Spike refused to touch her. If Buffy got too close, he'd whip away from her as though scalded, which happened frequently thanks to their close proximity at the Bronze. Maybe it had been a bad idea to take him here, premature, but she was trying to hold onto some semblance of normal. From her spot at the table, she watched Willow and Tara dancing, smiles on both of their faces, and she couldn't help but feel the warmth between them. Even Xander and Anya were off in a corner of the dance floor, standing very close and laughing about something. Dawn had taken up a good amount of the night chatting away about her day, but then a group of her friends had shown up and called her over to them. Buffy had encouraged it, partly for Dawn to spend time with people her own age, but also to give her and Spike some alone time. Encouragement had been futile, since Spike was not chatty, nor willing to dance, and now Buffy didn't know what to say.

In addition to his jumpy demeanor was the fact that Spike wasn't drinking. He'd gone up to the bar a few times to refill her diet coke, his eyes widening in alarm, his hand pulling back at the brush of her fingers in the exchange. At her questioning, he'd muttered about not wanting to lower his inhibitions any further. Every time she looked at him now, she felt her stomach drop at his downtrodden expressions, and Buffy could tell he was warring with himself on the inside. Not one to be good with words, Buffy wished she could find the best thing to say to comfort him, but the truth was, she had no idea what they were facing and if there was comfort to be had. Whatever it was, was tearing him apart, which made her want to piece him back together even more.

Every so often, she'd scoot her stool a bit closer to him, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear or pointing towards a sweaty couple as a distraction. He'd been looking off into the distance, a hazy look in his eyes when she placed her hand on his elbow and looked up at him with her most endearing doe-eyed expression that she knew he couldn't resist.

"Spike," her voice was down to a throaty whisper, which required that she lean in closer. "I need to dance and-"

"Go off to your friends then. Don't need to babysit me, yeah? Well, actually-"

Sticking her lower lip out, she pouted. His voice had cracked, clearly showing that she had some pull over him still. It wasn't that she wanted to be the aggressive Buffy of the past, but there were some things that she kept in her arsenal to get what she wanted that were fairly harmless.

"They're all coupled up. 'Sides," she made sure he was watching her, "I'd rather dance with you."

She'd definitely gotten her way with that line, but she didn't allow herself to feel guilty because it was true. Something deeper and intriguing was building between her and Spike and despite the next probable-apocalypse looming, she really wanted to see what that was about. They talked a lot, except for at this very moment, and she never felt like she had to censor herself around him, whether she spent too much time complaining about work, bragging about whatever demon she had brought down (even if he had been there to see it), worrying over Dawn's latest dramas, or wondering about her friends' relationships. Not only was Spike an excellent listener, she particularly liked when she caught him looking at her, this slight smirk on his face, but eyes full of interest that made her certain he hung onto every word and cared about what she was saying, but he offered such poignant advice for a man who spent the past hundred years wreaking havoc.

Now that she was paying more attention, and not denying with every fiber of her being, she realized how good her and Spike were together, whether they were sparring and exchanging moves, fighting against the sparse baddies of the night, or dancing. He wouldn't come nearly close enough for her liking. She'd keep moving in and he'd back away, maintaining an awkward shuffle step that had nothing to do with the music and more to do with keeping busy. Another step, he backed a half step away. A bigger step, and he knocked into the couple latched onto each other behind him. Taking advantage, Buffy placed a firm hand on his arm, sliding it up to reach his neck when he didn't pull away and mirrored the move with the other hand. She locked her eyes on his, flashing him a warm smile. Thanks to the Powers That Be, the next song was a slow one, and after a few more awkward steps, Spike started to relax.

Buffy didn't let go for the next song, or the one after, and even though the music picked up the pace, they kept swaying slowly, that familiar burn building in her stomach. Spike's eyes were glazing over in the lustful way she had grown so accustomed, and she thought how easy it would be to reach up, just a few inches, and kiss him, to give him the release she had taken from him months ago. It was growing clearer that she wanted him, physically and emotionally, but she didn't want it to be about cold comfort anymore. They both had to be in a good place for it and she wanted to prove her good intentions. Instead, she reached up and brushed her lips against his cheek, pulled away, and smiled up at him so as to show that she wasn't rejecting him, maintaining a much more appropriate distance.

The dancing had done wonders for his demeanor and though he remained quiet, he seemed calmer and more content. Xander and Anya had left, clearly together, making her heart sing, and somehow Dawn had pulled Tara and Willow into a conversation about the night, leaving her and Spike to fall behind on the walk home. After the dancing, when the music stopped and the lights went on, Buffy held onto his hand. Spike had looked down at their interlaced fingers, looked back up at her, matching her shy smile, and followed her back to the group. Xander had raised an eyebrow, but no one else said a word or made any indication that they'd seen anything out of the ordinary.

Standing in the doorway, Buffy watched as the three other women ascended the stairs, whispering tired 'goodnights' and waited until she heard the click of the doors. Turning to face Spike, intending to clasp her other hand with his and gift him with a kiss goodnight, she let out an audible sigh of disappointment when Spike pulled his hand away, looking awkward again.

