First of all, we're sorry for the delay in posting this chapter and the next two, at least. Our schedules are a bit too busy right now and it will be a while until we can go back to the writing rhythm we had established, although we'll try our best to keep on posting as we had been after things get settled for us. That said, we want to thank WhiteDragonWolf, Angelsumoritos and Mikki for reviewing. It makes us very happy to know you are still enjoying the story. :D

In this chapter: Another mother/daughter conversation and Buffy goes to Spike's crypt to deliver him a message.

Chapter VIII

Sunnydale, December 8th, 1999

"Rise and shine, honey, it's such a beautiful day!" Joyce exclaimed, opening the curtain's in Buffy's room and letting the sun in.

Buffy stirred lazily, and then she glanced at the clock on her night table. "But mom, it's just 8:30 a.m. and I don't have to go to school today!" she protested, rolling to the other side and burying her head under the pillow.

"Yes, but I have to go to the gallery and I can't leave if you don't give me a detailed account on how last night went," Joyce answered.

'Grrr, you dared to wake me up just for that? Okay, mom, you want an account and an account it's what you're gonna get!' Buffy decided, not happy by her mother's actions.

"You know what? Actually I have to thank you for waking me up, because I just couldn't wait to tell you..." she began, acting excited and cheerful all of the sudden.

"Tell me what?" the older woman wondered, hoping it was what she hoped.

"Well, you know, Spike and I patrolled last night and everything went fine, but then, just before returning home, we stared at each other and... oh, mom, we started kissing and we seemed unable to stop!" she continued as Joyce stared at her with a wide grin in her face. "So, we realized that we are meant to be together and... tonight he's gonna take me out on a date," she said with a dreamy smile. 'Ha! I can't believe she's buying all these lies! I'm a better actress than I thought I was,' she added to herself, proud of her acting skills and anticipating the moment that would be coming very soon.

"Oh, Buffy, that's so wonderful; I was so sure that sooner or later you two—" Joyce exulted, but the blonde girl burst out laughing madly.

"Oh God, I can'tkeep on with the charade any longer! It's too funny! Gee, mom, I didn't think you were so gullible," Buffy said between laughs, before she paused with a frown. "Well, at least now I know whom I inherited that from!" she muttered.

"What? It was just a joke?" Joyce questioned her, getting angrier and angrier.

"Of course it's a joke, as if that could have ever happened. Really, mom, you should know by now that that will only turn into reality when hell freezes over!" Buffy stated.

'You are aware that's a lie, don't you, Buffy? After all, there was a kiss and what a kiss, by the way! I'm still wondering why you stopped… no, not wondering, you know why I stopped, it was the right thing to do, and you shouldn't think about that anymore,' she advised herself, facing her very angry mother. 'And most importantly, mom must never ever know about that. If she did... oh, God, I can already picture her planning the wedding, choosing the place, the cake and... wait a minute, planning up our wedding... that brings back so many memories… Grrr, damn sodding spell! Couldn't Will think of any other thing she wanted instead of me getting married with the bleached pest?' she cursed in her mind, using one of Spike's favorite words in the process, but she was too enraged to notice that. 'You weren't thinking he was a pest when he was kissing you last night or during the spell, so why now?' the annoying little voice that seemed to be appearing in her thoughts more and more asked. 'Oh, shush you. No more thinking of him anymore, what part of that didn't you— Oh, wait, mom is talking, what was this about? Oh, yes, mom's favorite subject,' Buffy thought rolling her eyes.

"Buffy, you know that it's not very nice to play with your mother's hopes and dreams. I thought I had raised you better than this," the woman said, obviously hurt, crossing her arms in front of her chest as she turned her back on her daughter and walked towards the door.

"Well, Spike thinks it's nice to play with my poor heart... and by that I mean that he almost gave me a heart attack due to a scare!" she clarified, before Joyce really started planning up their marriage! "By the way, mom, I just don't understand why you keep trying to set me up with Spike. Wasn't the whole vamp issue the reason why you asked Angel to leave me?" she questioned her mother, sitting up on her bed, since by then she was more than awake, and willing to know.

Joyce turned from the door to face Buffy once more, sighing heavily before answering, "That was just the tip of the iceberg, but, yes, that was the main reason."

"Then, why set me up with Spike?"

"Oh, honey, how can I explain this?"

"Talking about it would be a good start. I'm listening," she answered sarcastically, as Joyce wrung her hands while she tried to find the right words to express herself.

"You face dangers that I can't even begin to imagine every night. I know, even if I try not to think about it, that sometimes you've seen death face to face and you probably will continue to do so in the future. I know that Slayers come with an expiration date, I just want that date to be as late as it can possibly be," she explained.

"I understand that, mom, I do, no one is more aware than me about all that... but what does Spike have to do with this?" Buffy frowned.

Joyce sighed, shrugging. "I like him. And I know that deep down you do, too."

"Sure, yeah, I like him just as much as…a penguin likes the desert!" Buffy responded.

"See? Two different worlds, it fits!" Joyce noticed with a smirk.

