Chapter Five

"I said, what are doing here Spike?"

"Just paying my dear 'ol brother and his lovely fiancé a friendly visit. Is there anything wrong with that?" Spike answered with a smirk.

"Actually, there's a number of things wrong with it. First of all--" Buffy started angrily.

"I can handle this sweetie." Angel interrupted, pushing Buffy aside slightly and making her even more angry at the fact that he would not let her talk.

Spike watched her give Angel a look before moving aside and letting him "handle" the situation.

"Spike, your not welcome here and I think you should--"

"RING! RING! RING!"

Angel answered his cell phone.

"Angelus Giles speaking. What? But he's not supposed to arrive until Tuesday? Are you sure? Okay, I'll be there in fifteen. Bye."

Spike glanced over at Buffy. He could see disappointment on her face and had no doubt that this happened quite often.

"I'm sorry. Listen, I have to go sweetie." Angel said apologetically, giving Buffy a brief kiss.

"But--" she started.

"The boss just arrived and he's expecting an assignment to be done that wasn't supposed to be finished for another couple of days." Angel stated without letting her protest. "Don't expect me back until tomorrow."

He rushed to the door and grabbed his coat. As he opened the door he looked up. "Spike, I want you gone by the time I get back."

Then without another word he was gone and Buffy was again left with his egotistical brother to deal with. She looked over at him. Spike was staring at her. She wondered if he was trying to read her expression. Or maybe he was expecting her to say something. She suddenly felt awkward.

"Look, Angel said--"

"I know what Peaches said. I'll leave pet, if that's what you want."

"I don't care what you do. I'm going to bed."

"Why don't you come out with me tonight, love? It's too early for bed. We'll have some dinner or something. Come on, you might have fun."

Buffy contemplated this. He sounded sincere. Besides, she didn't really want to stay home all by herself.

"Fine. Give me a few minutes to change." Buffy said looking down at the business attire she was still wearing from work.

As she left the room she muttered to herself, "Why in God's name am I doing this? Am I really that desperate to get out?"

In a few minutes Buffy came out wearing jeans and midnight blue tank top that rose a bit to reveal her lightly tanned stomach when she reached for a white sweater by the door. She quickly put on some lip gloss in front of the mirror and caught Spike staring.

"What?"

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. It pisses me off."

"Is there anything that doesn't piss you off, pet?" Spike replied with a smirk.

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this. Just to let you know, I don't like you, so don't expect this little excursion to be all of the friendly kind and stuff. I'm just bored."

Spike raised an eyebrow, then shook his head and grinned.

"Come on, Goldilocks."

They walked down the stairs that led from Buffy's apartment. She looked at Spike questioningly when they reached the bottom of the staircase.

"What?" he asked.

"Well, where's your car?"

"This is my car love." He responded pointing at a Harley Davidson bike that was parked near the street.

"Oh no, I don't do motorcycles."

"Well your doing one tonight love."

"No way. I have this terrible fear of--"

"Be adventurous, Buffy. Just for tonight."

"Ugh, fine."

He got on and she climbed up behind him. Spike started up his bike, looked back at Buffy and grinned.

"Better hold on tight, pet."

Buffy gave him a glare and put her arms around his waist. He took off rather fast, startling Buffy and making her grip him tighter.

"Isn't this fun, love?" Spike yelled as they rode down the street.

"No! I don't understand how anyone can like this!" she yelled back then screamed as they went over a very large bump on the road

Spike smiled as he glanced down at her arms that were tightly wrapped around him, then said to himself, "Well, I'm certainly having fun."

They had dinner at a small Chinese restaurant where they actually had a decent conversation about Spike and Angel's parents. Still, Spike wished Buffy would smile. He had caught her smiling a couple times at his parents' house and it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. Then, he thought of something.

"Come see a movie with me, pet?"

"Now? It's getting kind of late. I don't think--"

"Come on. It'll be fun."

So they did and Buffy almost burst out laughing when she saw Spike pull out a pair of dorky glasses to read the subtitles.

"Mention this to anyone, Goldilocks, and I will kill you." He said seriously, but he couldn't help grinning at the fact that he had finally gotten her to smile.

She nodded with the smile still plastered on her face.

The evening actually went by well. Spike dropped Buffy off late, but she felt better than she had earlier. He was about to get on his bike before Buffy called out to him.

"Spike? Thanks for cheering me up."

"No problem, love." he replied, then turned to leave.

"Spike?" she called out again.

"Yeah, love?" he answered turning around.

"I had a good time."

"Glad to hear it love."

"Spike?"

"Hmmm?

"Stop calling me love."

"You got it, pet."

She rolled her eyes and glared before turning and walking up to her apartment.