Friends and Lovers

At 12.01pm there was a knock at Spike and Buffy's apartment door.

Four minutes later the Slayer opened it – wearing black shorts and one of Spike's t-shirts – looking somewhat disheveled.

"Hey Willow," she said, rubbing her eyes.

"Uh, hey," said the Witch, timidly, before stepping inside. "I've just woken you again, haven't I?"

"No," Buffy lied.

"Sorry, Buff," Willow apologized. "If I was hanging around I'd say take all the time in the world."

"It's okay. Really," she reassured her, "I have the whole rest of my week to spend in bed with Spike."

"Hallelujah!" the ex-vampire cried from the bedroom, and both the girls laughed.

Pulling her in for a tight hug, Buffy said, "Really is good to see you, Will."

"You too!" the Witch agreed, becoming giddy, "Guess what we have planned for you today!"

"Hope it's something nice and relaxing," Spike chimed in, having strolled into the living room to join them, "Slayer deserves a treat."

"Wait, who is 'we'?" asked Buffy as she leaned into Spike's embrace.

Seemed they couldn't pass each other without touching or planting a chaste kiss somewhere - sometimes not so chaste. Willow was slightly awed by it.

"Dawn and I are taking you to get your nails done – manicure and pedicure – then lunch, then big shopping," she said, before adding, "Giles is footing the bill."

Buffy's eyes lit up, "Is there a limit?"

"Nope," Willow answered, beaming back at her.

Spike grinned at both of them as they squealed and hugged again.

"Okay, am gonna shower. Then coffee, then nails. K?"

Willow nodded enthusiastically, before turning to Spike.

"What are you gonna do today?"

He groaned and gestured towards a stack of papers on the coffee table, "Big battle with application forms continues."

"Finding it difficult to get a job?" she asked.

"Not exactly qualified for anything, am I Red?"

Willow simply frowned in response.

Continuing, Spike admitted that it was getting to him, not being able to pay his share of the bills. "Slayer says she doesn't mind, and I believe her, I just wish I could do more for her, y'know?"

With a little smile Willow said, "You've given her more than any other man has given her – alive or dead. Father figure or romantic interest – for once she's stable. Not scared of being alone. Spike, look how happy you've made her!"

"Guess you're right," he conceded, now with a smile of his own, "Thanks."

"Welcome," she stated.

"So how's life? How long have you been back in the homeland?"

"Good," Willow answered, doing a quick mental calculation, "About four months."

"Right," he nodded. "An' it was Brazil before that?"

"It was," she confirmed, sullenly. "Didn't really wanna stick around after the big Kennedy break up. Plus, we'd almost located all of the South American Slayers by that point anyway."

Spike just sighed in response, thinking about his own Brazilian break up – one of the best things to ever happen to him, he figures. Not that he thought so at the time.

"It's strange how time changes things," he mused, out loud, and the Witch nodded, also looking introspective.

"Grab a chair an' I'll make the coffee. Won't have time to go to a café. Slayer's off her bird if she thinks you'll be leaving this place before two."

Willow smiled, "No more rushing off to save the world. It's nice that she has time to indulge now."

"Ain't it just," he agreed, returning her grin.

At 12.45 pm Buffy exited the bathroom, fully clothed but with damp hair.

"Mmm," Spike murmured, breathing in the mixed perfumes from her shampoo and shower gel. "Come 'ere, baby. I'll sort out that tangle."

She smiled, handed him her hairbrush and took the coffee cup he offered her; sitting down on a chair with her back to him. He leaned over and planted a small kiss on her neck, before gently working the brush through her mane.

Having automatically closed her eyes to savor the moment, Buffy was surprised to find Willow staring at her – mouth agape – when she opened them again.

"What?" she asked, defensively.

"Nothing. It's just… oh, nothing."

A smirk appeared on Buffy's face, and she took Willow's hand in hers saying, "Sometimes I find it hard to believe, too. How far we've come."

It was at that point that the Witch noticed the engagement ring, "Oh, Buffy!" she exclaimed, "It looks so much better in real life than on webcam!"

"Didn't you say it was – and I quote – 'The prettiest piece of jewelry you'd ever seen' over webcam?"

"I did. And it is! Spike, you have great taste!"

"He knows," said Buffy, titling her head back to give him a cheeky wink.

Leaning down, he kissed her lips. The angle making them both slightly dizzy.

When their lips finally broke apart Spike went off to retrieve the hair dryer, and the girls discussed nail varnish colors.

An hour after that, they left to pick up Dawn.

By 10 pm the Slayer arrived home to find the apartment spotless and a note left for her on the small hallway table.

"Mailman left you a package," it read, "Have hidden it, but play your cards right and I might let you work some clues out of me."

Buffy smiled, put her coat and bags in the hall closet before stripping off her clothes, slowly, on her way to the bedroom. Twisting the handle she was greeted with the scent of rose petals, and saw Spike stretched out on the bed in front of her.

She leaned against the doorjamb for a moment, letting him get a good look, before making her way over to him.

"Had a good day, Baby?" he asked her, quietly.

"Uh huh," she replied.

"Red and Whelp catch their fight okay?"

"They did," she whispered, leaning forward to kiss him tenderly, before saying, "I love you."

"Love you, too, baby," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "Gonna show you how much."

To be continued...