Buffy almost fell over the bed. Huh? Her mother's logic could be scary sometimes. "Nothing fits, especially not Spike and me and now continue with your 'Gazillion reasons why I should like Spike' show, because so far I'm not convinced!" Buffy struck back.

"I'm aware that you think that because he doesn't have a soul he can't love, but he can, maybe even more so than many 'soulful' beings can. I've had several conversations with him and I think I've gotten to know him pretty well, he's allowed me to be closer to him than anyone has been in a hundred years and that's why I know that he's so much more than what his rough exterior lets on. He can love with all of his un-beating heart and by the way he refers to you sometimes I've seen that there's something there in his eyes, something deep..."

"Yeah, the desire to take his third Slayer's life away!" Buffy cut her off.

'Well, yesterday he almost took your life away... with his kisses; mmm, if you hadn't stopped…no, bad Buffy, erase the damned thing from your damn mind!' she scolded herself.

"No, honey, that's not it." Joyce smiled softly. "It's so much more than that. Spike…well, he loves with all that he is, he's loyal and fiercely protective of those he loves and forgive me, darling, but as your mother, that's what I want for you. I want someone that can be all those things for you, someone that won't leave you when the first obstacle comes along. Okay, so Spike is not exactly Prince Charming material, he's more than a little rough around the edges, and he's a vampire. Definitely not what I've dreamt for you all these years, but I've learned that we don't always get what we dream for our children and that even if we do, those dreams can turn into nightmares. Ever since you told me that you were a Slayer and I discovered all that that entails, well…I've had to accept that you'll never have a normal life, because how could you when you have to patrol nightly and stop apocalypses every few months? But that doesn't mean that I don't want you to be happy and I know that if you gave William half a chance he could make you happy, plus now that he can actually fight demons he can help you and watch your back and with his aid hopefully that expiration date will come many years into the future. So, yeah, forgive your mother for wanting what I think it's best for you."

"Wow, your justification for wanting Spike and me together is breathtaking and I really thank you for wanting that for me," Buffy said, visibly touched by her mother's speech. "Too bad that in your dream date agency you happened to forget a tiny and yet not too irrelevant detail," she paused for effect. "Spike hates me and wants to see me six feet underground, preferably dead!"

'Yes, and kissing you is the best way to prove his hate for you, isn't it, Buffy? Oh, God, what had we decided about that memory? Gee, if I go on like this, for my birthday I'll just ask for a lobotomy, that surely will help.' She sighed.

"Spike does? Not you, then!" Joyce glanced at her hopefully, as happy as if she were a detective who just found the final clue he needed to solve the mystery that he had been working on for months.

"Gee, stop with that already and that's so not what I meant. And now that you know what he really wants, you should realize that it's not such a good idea for me to have him around, so you shouldn't be so relieved. He's not exactly what you'd call a gentleman and he likes to attempt against my health, at least my heart's health with his stupid, very stupid, jokes. And fresh news, mom, don't you know that he's doing all this stuff just for money?" she informed the older woman, sure that now she would see her point. But she was wrong.

"He has to get the money for his blood somehow." Joyce shrugged. "It doesn't mean that he doesn't care for you," she added.

Buffy realized with terror that not only she would never dissuade her mother that Spike's supposed virtues were nothing but lies, but that if things kept going on that the way they were... her mother would eventually end up convincing even her of said virtues. Her mother had made so many good points, after all... but she couldn't give in. Never!

"Well, it doesn't mean he does, either!" the blonde protested.

"And you do, honey?" Joyce asked, studying her daughter's reaction to the question. Buffy might say all she wanted, but it was what she wasn't saying that was important for her mother.

"That's so not the point, mom. Plus, didn't you have to go to the gallery?" she reminded her.

"Oh, right, and I'm already late. Well, I'll be expecting Spike after sunset so I might come back a bit late. You told him I wanted to talk to him at the gallery, didn't you, honey?"

"Of course I did. What forgetful, absentminded daughter did you mistake me for?" she struck back, acting insulted.

"Good for you, darling. I'll stay at the gallery late tonight just because of him, so it would be a pity to waste my time there if you had forgotten to tell him," the older woman pointed out, before kissing goodbye her daughter and leaving.

Buffy got up from her bed after she heard the front door closing, before kicking it in order to give vent to her rage. Why, oh why had she forgotten to tell him about that last night? 'And stop it about the kiss… don't even start!' she scolded herself once more. Now she had no other choice than to go and convince Spike to meet her mother at the gallery that night; she didn't want to let her mother down after all and knowing Spike, he might say no just to bother her, hence having to convince him. And to convince him meant talking to him. But since he hadn't a phone, talking to him meant seeing him. And God only knew what seeing him could lead her to!

At least Buffy wasn't tormented by the memories of that fateful day when they were under Willow's spell anymore. Yes, because now her mind was filled by the memories of the night before, of their first real kiss. No spells involved.

In fact, she was so troubled by that, not knowing what to do, what to expect and above all, why was she feeling all that if she should hate Spike, that she forgot to check her precious desk and the secret panel, before leaving.

