Chapter 10: Shopping Goodness

Finally dragging himself up off the couch he trudged to the bathroom to relieve the pressure in his bladder. He then stripped down and took a nice long hot shower. As his mind became more aware did he think of Buffy. Deciding he would definitely check on her after his shower.

Drying off with a fluffy white towel he found in the bathroom cupboard, he then wrapped it around his lower body. His found his eyes itching a bit. Remembering the eye glasses William sported in his dream shook his head as he looked inside the medicine cabinet. Sure enough, there was contact wash. Well at least he knew why his eyes itched. Reading the directions on the bottle, he leaned close to the mirror and removed the contacts from his eyes. He cleaned his lenses and put them back in.

He then walked into the bedroom disappointed to find the bed empty. The quilt he had covered Buffy with was neatly folded and placed at the foot of the bed. Hoping she'd just gotten up and about while he was in the shower, he picked up the pillow and inhaled her scent. Sighing he placed the pillow back on the bed before he turned to his closet.

"Bloody hell…" he frowned at the closet's contents. The only black pants where dress slacks and no black tops. He growled. Opening drawers he found nothing like his own clothes. Giving in he grabbed a pair of dark blue jeans and a red t-shirt. "will hafta do… walk up to Buffy all nude like that bloody pillock n my head will make my bloomin head explode!" although for a moment he thought it might just be worth it to see the look on her face.

After dressing he made his way back in to the living room. Still seeing no Buffy but the glass and bottles from last night were gone. His Duster which he'd thrown over the back of the chair when he came in was now neatly hanging on a hook by the front door. He peeked into the kitchen where he caught the smell of brewed coffee.

He walked in and there on the counter was a small pink box and a pot of coffee three quarters of the pot full. He peeked in the box and saw a small assortment of donuts. He picked out a chocolate frosted donut and took a bite as he looked through the cupboards for a cup for coffee. Finding one he poured in some of the dark liquid adding a bit of milk and sugar. Luckily having run across the sugar on his search for a cup. He finished off the donut and was sipping on his coffee when spotted the folded note on the fridge, he must have missed it when he got out the milk. It had his name on the front with a smiley face to dot the I. He took it off and looked at it.

Dear Spike,
I'm sorry I couldn't wait till you woke up but I had to get to class. I got some donuts and made coffee. I will see you after my Propaganda in the Media class. I also wanted to let you know I called Mr. Giles for you and told him you needed time off, I didn't go into specifics because I wasn't sure how much you wanted to share with your boss. He said since they were ahead of schedule as it is he doesn't mind giving you 2 weeks off and to call if you need more time.
I hope your ok with me doing that.
See you soon
Buffy

He dropped the note on the counter. He didn't mind her getting him time off from what he guessed was William's job. Better her than him having to do it. He wasn't in the mood to deal with the details of this guy's life. He didn't ask to be here and didn't see the need to act as if he had. He paused. He walked over to his duster and pulled out the wallet that Buffy had given back to him when they got back here last night. He pulled out one of the credit cards. He smiled, "I think it's time not only to buy Willy boy a new wardrobe but maybe show goldilocks a good time." He waited for some sort of rebuttal from the pain in his….head. But there was nothing. "so we're agreed." he grinned and couldn't wait for Buffy's return.

By the time Buffy got back Spike was back on the couch watching a Monty Python DVD. He was laughing his head off as she walked threw the door. "Hey, Good to see your up and about." he turned and looked at her as he pointed the remote at the TV turning it off. "Oh, I hope you don't mind me just walking in…. I always did with William it didn't occur to me you might…" she felt a bit awkward for a few reasons. The biggest one was what took place in this very room the night before.

He smiled, "Oh, I don't mind. S'not like yer gonna bloody rob or kill me…" he got up from the couch. He could tell she was thinking about last night. Although it is a subject he would like to raise… among other things… he said he wouldn't go after her, and he was pretty sure to bring it up could very much lead to a repeat performance. Because no matter how much William said to the contrary Spike knew she liked him. It was all in the kiss. That wasn't an I'm drunk and lonely kiss, That was an I find you attractive and I want you kiss. HE knew the difference even if Willy boy didn't. So instead he said the one phrase most birds love, "Hey, Lets go shopping…" and just as he suspected she lit up like a Christmas tree.

They hit the mall, sadly, most of the shops there where so definitely not him. When he came across this one store. Buffy wrinkled her nose at the store name, "What are Imps anyway?"

"It's a small mischievous creature resembling a fairy, from children's stories or a small demon or devil." whoa! Where did that little nugget of info come from? Buffy looked at Spike strangely, "whut?"

"You sounded like William just now…" she seemed unsure of how he would take her observation.