"Help with the chains, yeah?"

She didn't know what to say to that, as she'd actually forgotten about the damned things, but he didn't offer her time to respond, as he walked away from her and towards the basement. Silently, she followed, clinking the chains around his wrists, placing a wooly blanket over him, and wanting nothing more than to lie down next to him and promise that nothing bad would come.

It took Buffy exactly a week to work up the courage to put her plan into action. Spike hadn't been as mopey, though he was more prone to chatting when he was tied up in the basement, allowing the girls to visit, and brightening considerably when Xander brought a TV and gaming system downstairs where they played for hours after Xander got off work.

The plan had started to formulate as she lay in bed, moments after she had chained Spike to the wall. Yes, there was something major happening to them that would take precedence, she wasn't in denial about that. And yes, maybe she was being inconsiderate of Spike's emotional state by thinking this way when he was so obviously miserable, but she thought she had a pretty good antidote for that. Life happened, crazy, scary, life-threatening things happened to all of them and sometimes things couldn't wait.

Buffy was going to woo Spike, in a healthy, normal, wants-a-real-relationship type of way.

Leaving Spike and Xander to their manly bonding time and Tara and Willow to studying, Buffy headed out in the early afternoon to shop with Dawn. Though she hadn't told her sister exactly what she had planned, the younger girl was perceptive, bubbling with excited energy and going on and on about this finally happening. Buffy was not going to prod her into saying what finally meant, but did let her pick out the outfit she thought Spike might like best. They'd settled on a simple, not-too-revealing black dress with cute, yet practical boots to match. At lunch, Buffy tried not to roll her eyes too far and hard when Dawn asked her how Spike was as a kisser or if his skills were more honed thanks to the whole vampire thing, and was relieved that Dawn broke into giggles just as Buffy opened her mouth to issue some sort of response.

On their way home, they stopped into the Magic Box to check in with Anya, who had suggested Dawn pick up a few hours helping out around the store to make some pocket money. Dawn had way too much interest in the access to the dark items she had no idea the kinds of powers they held, which made Buffy hesitate, but then Anya had much more financial sense than she did and might be a good model for her sister. Thanking her again for taking Dawn with her and Xander that night, they waved goodbye and headed back to the house.

Butterflies were fluttering in her stomach, excited and anxious, as she called out a hello to the boys, suggesting Xander and Dawn get going and telling Spike she wanted a shower before they went patrolling. If he was curious as to why she showered before going on patrol, he didn't question it, but she was pleased when she found him in the kitchen, very much unchained, sipping on a mug of blood when she was finished and all dressed for the night. His reaction was soundless, but satisfying. Eyes wide, mouth parted, and Buffy felt a pleasant flush come over her. He swallowed the rest of the blood down in one gulp when she gestured to leave.

Patrol was as quiet as it had been. Every few days, there'd be a new fledge digging himself up from the grave that they'd take down with a quick swipe of a stake, but it wasn't much fun. Not quite daring to say things had been too easy, Buffy missed the thrill of the fight. It didn't help that Spike wouldn't spar with her anymore. Regardless of how far the wooing went this evening, and she wasn't trying to rush things, she just wanted him to know she was interested in more, Buffy was feeling very unsatisfied.

On the way home, conversation was breezy until Buffy mentioned off-hand that Dawn was staying with Xander and Anya for the night and that Tara and Willow would be pulling an all-nighter at the library. Spike's eyebrows rose up into his hairline, which made Buffy giggle, as nervous as she was, but he didn't offer a reply. Taking his hand as even further assurance, he looked quite pleased with himself, which made Buffy warm all over. If nothing else, there was going to be kissage, she was sure of it.

When they reached the house, Buffy noticed him hesitate at the door. Grasping his other hand, she faced him fully, smiling up at him.

"Spike," her throat was dry, heart racing, but she felt remarkably happy. "I don't want to pressure you into anything you don't want to do. I know it's been weird, these past few weeks. Things have been happening and we've no idea- But, I think, well, this is important too. And I just want you to know, it's different this time because I-"

Spike froze, his formerly impassive face changing into one of predator.

"Spike-"

He broke away from her and for a terrifying moment, Buffy thought he was being possessed again, but his now golden eyes flashed at her, concern evident, and though she knew he was on alert for a reason, she wasn't threatened. There was something or someone in the house and he was protecting her.

Switching into slayer mode, pocketing the rest of the speech for later, which really was a bummer because it took a lot out of her to get up the courage to say it in the first place, Buffy placed her hand on the knob and turned to go into the house.

Stepping inside, fists, fangs, and stakes at the ready, Buffy and Spike came face-to-face with Giles and two young girls Buffy didn't recognize. Adrenaline flushed out of her system as Spike's vampire visage changed into his human face. The smile that had begun to blossom at seeing her Watcher faltered when the man took off his glasses, wiped them with vigor, and frowned at the pair.

"Buffy. Spike. I'm afraid we bring bad news."

But then, she thought, what else was new?