as silence slowly settled between them. Something unspoken but anxious mingling around them.
"We haven't done this in awhile."
"What's that, then?"
"Ya know, just talk…or whatever. I mean, we talk; we see each other all the time but, I don't know. It's always nice when it's just you and me, reconnecting."
Spike tilted his head ever so slightly, trying to find a hint of deeper implication as Buffy's words sounded in his head. If she meant anything more by them, she certainly didn't lead on. He sighed and nodded, content for the moment to agree with the sentiment and enjoy…reconnecting with her.
A thought suddenly entered Buffy's head. It might be an imposition, but it never hurt to try.
"So…" she wondered; ending another bout of silence, "Whatcha doing for Thanksgiving?"
***
"This was a bad idea," He reasoned adamantly, pacing back and forth in front of the door to the lecture hall.
Willow peeked inside the room before glancing back at the clock. If Xander didn't grow a pair in the next five minutes, they were going to be late for class.
"Xander, just do it!"
"Everybody knows you don't ask a girl out before the weekend," The brunette boy argued.
Willow rolled her eyes as Buffy and Riley approached. "Oh! Hey Buffy! Hey Riley!" the redhead sighed gratefully.
"Hey Willz, what's the what?" Buffy snickered, wondering what her friend's conspicuous lurking was all about.
"It's nothing," Xander spat out, "Just, going to class," he added, peeking inside the open door to scan the room.
Buffy gave the boy a wide eyed look as Riley chimed in.
"Don't we usually have class, ya know, inside the classroom?"
"I convinced Xander to finally ask out that Anya girl," Willow said in low tones, "But now he's chickening out."
"I am not chickening out! Not a chicken. Very unchickeny," Xander rambled, still pacing.
Buffy and Riley shared an amused chuckle, stepping back a bit to allow other students by before Riley assumed the alpha male position and wrapped an arm around Xander, pulling him off to the side.
"You like this Anya girl, right?" Riley asked the other boy.
Xander nodded, listening intently.
"And you think she likes you?" Riley probed again as Xander stopped and relinquished Riley's arm, stepping away from the boy to sulk in his own space.
"No, I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm that awkward, geeky guy with surprisingly nice hair," Xander mused, "She'd be right."
Riley snickered, not completely understanding Xander's humor. "Okay, umm…well, have you tried talking to her?"
"I ran into the soda machine she was using once," Xander offered.
Riley sighed, "Okay. New tactic," he considered. "When I've sat beside her in class, she used to talk about hating bunnies. Sit by her today, start with that."
"Hating bunnies?" Xander echoed, "Who hates bunnies?"
Riley shrugged, "I don't know. But try it. Remember interested is inter—"
"Hey guys," Buffy called out, "Willow and I already found some seats. You coming?"
The boys spared a glance toward the tiny blonde and nodded; Xander moving ahead of Riley and swallowing hard before entering the class.
Buffy caught Riley's skeptical look and snaked her arm around his. "Male bonding?" she guessed.
Riley shot her a smile, "You could say that."
Buffy blushed a bit at Riley's intense gaze before tilting her chin to receive a quick peck from him as they reentered the class together.
Xander rubbed his sweaty palms together as he attempted to look casual; finding the seat directly beside Anya's. He inhaled sharply and slowly descended into the chair.
Anya spared him a quick glance before abruptly returning to her notebook, preparing for the lecture to begin.
As the teacher entered, Xander shot a worried look over his shoulder toward his friends; seated high above him in the rafters. Riley gave him the thumbs up as Willow and Buffy nodded and shooed him to complete his mission with a wave of their hands.
Xander nodded once with a grimace before clearing his throat. He rested his elbow on the shared armrest and leaned over into the girl's space.
"So…" he started, "WannagoutwithmesometimeandidImentionIhatebunnies?"
***
"Spike, you're certainly not obligated to supervise the girls," Giles reminded the young man.
"Not a whit, Rupes," Spike assured him, handing over the older man's satchel. "'Sides, Goldilocks and I made a deal."
Giles frowned, "Dare I ask?"
"I agreed to take his poetry class next semester," Buffy supplied. Giles snickered as Spike laughed.
"I wish I could take your class," Dawn chimed in, "Do you think I could get like, early college credit?"
Spike wrapped his arm around the younger girl, "No worry Bit. Don't need to take my class if you wanna learn 'bout poetry."
Dawn smiled, seemingly satisfied with that answer as Buffy rolled her eyes and addressed Giles.
"You'll call us when you land, right? Doesn't matter what time it is."
Giles nodded and leaned over to embrace her, "Yes, yes, of course. Don't fret. I'll be returning Sunday evening."
"And we'll come and pick you up!" Dawn chirped; lunging forward to hug Giles this time.
"I'll miss you both," Giles said simply, "Take care of each other. Spike, thank you again."
"Don't mention it, Rupert," Spike nodded once as Dawn fell back in line beside him.