He swallowed hard, "Why cause I know stuff? You don't have ta be a bloody ponce ta know stuff…." and with a huff he walked into the store. He didn't even wait for the clerk he just started grabbing his size clothing. He dropped a big pile on the counter by the register. Buffy was off to the side looking through the spiked collars and Goth jewelry trying to not look hurt, but he could tell how she avoided looking at him she was. He sighed and walked over to her, "Look, Luv, I'm Sorry…I'm a bad rude man…"

She still didn't look at him while she shrugged, "I didn't mean to insult you. I don't think your dumb or anything. That was just how he would have said stuff. I mean he was my brother's best friend for as long as I can remember and my friend since I've been here at collage so sorry if I miss him. And you know what else…" ok she went from not looking at him and pouty to shooting daggers at him with her eyes and getting angry.

Any other guy would have been reduced to dust under that look but Spike, he found it stimulating. He lean closer so they were mere centimeters apart, "What else luv?"

Her breath caught in her lungs Buffy didn't know what to do. She needed to think before they went there again. She stepped back and looked over his shoulder, "I think you need to pay for your stuff…" she then pointed at the sales clerk that looked very board behind the register.

Making a soft growling sound he pulled away. Ok, next time, he hadn't even warmed up yet, it was only a matter of time till she came willingly. He was pulling out his wallet as he walked back up to the register.

The clerk looked at him curiously then recognition dawned on the boy's otherwise board face. "Hey it's you… Good to see you did something with your hair. And you came to your senses about your clothing…." He rang up the purchases with practiced ease.

Spike raised an eyebrow at the boy's words taking only a moment to figure out he'd been referring to William. 'So that explains the lack of similar clothing in William's closet' he thought to himself, as he swiped his credit card and signed the electronic pad. Luckily he remembered to sign William Pratt "Uh, ya… Last time I was in here I had really poncy brown hair…" he felt and elbow in the ribs from a frowning Buffy. Her look said I don't know what your said but I know it was bad.

"If you mean geeky, yup. The jacket's a nice touch but the fake accent is all wrong. If your gonna do an accent German is the way to go…" handing Spike back his credit card and his receipt as he began to bag the purchase.

Spikes eyes narrowed and Buffy was sure he was about to go off on the accent comment. So she grabbed the bag in one hand and Spike with the other, "Uh, thanks…" she dragged Spike out of the store.

"Can you believe that little pillock?!" he growled, "He's lucky I don't…"

"whoa! Spike! Chill! He's just a kid… what does he know about accents?" trying to calm him down, "Personally I like your accent."

"Really?" he arched and eyebrow as he gave her a suggestive smirk, "How much do you like it?"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Down boy…" thrusting the bag of clothing in to his arms, "You want compliments you'll have to earn them…"

Spike looked a bit apprehensive, " 'N how would I do that, pet?"

Buffy smiled sweetly, "Well, you did your clothes shopping…. So now it's my turn…" she ushered him in to a nearby woman's clothing store.

"I don't suppose we're starting with lingerie or perhaps bikini shopping?" he got a good elbow in the ribs for that one.

"Pig…" but her smile said she wasn't offended or upset by his words. "Come on… it'll be fun…" Spike fallowed shaking his head.

"I think m gotta reschool ya on the meanin of fun, luv."

Several hours and several shops later They were both laden down with bags. "Please tell me we are done now…" Spike complained. Trying very hard not to whine. But he felt like a little kid being dragged around while his mom did her shopping.

Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes, "yes we are done. You know for the person who suggested shopping your all Mr. Grumpy…"

" 'M not…" Buffy raised an eyebrow at him, Spike shrugged giving in and decided to change the subject, " Sorry luv… 'M feelin a bit peckish is all… aren't you?"

Buffy eyed him strangely, "your feeling what?"

Now Spike rolled his eyes, "Hungry…in need of food…"

Buffy pouted, "well maybe if you'd speak English…"

Spike smirked , "Yer jokin right? Hello… 'm English, pet… Jus cause you bloody yanks bugger it all up isn't our fault…"

Buffy had both hands on her hips looking ready to go off when her phone rang. She gave Spike a look that said this wasn't over then flipped open her phone. "Hello?"

Buffy frowned, "whoa whoa whoa… Will… slow down. You didn't have more then one mocha today did you?" she tried to sound stern but she grinned, "What did we say about Willow and mass caffeine being unmixy? Uh-huh… what?! WHAT?!" Buffy started jumping up and down. As she let out a high pitched squeal… "They did?! That is so cool…" she paused. " and what did he say?" she looked a bit nervous just before her jaw dropped open, "HE DID WHAT?! NOWAY! What did you say?…. Ya well duh … but still… what about… well you know how your dad's gonna take it… Tonight? I don't know… Ok, I guess. Can I bring someone? Cool. Where? Oh wow that's fancy… smart move… ok… see you then…bye…" she closed her phone and looked at Spike, "how do you like French food?"