Chapter 3

“I want a word with you.”

Spike was pulled out of slumber by the banging of his crypt door, groaning when he immediately thought it was the Slayer, but the voice was different. “Come to hit me again?”

Willow rolled her eyes. “I’m just here to talk.” She glanced around, seeing the crumbled up papers on the floor, but it was the picture of Buffy on top of the TV that really had her attention. “I knew it. You so have feelings for her, too.”

Spike sat up, giving her a glare. “What are you on about? And can’t a bloke have any privacy?”

She turned around to let him get dressed; looking back at him once he was finished. “I’m gonna tell you to do something and you’re going to think it’s crazy, but don’t ask any questions. Just go with me on it. Buffy’s at the dorm sulking right now, probably bound to be there all day. When it’s dark, I want you to go over there and ask her out on a date.”

He raised his eyebrows, then burst into laughter. “That’s a good one, Red. Why the bloody hell would I stoop so low as to ask the Slayer out on a date?”

“You’re not fooling anyone, Spike. I know you have feelings for Buffy, and I told you not to ask any questions. You see this look on my face, you know what it means.”

Spike let out a sigh. “All right, let’s say you’re not completely crazy, wouldn’t me going to the Slayer’s dorm to ask her out get me a punch in the nose?”

Willow shook her head. “I think you’re safe, I’ll make myself scarce tonight. You better show up.” And with her resolve face firmly in place, she made her way out of the crypt.


* * * * *


Buffy lay in bed, staring at the ring that she still wore around her neck. She put it back inside her shirt when there was a knock on the door, getting up to answer it, completely shocked to see Spike standing on the other side. Buffy looked him over, noticing that he was without his duster for a change.

“What are you doing here?”

Spike rubbed the back of his neck, hoping the witch was right about that punch in the nose. “This may sound completely insane, but I’m actually here to ask you out.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re asking me out, like on a date?”

Spike was surprised by the enthusiasm seeping in her voice. “Yeah, I guess you can say that. I was thinking maybe for tomorrow night, if you’re not doing anything.”

Buffy shook her head, but tried to take it down a notch, not wanting him to think she was too eager. “I don’t really have any plans.”

He nodded. “Okay, I’ll pick you up here around seven or so.”

She nodded as well. “Sounds good to me.”

Spike didn’t know what to say after that, instead taking a risk and placing a kiss on her cheek, then walked away before she could say anything.

Buffy touched the spot where he kissed her, closing the door and letting out a squeal as she flung herself back down on her bed. She felt like a high school girl that just got asked out by the most popular guy in school.

Willow walked in, trying to act as if she didn’t know that Spike was just there.

Buffy instantly sat up. “You’re not going to believe what just happened.”

“I saw Spike leave, why was he here?”

Buffy smiled. “He actually asked me out. I don’t know why he suddenly seems to be interested in me.”

Willow tried to hide her smile, but Buffy was able to catch it.

“Oh, no, does this have something to do with you?”

Willow shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “You talked to him, didn’t you? God, did you threaten him if he didn’t ask me out?”

Willow shook her head. “There were no threats; I may have just pushed him in the right direction. Spike didn’t have to ask you out, Buffy. That was all his choice.”

“Do you think he really likes me?” she asked in a small voice.

Willow patted her friend on the back. “I think he’s crazy about you. How could he not be?”

Buffy started to feel a little better, praying that her friend was right.


* * * * *


“I have nothing to wear.”

Willow rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time. “The last outfit you had on was fine. Spike will like you in anything, anyway.”

Buffy nodded and got changed really fast, just as a knock sounded on the door. She had a fluttery feeling in her stomach, taking a deep breath as Willow went to answer.

“Wow, Spike, you clean up nice.”

Buffy had to agree. She never thought to actually prefer him without the duster, and he was wearing a blue shirt that brought out the color in his eyes.

Willow pushed Buffy over to him. “Well, you two have fun tonight; don’t keep her out too late.”

Spike would have laughed at the whole situation, but the vision before him made it impossible. He then showed her the flowers he had behind his back. “These are for you. I bought them, with actual money. Just so you know.”

Buffy smiled and took the flowers from him. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.”

Willow took them from her. “I’ll just put these in some water.”

Buffy followed Spike out of the room. “Does this feel weird to you?”

He sighed in relief. “You have no idea, I’m just glad to not be the only one feeling it.”

She took his hand in hers, giving it a squeeze.

Spike felt that his heart might start to beat for the first time in over a hundred years, just from that one gesture.


* * * * *


Buffy was in awe at the restaurant he took her to, not expecting something so extravagant from Spike.

“I come here a lot; the owner is an old friend. I saved his life once, and he lets me come here whenever I want, free of charge.”

Buffy wasn’t expecting that. “You saved someone’s life when you were evil?”

He gave her a grin. “I still am evil, love.”

She nodded. “Right, of course.”

Spike led her to his usual table, pulling the chair out for her.

Buffy sat down and glanced around at her surroundings.

“Spike, my boy, it’s good to see you.”

He stood up and embraced the man that came over to them. “The feeling’s mutual, Antonio.”

“And who is this lovely creature?” he asked, staring at Buffy.

She blushed under his gaze.

Spike smiled and sat back down. “This is Buffy, isn’t she adorable when she does that?”

If it was possible, she blushed even harder.

Antonio agreed. “As usual, everything is on the house. I hope you enjoy.”

Spike turned back to Buffy once he was gone, tilting her face up to look at him. “You don’t have to hide from me.”

Buffy nodded and gave him a somewhat shy smile. “There’s something I need to know. Did you really want to ask me out, or did you only do it because Willow told you to?”

Spike leaned back in his chair. “You should know by now that I don’t do anything I’m told. Not unless I really wanted to. The truth is I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since that spell.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? I haven’t been able to, either. I figured I was alone in that, though.”

He shook his head. “That girl I was with the other day didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t really take her back to my crypt; I don’t know why I said that.”

Buffy felt relieved to hear that. “I lied, too. I didn’t get rid of the ring.” She pulled the chain out of her shirt to show him the ring dangling from it. “It was the only thing that I had of you. I just couldn’t part with it.”

Spike was touched, never thinking that she would have actually kept it. And knowing that she wore it as a necklace, close to her heart, meant so much more to him. “You can feel free to keep it, pet. I didn’t really want it back. Maybe one of these days, I’ll get you something nicer.” He took a risk like she did earlier, grasping her hand that lay across the table and giving it a squeeze. Spike couldn’t be happier with the way things were turning out. Although he felt a bit disappointed that the chains weren’t needed.