"Good luck on your trip," Buffy said with a sad smile.
Giles smiled in kind and gave the girl's arm a light squeeze before picking up his other bag and waving goodbye.
Buffy watched him disappear into the crowd before a hand slithered around her own.
"He'll be back on Sunday," Dawn whispered; supplying an answer to her sister's silent worry.
"I know," Buffy returned quietly. "I know."
***
"He's dying!" Dawn cried, slapping Spike's arm.
"Hey! Watch it, Niblet! I'm doing the best I can!" Spike jeered, steering the controller attached to the game console.
"But you need to use the block punch to avoid Xander's guy!"
Xander snickered, "Too late now, Dawnster," he replied smugly, "Captain Peroxide is going down!"
Spike rolled his eyes as he continued to twist the control around in his hand, and pressed the buttons fervently. Video games were not his strength, but he was grateful the whelp had brought the system over for the evening. It gave him and Xander a bizarre chance to bond in a way.
"Dawnie, could I get a hand?" Willow called out from the kitchen.
"Here Niblet," Spike said as he hit the pause button and handed the control over to Dawn. "I'll go."
"Hey!" Xander groaned, "You were almost annihilated!"
Spike snickered and gave the boy a good slap on the back, "The Bit can take over, teach you a lesson, yeah?"
Dawn giggled as Xander grimaced and resumed the game play as Spike crossed into the kitchen.
"What's up, Red?" He wondered as he inhaled deeply. "Something smells good."
Willow smiled and held up an empty package of cranberries, "It's the sauce I'm making."
"Can't wait," he supplied, "What do need a hand with?"
"Would you take the yams off the stove for me? They're ready to mash."
"Sure," he nodded, stepping up to grab a towel and removing the pot from the burner. "Empty the water yeah?"
Willow nodded and returned to her own pot of boiling cranberries, stirring them slowly.
Buffy reentered the kitchen a moment later, seeing Spike draining the sweet potatoes and looking for a utensil to mash them with.
She went for the drawer and pulled out the small hammer; sliding up beside a second later. He snickered as she held up the object and glared back at him menacingly.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" She asked pointedly.
Spike smirked and quirked an eyebrow upward, "Looking for something to pound these with," he shot back.
"I believe those are my yams," she informed him.
"Well then," Spike's smirk grew wider, "Can I pound your yams?"
Buffy couldn't keep her straight face any longer, as Spike wiggled his eyebrows playfully Buffy began laughing spastically and handed him the tool.
Willow joined in the laughter as Spike proudly took the hammer and started mashing the sweet potatoes inside the pot. Their giggling subsided as Buffy procured the necessary spices for the yams.
"How's the turkey doing?" Buffy wondered as she reached inside the cupboard; struggling to capture the bottle she needed.
Willow set her spoon across the cranberry mixture for the time being and made her way to the oven, propping the door open briefly.
"It's looking good," She informed her friend, "I hope I followed all the steps correctly."
"Everything smells edible," Spike assured her, "Long as you took out all the gizzards and birdy bits."
Buffy grimaced as she grunted again; still unable to quite reach the desired item.
Willow returned to her spot before the stove and lowered the temperature to simmering. Spike alerted the girls that the potatoes were ready for seasoning and set the pot back onto the stove beside the cranberries.
Buffy released a small cry as the glass and plastic containers bounced onto the counter and onto the floor.
Dawn and Xander looked up from their game briefly to ask if everything was okay.
Assuring them it was, Willow left Spike to help Buffy as she ran to fetch the broom.
"You okay, pet?" Spike asked somewhat rhetorically as he bent down to collect the fallen items.
"Stuff go boom," Buffy whimpered as she too attempted to clean up the mess.
Spike chuckled as he snatched a few small bottles off the floor. Seeing another one off to the side, he reached his arm out to grab it as well. Buffy saw it too, and made a move to fetch it. They stopped cold as both their hands landed on the item.
Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat as she realized how suddenly close to Spike's face she was. He too had become decidedly still at their proximity. He tried to adjust from his over extended position and ended up rubbing noses with the movement.
Buffy released a small gasp at the contact as Spike licked his lips; his eyes unconsciously going from her eyes to her mouth.
"Got the broom," Willow's voice sounded. Buffy and Spike both shot up from their position as their heads collided. They both released a moan of pain as Willow let out a wry giggle.
"Jeez, sorry to break up the smoochies, you two," she joked.
Buffy's eyes widened guiltily as Spike continued to rub his sore forehead.
"What? We weren't….there were no smoo….we were just picking up—"
"Buffy, I was just kidding," Willow snickered.
Buffy gave her friend a nervous laugh and spared another glare at Spike; who by now was standing as far away from Buffy as possible.
"I'll umm…" he stammered, "I'll get the Bit to help set the table," he concluded quickly, spinning on his heels.
Buffy steadied her breath and helped Willow finish sweeping before returning to complete the rest of the meal.
To Be Continued…