Spike sat in the chair in which he'd spent the better part of a day with Buffy curled happily in his lap, only this time he held Giles' guitar. He watched with curiosity as Giles reached inside a small closet and pulled out a second guitar. Giles took a seat on the couch across from Spike eyeing him critically.

Spike snorted darkly as he began strumming a few random cords, flicking his gaze up to study the guitar in Giles' hands. It looked as though it had been thoroughly mishandled over the years.

Giles began playing the first few cords of a song. "Do you know this one?"

"I do… bit surprised you do, book-man. Didn't peg you a Guns N' Roses fan."

"I imagine the things we don't know about each other could fill several volumes," Giles grinned smugly, whistling the intro of the song.

Spike arched a brow as he considered his comment before focusing his attention on the cords he was playing and began singing.

"Shed a tear 'cause I'm missin' you

I'm still alright to smile…"

Giles gave him a nod of encouragement as Spike continued singing.

"Girl, I think about you every day now

Was a time when I wasn't sure

But you set my mind at ease

There is no doubt you're in my heart now…"

A flash of golden hair flashed through his mind. God, it was true. How could a single spell have embedded the thought of her in his mind so completely? She was like a sodden tick… It started long before that and you know it, William… He berated himself.

"Said 'Woman take it slow, and it'll work itself out fine'

"All we need is just a little patience

Said 'Sugar make it slow and we'll come together fine'

All we need is just a little patience..."

"Patience—" Giles echoed, his voice smooth.

Spike let his eyes close as the two of them started really getting into the song.

"I sit here on the stairs

'Cause I'd rather be alone

If I can't have you right now, I'll wait dear

Sometimes I get so tense but I can't speed up the time..."

Giles began singing and Spike was surprised by how well they harmonized together.

"But you know love there's one more thing to consider,

Said "Woman take it slow and things will be just fine"

You and I'll just use a little patience..."

Spike rocked in his seat a little, adjusting his hold on the guitar, focusing on his finger placement.

"Said 'Sugar take the time 'cause the lights are shining bright'

You and I've got what it takes to make it

We won't fake it, I'll never break it

'Cause I can't take it…"

"Wooh! What's with the traffic jam?! Move it, people," Xander complained, cutting in above their harmony and shattering the moment.

Spike whipped his head up to see the entire Scooby gang crammed together in the open doorway. Buffy and Willow had managed to get as far as the welcome mat with Anya pressed in against them in curiosity with a bumbling Xander looming behind them.

They were all staring at the two of them as though they'd been caught doing something utterly scandalous. An old lurking insecurity reared its head within him, making him wish he'd spontaneously crumble to dust on the spot.

He dared to raise his eyes to Buffy expecting to see haughty contempt on her face. But it wasn't there.

Instead, her expression was one he recognized but never expected to see on her face, especially not directed toward him. It was the star-struck look groupies typically wore backstage, just before the clothes started to come off.

Seems the girl has a thing for a man with a guitar… Oh, yeah, I can work with that…

Chapter End Notes:

Chapter title and song used in this chapter is Patience by Guns N' Roses.