'That's a brilliant move, Buffy. It's still early in the morning, so he will surely be sleeping. So I'll go there, wake him up and he will be all with the sleepy and no chatty. It's just perfect. All I have to do is give him the message and go away. No complications!' she told herself as she headed towards his crypt.

---------

Once she got to Spike's crypt, she sneaked through the entrance very silently, stopping on the upper level where she saw a notebook lying over a chair. If only she had skimmed through the pages, she would have read some sonnets about her beauty and how powerful and graceful she was whenever she fought written on a very familiar handwriting. But she didn't, because the blank paper and a pen she saw next to it, gave her an idea.

'Alright…new plan, I'll him write a message and go away. I don't even have to see him. I'm sure he'll read it once he wakes up!' she decided, grabbing the pen.

She was about to write the first word, but it turned into a big spot, when she jolted, due to some noises she heard. She turned, but didn't see anyone. She was about to sigh in relief and return to her very important 'mission', when a certain someone prevented her from doing that.

"I guess I should think of installing an alarm system in here, so intruders won't get in so easily. You know... they could rob something!" Spike exclaimed, appearing seemingly out from thin air after being lurking in the shadows, just as every proper vampire would do.

"Gee! And that makes two almost-heart-attacks since last night. Damn you!" she snapped. "Anyway... rob something? As if there was something to rob here!" she added, disdain setting in her features as her eyes roamed over the few things Spike had in the upper level of the crypt.

"Well, there's something here that you shouldn't be putting your hands on!" he struck back, snatching his precious notebook out from her hands.

'What were you thinking leaving this here for everyone to see? You'd be dust in the wind faster than you could even say her name if she found out what's inside,' he thought, disguising his fear with a cocky smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Well, well, pet, you seem to have such a curious concept of 'as late as possible'. We haven't seen each other for about... what? Ten hours or so, and you're already here? Admit it, you couldn't wait 'til tonight 'cause you missed me, right?" he teased her, enjoying how she got flushed as her rage began to escalate.

"Grrr, you, arrogant, scarily self-confident, unbearably egocentric, damned bleached vampire! I came here just to deliver you a message. I was about to write it, so I wouldn't have to talk with you," she clarified.

"But since I'm here and you're here, talk to me!" he said, placing the notebook on a shelf that was out of her reach.

"Okay, my mom wants you to meet her at the gallery at sunset; she said she wants to give you some of her old furniture. At least then, thieves will have finally something worthy of robbing, since all she has there is of excellent quality," she said. "Anyway, it's just 9:30, so... why are you up already? What kind of vampire are you?" she asked him.

"Well, I'm the kind of vampire who had an astounding experience that kept him up all night long, and day, too!" He winked at her.

"You just drank too much coffee. That's the only astounding experience you had!" she struck back.

"C'mon, pet. You can't deny it..." he murmured, taking a step closer towards her.

"I'm denying nothing, simply because there's nothing to deny! Nothing happened yesterday!" she replied.

"You know that you are lying..." he insisted, determinedly bringing up his hand to caress her cheek, but she stepped away from him.

"No, stop it. It all started with that, and I don't want it to..." she said, betraying herself.

"See? You remember. And I know you liked every second of that. A lot!" He smirked with pride and a sense of victory.

"Okay, so what? I liked your kisses. But that doesn't mean that I like you!" she pointed out. 'Sure, Buffy. So, you might also like his piercing blue eyes, his rebel hair and... okay, let's sum up, his whole stunning body, but that doesn't mean that you like their owner! Gee, Buffy, you're so pathetic!' she insulted herself, but then another realization hit her. "Hey, wait a minute. Why are you so enthusiastic about the whole thing? Spikey, maybe it's you who likes me?" she hinted and this time she was the one who took a step closer to him as he backed off, caught completely off-guard.

"Uh! What the bloody hell are you blathering about? Don't flatter yourself, Slayer, it's just that… maybe I like the fact that you like me. But that doesn't mean that I like you!" he justified, quoting her previous words.

'Okay, so that's a relief, he's even more pathetic than I am!' she rolled her eyes. 'But you don't care, remember? You can't care about that!' she answered to herself the second after.

"Well. Now I guess that I'll take a nap, at least until sunset, and before going to your mother's gallery, I'm gonna pass by the dear old Rupert's house to get my cash!" he informed her, expecting her so predictable reaction.

"Cash? What cash? You didn't do anything last night, so, you shouldn't be paid!" she pointed out, angered.

"Oh, but I did something, didn't I? I made his dutiful Slayer have some real fun, I should be paid extra for that!" he struck back, approaching the lower level of the crypt.

"Grrr. I hate you!" she snapped, rushing towards the exit.

"Me, too, be sure of that. Well, see you tonight. And don't change your lipstick, I enjoyed the cherry flavor yesterday," he added, innuendo clear in the lower tone that his voice had taken, enjoying her very visible blush once more before she left, grumbling something unintelligible under her breath and slamming the door, enraged.

Spike smiled and headed towards his bed. Maybe his dreams would be filled with a certain beautiful but very pissed off Slayer.

TBC